PP Microspheres – Polypropylene Microplastic Reference Standard | PolyRef™
PP Microspheres – Polypropylene Microplastic Reference Standard | PolyRef™
Product Overview
PolyRef™ PP Microspheres are research-grade Polypropylene microspheres manufactured by RIGOR Science from commercial PP feedstock. True-spherical submicron PP particles fill a long-standing gap in microplastic reference materials — most commercial PP particles are mechanically ground fragments or limited to micron-scale ranges.
Each batch retains the characteristic chemical structure of PP, with strong FTIR methyl bands at 1376 and 1458 cm⁻¹ — the diagnostic signature that distinguishes PP from polyethylene in mixed microplastic spectral analysis. Particles are verified by FT-IR, SEM, and DLS, and are clean-surfaced, fully spherical, and free from debris.
Why PP?
- The world's second-largest plastic by production. ~20–25% of global plastic output. Packaging films, medical devices (syringes, petri dishes, IV bags), automotive interiors, ropes/fishing nets, and nonwoven fabrics.
- The "mask microplastic" of the post-pandemic era. Disposable masks, surgical gowns, and wipes are predominantly PP nonwoven — making PP one of the most rapidly emerging microplastic pollutants in indoor air, wastewater, and surface water since 2020.
- Lowest-density common microplastic (0.90 g/cm³). Floats more buoyantly than LDPE — ideal for sea-surface microplastic transport, neuston-layer studies, and surface skim sampling simulation.
- Diagnostic FTIR signature. Strong methyl bands at 1376 and 1458 cm⁻¹ (one CH₃ per monomer) unambiguously distinguish PP from PE in mixed-polymer spectral identification — a frequent challenge in environmental sample analysis.
- Standard model for UV photo-oxidative aging. PP's tertiary C–H bond is the most susceptible to photo-oxidation among common plastics. PP microspheres are widely used as model systems for plastic weathering, carbonyl-index measurement, and aged-microplastic toxicology research.
- Submicron true-spherical PP is rare commercially. Most "PP microparticles" from suppliers like Cospheric are micron-scale only; submicron PP at controlled morphology is essentially absent from the commercial market.
Specifications
| Material | Polypropylene (PP) — isotactic, from commercial feedstock |
| CAS No. | 9003-07-0 |
| Chemical Formula | (C₃H₆)ₙ |
| Particle Size | ~300 nm、~500nm (other sizes available on request) |
| Morphology | True spherical, clean surface, free of aggregates |
| Density | ~0.90 g/cm³ (floats in water — most buoyant common microplastic; vortex before use) |
| Crystallinity | Semi-crystalline (~50–60%) |
| Dispersion | Aqueous suspension with 0.01% SDS as stabilizer |
| Concentration | 5 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL |
| Package Size | 10 mL (custom volumes on request) |
| Storage | 2–8 °C, protect from light; do not freeze |
| Shelf Life | 36 months at 4 °C |
| Characterization | FT-IR, SEM, DLS; batch-specific COA included |
Applications
- Microplastic identification by FTIR / Raman / Py-GC-MS
- Sea-surface and neuston-layer microplastic transport studies
- Mask, nonwoven, and medical-device microplastic source attribution
- Indoor air and ventilation microplastic monitoring standards
- UV photo-oxidation and weathering studies (PP is the standard aging model)
- Carbonyl-index method development for plastic degradation
- Food packaging migration and contact-material microplastic studies
- Ecotoxicology — aquatic organism exposure, soil microbiota
- Spectral library construction and FTIR reference for differentiating PP from PE
Not Recommended For
Direct cell toxicity assays without prior dialysis to remove SDS surfactant. For surfactant-free or custom-stabilized versions, please contact us.
Quality Documentation
Each shipment includes a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) with SEM images,
FTIR spectrum (highlighting the 1376/1458 cm⁻¹ methyl bands), and DLS size distribution. Raw-material FTIR reference spectra available on request for batch verification.
Sub-micron grades (100–200 nm) are characterized by DLS; micron grades (≥1 μm) are characterized by laser diffraction / optical microscopy. Representative data shown; see COA for lot-specific values.