Understanding the environmental fate of plastics requires detailed knowledge of their chemical composition, encompassing both polymer matrices and associated additives. Processes such as degradation, additive leaching, and the release of micro and nanoplastics are central to how plastics behave in the environment.
This keynote presents the application of pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS) as a powerful tool to characterize plastic materials and to link their molecular markers to degradation pathways and environmental behaviour. Through selected case studies on plastic products, including agricultural mulch films, wet wipes, and textiles, Py-GC-MS is used to identify polymers and additives and to monitor their transformation over time under laboratory or field exposure conditions.
This approach highlights the potential of Py-GC-MS not only for detailed material characterization but also as a complementary method for unravelling the mechanisms governing plastic persistence and fate in the environment.
