Supporting analytical laboratories
in microplastic research
Since 2024
Microplastic Beads
10-30 µm | 40-60 µm | 100-140 µm
Microspheres, commonly referred to as beads, are widely used in microplastic research as practical and well-established surrogates for environmental microplastics. Their defined size, shape, and polymer composition make them reliable tools for method recovery experiments. While they do not aim to replicate the full complexity of environmental particles, microplastic beads remain highly relevant and accepted reference materials, supporting reproducible, controlled, and comparable microplastic research.
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Microplastic spheres (beads) reference materials
Microplastic beads are useful tools in research
We prepare samples of known quantities of beads in various size ranges from 10 µm and upwards, in a wide range of polymer types and colors. Save your time and effort and let us do the counting for you. Microplastic beads are useful tools for beginners and experts alike. Our assorment includes beads from 10-30 µm, 40-60 µm and 100-140 µm.
EasyMP™
From €299.95 | €399.95
30 mL
100 mL
Beads
For use in advanced microplastic research. Microplastic concentration with less than 20% relative standard deviation (RSD). Competitive prices and user-friendly application. 30 & 100 mL self-dose pippete bottles in 95 vol.% ethanol, and water w. 20 vol.% ethanol + 0.05 vol.% Tween 20 solution.
Stage a simple but compliant recovery experiment
EasyMP™ beads comply with: ISO 16094-2:2025 and Directive (EU) 2020/2184
Step #2: Manually count the precise number of particles using the counting-freeware ClickMaster2000.
Step #1: Vacuum filtrate red PE beads (10-30 µm) onto a 25 mm PVDF or PTFE membrane.
Step #3: Flush the beads from the filter membrane into your matrix, and conduct the complete sample pre-treatment protocol.
Hint: To skip steps #1 and #2, spike your matrix directly using the EasyMP™ solution, but accept ~20% RSD in dosage quantity.
Step #4: Following completion of the pre-treatment protocol, once again, using ClickMaster2000, count the total number of of successfully transfered re PE beads.
Step #5: Conduct at least three replicate experiments.
The recovery rate of your protocol is determined as the average recovery of all your replicate experiments.
Tip: We recommend correcting any acquired environmental microplastic data using the established recovery rate.
Subsample #1
RR = 78%
Subsample #2
RR = 73%
Subsample #3
RR = 81%
Mean recovery rate (RR) = 77% (n = 3)
This example illustrates a recovery experiment of sufficient quality to meet the requirements of standards such as ISO 16094-2:2025 and Directive (EU) 2020/2184.
Although this relatively simple recovery experiment is easy to perform and complies with current norms, it does not provide insight into the relationship between particle size and recovery rate.
For more advanced and insightful recovery experiments, consider using microplastic fragments or fibers, or a combination of beads with different sizes and colours to facilitate discrimination. If you have any questions or would like to discuss suitable recovery experiment designs, feel free to get in touch.
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Est. 2024