Microplastic Detection and Analysis in Water Samples

Microplastic detection in water samples becomes important for tracing microplastic sources. Microplastic may harm desalination facilities by blocking filters and disturbing the marine food chain. Thermoanalytical methods, such as aspyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy and spectroscopic methods like (micro) Raman spectroscopy or (micro) Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, in combination with appropriate filters and sample preparation are suitable for analyzing microplastics on a scale from to 1000 µm: fast and unambiguous. While the thermo analytical methods are suitable for larger sample volumes, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy are able to detect and analyze single microplastic particles, for instance in bottled water. Machine learning algorithms ensure a reliable classification of different plastic materials.