Advanced Instrumentation for Quantification of Microplastics

Plastic particles measuring between 1 µm to 5 mm in length are known as microplastics, and they are often found in freshwater, agricultural soil, and oceans due to the widespread usage of plastic. In order to detect the presence of microplastics in the environment, it is vital to manage and analyse microplastic debris, which now makes up the majority of plastic waste and poses a threat to ecosystems. It is challenging to measure the amount of microplastics in the environment due to their intricate structure, minuscule size, and polymeric variability. In this chapter, various sophisticated analytical methods such as scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, atmospheric solid analysis probe in conjunction with quadrupole mass spectrometry, laser diffraction particle, pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometer, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy have been discussed. Readers will be able to compare various analytical methods summarized in this chapter, which will help researchers choose the best analytical techniques for microplastic analysis and broaden their expertise.