We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Some Thoughts on the Monitoring of Pristine and Aged Plastics by FT-IR Spectroscopy
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the use of FT-IR spectroscopy for identifying pristine and aged plastic materials, focusing on the challenge that additives such as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) — commonly used as filler in polyethylene-type plastics — can obscure characteristic polymer absorption bands. The study discusses how overlapping CaCO3 bands may complicate polymer identification and offers methodological considerations for improved plastic monitoring.
Plastics can be identified by infrared-(IR)-spectroscopy. Often, the materials possess additives that confer special properties to them, such as elasticity, hardness, UV stability and color, but make it inherently more difficult to identify the polymer material associated. The inorganic salt calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is one such additive that is used as filler, often in polythene-type plastics. Frequently, the IR absorption bands of CaCO3 obscure the underlying bands of polythene. This may lead to misidentification of the material, especially in the case of microplastics (MPs), particles of less than 5 mm in size, where only small amounts of material are at hand. Over time, plastic material ages, where an automated identification of aged plastics can also lead to misidentification of the plastic, especially in the case of MPs. Here, the authors show that photo-oxidative aging does not only happen with polythene and polypropylene, but also with polystyrene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) co-polymer. Finally, the identification of the extent of photo-oxidation in the material can help monitor the integrity of plastics. Typical examples of monitoring the soundness of plastic chemical containers in a laboratory setting are given.
More Papers Like This
Optimizing microplastic analysis through comparative FTIR and raman spectroscopy: Addressing challenges in environmental degradation studies
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for analyzing degraded microplastic polymers in environmental samples, evaluating how polymer aging affects identification accuracy. The study found that spectral databases based on pristine polymers can misidentify weathered microplastics, calling for updated reference libraries.
Contributions of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in microplastic pollution research: A review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review covers advances in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques — including chemical imaging — for identifying polymer types in microplastic samples and tracing their fate in different environmental matrices.
ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Combined with Chemometric Methods for the Classification of Polyethylene Residues Containing Different Contaminants
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers combined ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with chemometric methods to classify polyethylene residues containing different types of contaminants. The approach successfully distinguished between contaminated and uncontaminated low- and high-density polyethylene, offering potential for improving plastic recycling quality control.
A New Chemometric Approach for Automatic Identification of Microplastics from Environmental Compartments Based on FT-IR Spectroscopy
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a new chemometric approach for automatic identification of microplastics from environmental samples, designed to handle the challenges of biofilm contamination and surface aging that typically impede standard spectroscopic characterisation methods.
Microplastic fouling: A gap in knowledge and a research imperative to improve their study by infrared characterization spectroscopy
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analysed 4,042 infrared spectra of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics collected from the Mediterranean Sea using principal component analysis, identifying that spectral variability in weathered marine microplastics is primarily driven by three processes: chemical ageing, organic fouling, and inorganic fouling.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.