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Plasma, UV radiation and ozone for microplastics degradation: Optical characterization of polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene degradation using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy

Science of Sintering 2025
Milica Ćurčić, Predrag Kolarž, B. Hadžić, Ivana Stajčić, Zorica Lazarević, Dejan Maletić, Mira Aničić Urošević, Andjelija Ž. Ilić

Summary

Researchers investigated the degradation of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene microplastics under three treatment conditions — ozone, UV radiation, and plasma — using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to characterize structural and optical changes. The study found that all three treatments induced measurable polymer degradation, with spectral analysis revealing distinct chemical modifications depending on treatment type and polymer composition.

This study investigated the changes in the optical properties of three types of microplastics-polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS)-when exposed to three different treatments: ozone, UV radiation, and plasma. Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine how each treatment affected the degradation of these polymers. The resulting changes in optical and structural characteristics were analyzed using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. These techniques provided valuable insights into the behavior and persistence of microplastics under various treatments, revealing specific structural modifications at the molecular level.

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