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Comprehensive analysis of common polymers using hyphenated TGA-FTIR-GC/MS and Raman spectroscopy towards a database for micro- and nanoplastics identification, characterization, and quantitation
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Researchers developed a comprehensive analytical method combining multiple spectroscopy techniques to identify and quantify 35 common plastic types found as micro and nanoplastics in the environment. The resulting database serves as a reference standard for consistently detecting plastic pollution across different studies and sample types. This work addresses a critical gap in standardizing how microplastic contamination is measured worldwide.
Environmental contamination by micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) is well documented with potential for their increased accumulation globally. Growing public concern over environmental, ecological, and human exposure to MNPs has led to exponential increase in publications, news articles, and reports (Casillas et al., 2023). Significant knowledge gap exists in standardized analytical methods for the identification and quantification of MNPs from real world environmental samples. Here, we report comprehensive datasets utilizing thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) coupled to a Fourier transformed infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and a gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) with corresponding Raman spectral data for the most common polymers documented to be present in the environment (35 plastics of 12 polymer types), to serve as a base line reference for the identification and quantitation of MNPs. Various parameters for TGA-FTIR-GC/MS data acquisition were optimized. Commercial consumer plastic product compositions were identified using this analytical database. Case studies to showcase the utility of the method for polymer mixtures analysis is included. This dataset would serve towards the development of a collaborative, global, comprehensive, and curated public database for the identification of various MNPs and mixtures.
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