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Analysis of Microplastics from Synthetic Fibers Using an FT-IR Microscope
Original title: FT-IR Microscope를 이용한 합성섬유의 미세플라스틱 분석
Summary
South Korean researchers used FT-IR microscopy to analyze microplastic shedding from polyester fibers during washing with different types of detergents. The study confirmed that synthetic fibers are a major source of microplastic pollution and found that detergent type affects the amount of microplastics released during laundry.
Recently, microplastics have been reported to cause increasing harm to human health through marine envi ronmental pollution. Because microplastics are small plastic particles having a size of <5 mm, they cannot be fil tered from sewage treatment facilities and, thus, are introduced into the oceans and rivers, ultimately reaching the food chain. Synthetic fibers is the primary source of recently occurring microplastic pollution. In this study, the most commonly used polyester fiber was selected, and paper, liquid, and solid detergents were used for micro plastic analysis and detergent comparison. The shapes of the fibers and detergents were confirmed through optical microscope (OM). After washing, the samples were sieved through a mesh filter (47 mm), and characterized by through fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) with microscope. Many fine plastics were generated in laundry using solid and paper detergents, whereas fewer microplastics were generated using liquid detergents.