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Characterization of microplastics in environment by thermal gravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
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Researchers developed a method combining thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify and quantify microplastics in environmental samples, demonstrating that the combined temperature profiles and absorption spectra provide greater discriminatory power than either technique alone.
As a global pollutant, microplastics have attracted attention from the public and researchers. However, the lack of standard and time-saving methods for analysis has become one of the bottlenecks in microplastics research. Here, we demonstrate TGA coupled to FTIR to identify and quantify certain microplastics in environment. Samples were pyrolyzed in TGA and the pyrolysis gases were analyzed by FTIR. Combining TGA and FTIR data adds discriminatory power as temperature profiles and absorption spectra differ among several common plastics. To quantify on a mass basis, we calibrated on characteristic IR peaks at temperatures of maximum weight loss for individual polymers. The method can distinguish PVC, PS and was validated by spiking samples with known quantities of microplastics. The result of field sample experiments showed that TGA-FTIR can be used to identify and quantify PVC and PS in bivalves, seawater and soil. And the method may be applicable to environmental samples.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.