Focal plane array detector-based micro-Fourier-transform infrared imaging for the analysis of microplastics in environmental samples

作者：Martin G. J. Löder, Mirco Kuczera, Svenja M. Mintenig, Claudia Lorenz, Gunnar Gerdts · 发表于：Environmental Chemistry · 年份：2015 · DOI：10.1071/en14205 · 被引用次数：576 · 研究领域：Microplastics and Plastic Pollution、Recycling and Waste Management Techniques、Biosensors and Analytical Detection

Environmental context Microplastics are of increasing environmental concern following reports that they occur worldwide from the arctic to the deep sea. However, a reliable methodology that facilitates an automated measurement of abundance and identity of microplastics is still lacking. We present an analytical protocol that applies focal plane array detector-based infrared imaging of microplastics enriched on membrane filters applicable to investigations of microplastic pollution of the environment. Abstract The pollution of the environment with microplastics (plastic pieces <5 mm) is a problem of increasing concern. However, although this has been generally recognised by scientists and authorities, the analysis of microplastics is often done by visual inspection alone with potentially high error rates, especially for smaller particles. Methods that allow for a fast and reliable analysis of microplastics enriched on filters are lacking. Our study is the first to fill this gap by using focal plane array detector-based micro-Fourier-transform infrared imaging for analysis of microplastics from environmental samples. As a result of our iteratively optimised analytical approach (concerning filter material, measuring mode, measurement parameters and identification protocol), we were able to successfully measure the whole surface (>10-mm diameter) of filters with microplastics from marine plankton and sediment samples. The measurement with a high lateral resolution allowed for the...