Analysis of Microplastics Using AIRsight Infrared/Raman Microscope

User Benefits

- By using AIRsight, infrared and Raman measurements can be made on the same stage without moving the sample. - Sample length can be measured from images acquired with a wide-field camera or an objective lens for infrared or Raman measurements. - Enables the material of microplastics in the environment to be accurately determined.

Introduction

Microplastic pollution of rivers and oceans is spreading globally, and there are concerns about its impact on living organisms. In recent years, monitoring surveys and research have been conducted to gain scientific knowledge about the distribution of microplastics in many countries worldwide. When exposed to UV light, rain, wind, and physical friction that makes it brittle, the plastic released into the environment breaks up into even smaller microplastics. (The microplastics here are called secondary microplastics.). Generally, microplastics are evaluated by observing their appearance, measuring their number and size, and qualifying their materials. Among these items, qualitative measurement of the material is one of the most important items for identifying the origin of the microplastic. However, the size of microplastics to be evaluated is becoming smaller year by year, requiring the selection of appropriate analytical instruments. Micro-Raman spectroscopy makes it possible to analyze smaller particles than micro- infrared spectroscopy and is easier to analyze than pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The AIRsight Infrared/Raman microscope is a new type of microscope that incorporates a Raman unit into an infrared microscope, enabling both Raman and infrared analysis to be performed on a single instrument, analyses that previously required separate instruments. This article introduces an example of evaluating microplastics in the environment using AIRsight.

November 16, 2022 GMT