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AIMsight infrared microscope connected to IRXross Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer

Shimadzu will launch a particle analysis system in Japan and overseas, specializing in the analysis of microplastics, a global scale. This system can quickly calculate the number of particles, area^{* 1}, volume^*2, mass^*2, and individual particle qualities of microplastics based on the measurement results from an infrared microscope or an infrared Raman microscope. This is the first analytical instrument in the world that can automatically analyze the mass and volume of microplastics using an infrared microscope or an infrared/Raman microscope.

This system is based on an infrared/Raman microscope or an infrared microscope, and is used together with the dedicated software "AMsolution," which additionally includes a newly developed Particle Analysis Program. The theoretical formula for calculating the mass and volume from the measured particle area is based on research led by Associate Professor Tomoya Kataoka at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University^*2.

Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter that are broken into small pieces by waves or ultraviolet light. When organisms ingest these particles and accumulate them in their bodies, there are concern about their impact on the entire ecosystem. Analysis of various data on plastic particles is essential to understand their distribution. The infrared/Raman microscope “AIRsight” is the world's first microscope system that combines infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The infrared microscope “AIMsight” can automatically measure data related to microscopic objects by examining the reflection and transmittance of objects irradiated with infrared light. These analytical instruments have been used not only for contaminant analysis and quality control in chemistry, electronics, machinery and transportation equipment, but also for microplastics research in recent years.

Shimadzu has been actively supporting microplastics research worldwide in recent years with a diverse range of products, including a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) that discriminates plastic types, a particle imaging system that measures the number and shape of plastics, and the MAP-100, an automatic preparation device for microplastics analysis. In the future, we will add this system to our lineup and contribute to diversified environmental research and fieldwork.

• *1 Major diameter, minor diameter, and feret diameter
• *2 The mass of 4390 plastic particles collected at 35 sites in 17 rivers in Japan was measured using an ultramicro balance, and it was found that there was a significant geometric relationship between particle mass and projected area.
  Geometric relationship between the projected surface area and mass of a plastic particle, 
  Tomoya Kataoka, Yota Iga, Rifqi Ahmad Baihaqi, Hadiyanto Hadiyanto and Yasuo Nihei, 
  Water Research, 261, 122061,doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122061, 2024 (September 1).
  https://research.ehime-u.ac.jp/post-1500/

Features

1. World's First Automatic Mass and Volume Analysis Function

The number of particles, area, volume, mass, and individual particle qualities of microplastics can be calculated in a short time from chemical images^*3 obtained by infrared and infrared Raman microscopes. The automatic mass and volume analysis function is the world's first software installed in infrared and infrared Raman microscopes.

• *3 Maps the distribution of chemical substances obtained by infrared microscopes, etc.

2. Quick and Accurate Particle Analysis

The industry's highest level of High-Speed mapping is achieved by measuring an area judged to have no particle with a single accumulation. On the other hand, areas with particles are accumulated multiple times to improve the qualitative accuracy of mapping measurements.

3. Spectrum Advisor function easy to use even for non-experts

Troubleshooting is implemented using infrared microscope specific operations and accessories.
Corrective measures are proposed by comparing the measured spectrum with reference measurement examples. Particle detection and measurement are performed automatically, making it easy to use even for first-time analysis work.

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