Is fast, automated particle analysis of microplastics achievable with FTIR microscopy?

Microplastic pollution is a persistent and widespread environmental concern, regulatory agencies focusing on environmental monitoring are seeking effective methods for characterizing microplastics, given their diverse and small nature. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a widely accepted analytical tool for identifying polymers, and it is well-suited for detecting large numbers of microplastic particles in a simple, straightforward manner. In this application note, Thermo Fisher Scientific presents a concise workflow for the analysis of microplastics utilizing the Thermo Scientific™ Nicolet™ RaptIR™ FTIR Microscope. This workflow is particularly efficient because the Nicolet RaptIR FTIR Microscope can collect hundreds or thousands of particle spectra without user supervision. Also, the collection time is minimized because only the spectra of particles, not the filter, are collected.