Notícies
25.06.2019Microplastics characterization. Infrared spectrometry.
The new European regulations that try to regulate the presence of microplastics in water, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, food, etc. will have a clear impact, not only on the environmental policies of the different countries of the European Union, but also in areas such as health, food, etc... Restricting the presence of contaminants and monitoring the presence of microplastics in drinking water, for example, is one of the objectives of the new regulations.
These new guidelines have given rise to the need to characterise the different microplastics present in a wide variety of samples in order to identify the origin of the contaminations. One of the techniques that allow this characterization is infrared spectrometry which, in recent years, is experiencing a growing demand for analysis related to contamination by microplastics.
The infrared spectrometers with coupled microscope available in the Molecular Spectroscopy unit of the Centres Científics i Tecnològics, allow the characterization of small fibers or particles, between 20 and 200 microns approximately. These analyses can be carried out using transmission, placing the fibres or particles in transparent supports to infrared radiation, or by reflection.
Larger particles can be analysed with macro equipment, using attenuated total reflection (ATR) or diffuse reflection DRIFT accessories.
Some of the samples that have been analysed in recent years correspond to microplastics found in different media: drugs, food, water, animals...
This technique allows the analysis of samples in a very fast way and without previous manipulation.
For more information:
Technical manager: PhD. Núria Ferrer
Contact:molec@ccit.ub.edu