Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview01:09

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview

7.3K
When electromagnetic radiation passes through a material, atoms or molecules transition from a lower to a higher energy state by absorbing radiation corresponding to the energy difference between the two states. The absorption of infrared (IR) radiation causes transitions between vibrational energy levels in a molecule. Therefore, IR spectroscopy is a useful analytical tool for determining the molecular structure of molecules.
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
7.3K
IR Frequency Region: Fingerprint Region01:03

IR Frequency Region: Fingerprint Region

2.3K
IR spectra are divided into two main regions: the diagnostic region and the fingerprint region. The diagnostic region of the spectrum lies above 1500 cm−1. The absorptions resulting from single-bond vibrations of the N–H, C–H, and O–H stretch at higher wavenumbers and appear on the left side of the spectrum. The stretching absorptions of the C≡C and C≡N occur between 2100–2300 cm−1. In contrast, those arising from stretching absorptions of the...
2.3K
IR Spectrum01:19

IR Spectrum

3.2K
When infrared (IR) radiation passes through a molecule, the bonds stretch or bend by absorbing the radiation. This absorption creates the molecule's absorption spectrum, which is the plot of its percentage transmittance versus wavenumber.
Transmittance is defined as the ratio of the radiant power passing through a sample to that from the radiation's source. Multiplying the transmittance by 100 gives the percent transmittance (%T), which varies between 100% (no absorption) and 0%...
3.2K
Applications of IR Spectroscopy: Overview01:11

Applications of IR Spectroscopy: Overview

2.9K
The non-destructive nature and ability to provide valuable chemical information make IR spectroscopy a versatile technique with broad applications in various scientific and industrial fields. IR spectroscopy is commonly used to identify and characterize organic and inorganic compounds. It provides information about the functional groups present in a molecule and the bonding between atoms. This helps in the structural elucidation of compounds during organic synthesis, pharmaceutical research,...
2.9K
IR Spectrometers01:25

IR Spectrometers

3.4K
There are two main infrared (IR) spectrophotometers: dispersive IR spectrometers and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers. In a dispersive IR spectrometer, a beam of infrared radiation produced by a hot wire is divided into two parallel equal-intensity beams using mirrors. One beam passes through the sample, while another is a reference beam. The beams then move through the monochromator, which separates the radiations into a continuous spectrum of different frequencies. The...
3.4K
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview01:13

Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview

1.6K
Attenuated total reflectance (ATR) infrared spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique used to study the composition of materials. It is widely employed in chemistry, materials science, forensic science, and other fields where sample characterization is required. ATR has several advantages over traditional transmission IR spectroscopy, including the requirement of little to no sample preparation and the ability to analyze a wide range of samples.
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
1.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Safe, high-performance, moisture-activated batteries for powering next-generation Internet-of-Things devices.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Contact-Accessible Silver Nanoparticle-Decorated Electrospun Carbon Fibers for Microplastics Detection by SERS.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Electrospun nanofiber composite for stable and scalable VO<sub>2</sub>-based thermochromic smart windows: energy and environmental analysis.

Nanoscale·2026
Same author

Patterned wireless transcranial optogenetics generates artificial perception.

Nature neuroscience·2025
Same author

Dynamic control of phase for tunable structural colors.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

Smartphone-Based Immune Response Measurement Using a Colorimetric Self-Assembled Plasmonic Biosensor.

Nano letters·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
10:16

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

51.3K

Multi-spectral infrared spectroscopy for robust plastic identification.

Abraham Vázquez-Guardado, Mason Money, Nathaniel McKinney

    Applied Optics
    |September 15, 2015
    PubMed
    Summary

    Accurate plastic identification is crucial for recycling. A new multi-spectral infrared spectroscopy method creates a unique plastic fingerprint library, enabling high-throughput, accurate sorting of diverse plastic waste.

    More Related Videos

    Extraction of Organochlorine Pesticides from Plastic Pellets and Plastic Type Analysis
    10:12

    Extraction of Organochlorine Pesticides from Plastic Pellets and Plastic Type Analysis

    Published on: July 1, 2017

    12.3K
    Sampling and Identification of Microplastics in Groundwater
    08:27

    Sampling and Identification of Microplastics in Groundwater

    Published on: November 7, 2025

    1.6K

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Apr 3, 2026

    Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
    10:16

    Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

    Published on: December 16, 2016

    51.3K
    Extraction of Organochlorine Pesticides from Plastic Pellets and Plastic Type Analysis
    10:12

    Extraction of Organochlorine Pesticides from Plastic Pellets and Plastic Type Analysis

    Published on: July 1, 2017

    12.3K
    Sampling and Identification of Microplastics in Groundwater
    08:27

    Sampling and Identification of Microplastics in Groundwater

    Published on: November 7, 2025

    1.6K

    Area of Science:

    • Materials Science
    • Spectroscopy
    • Environmental Science

    Background:

    • Effective plastic identification is vital for waste management and recycling.
    • Current sorting methods (electrical, optical) struggle with accuracy and throughput for diverse municipal waste plastics.
    • A need exists for advanced techniques to improve plastic waste stream characterization.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To develop and validate a multi-spectral infrared spectroscopic technique for accurate plastic identification.
    • To create a unique spectral fingerprint library for 12 common plastic resin types found in municipal waste.
    • To demonstrate the technique's capability for high-throughput, unbiased plastic identification.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized multi-spectral infrared spectroscopy to analyze plastic samples.
    • Constructed a comprehensive spectral fingerprint library for 12 distinct plastic resin groups.
    • Conducted a blind identification experiment to assess the method's accuracy and reliability.

    Main Results:

    • The developed technique successfully generated unique spectral fingerprints for 12 common plastic types.
    • Blind testing demonstrated excellent and unbiased identification accuracy.
    • The method proved effective for distinguishing between various plastics in a mixed waste scenario.

    Conclusions:

    • Multi-spectral infrared spectroscopy offers a viable solution for accurate plastic identification.
    • The created spectral library enhances the capability for high-throughput plastic waste sorting.
    • This optical technique can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of recycling processes.