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Updated: Jun 29, 2025
14:10
Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils
Published on: March 21, 2025
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Spectral analysis of environmental microplastic polyethylene (PE) using average spectra
Zijiang Yang1, Jiaqi Zhang1, Nakano Haruka2
1Faculty of Marine Resources and Environment, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
The Science of the Total Environment
|March 26, 2024
Summary
Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics were analyzed in Tokyo Bay. Spectral analysis revealed that sample oxidation, influenced by chemical treatment, affects identification, suggesting oxidized PE as a better reference.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Marine Pollution
Background:
- Microplastics, particularly polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), are prevalent pollutants in marine environments like Tokyo Bay.
- Accurate identification of microplastic types and their degradation states is crucial for understanding environmental impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the spectral properties of microplastics collected from Tokyo Bay surface seawater.
- To investigate the influence of chemical treatment, specifically agitation, on microplastic spectral data.
- To compare spectral data with standard polyethylene (PE) and oxidized PE (PEOx) reference spectra for improved identification.
Main Methods:
- Collection of microplastic samples from Tokyo Bay surface seawater.
- Identification of polymer types, focusing on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
- Analysis of spectral properties, including carbonyl index (CI), and comparison with standard PE and oxidized PE (PEOx) spectra.
- Evaluation of spectral variations based on microplastic shape and color.
Main Results:
- PE and PP were the dominant microplastic types found; fragments were the most common PE shape, and white was the most frequent color.
- Significant deviations in average spectra were observed for different shapes and colors compared to standard PE.
- Agitation during chemical treatment likely caused oxidation, leading to pronounced spectral peaks.
- Sample spectra showed greater similarity to oxidized PE (PEOx) than to standard PE, indicating PEOx as a more suitable reference.
Conclusions:
- Microplastic spectral properties are influenced by factors such as shape, color, and chemical treatment processes.
- Oxidation, potentially induced by agitation during sample preparation, significantly alters spectral signatures.
- Utilizing oxidized PE (PEOx) as a reference spectrum enhances the accuracy of microplastic identification in environmental samples.
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