Analytical and Measuring Instruments for Microplastics

Significance of Microplastic Analysis

Microplastics, defined as plastic fragments from several micrometers up to 5 mm, pose risks to marine ecosystems and human health via the food chain. Their composition, additives and adsorbed pollutants require precise characterization to understand environmental fate, bioaccumulation and toxicity.

Objectives and Study Overview

This work surveys Shimadzu’s integrated analytical approaches to microplastic research, spanning sample collection and pretreatment through chemical and morphological analysis. Presented case studies illustrate solutions for polymer identification, contaminant profiling and quantitative evaluation in environmental, biological and industrial contexts.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Analytical workflows typically include sampling from water, sediments or organisms, followed by removal of organic matter and separation of particles. Method selection depends on particle size, polymer type and target analytes.

• FTIR microscopy (IRTracer-100 with AIM-9000) for nondestructive polymer mapping down to 20 µm
• Scanning electron microscopy with EDX (EDX-8000) for morphology and elemental additives
• GC-MS/MS (GCMS-TQ8040) and LC-MS/MS (LCMS-8060) for adsorbed organic pollutants (PAHs, PFAS)
• Py-GC/MS and thermal analysis for bulk polymer and contaminant profiling
• Particle image analysis (iSpect DIA-10) for particle size, shape and count concentration
• Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC-60 Plus) for polymer blend quantification

Main Results and Discussion

Key findings across applications include:

• FTIR mapping of primary and secondary microplastics revealed distribution of PS, PE, PP and PET on filters
• Infrared microspectroscopy of fragments from polar cod and deepwater shrimp identified PMMA with kaolin and PE mixtures with CaCO3 and silicates
• FTIR and EDX analysis of fishing nets distinguished polymer types (PE, PP, PA) and quantified copper coatings at up to 15 wt %
• Unused versus used water-treatment pellets (5 mm) showed surface cellulose residues alongside polyethylene, with trace phosphorus detected by EDX
• Dynamic image analysis characterized environmental water samples at 5–100 µm, yielding particle counts of ~5,300 particles/mL and average size ~24 µm; FTIR confirmed rod-like PP fibers
• DSC methods determined polymer blend ratios via individual and total heats of fusion, achieving composition estimates within 5 % of known ratios
• PAHs and PFAS adsorption tests demonstrated that uptake on PP, PS and PE correlates with hydrophobicity (Log Kow, Log D), with transfer ratios increasing for more lipophilic chemicals

Benefits and Practical Applications

The combined toolkit enables:

• Rapid polymer identification and mapping in particles down to tens of micrometers
• Quantitative profiling of chemical additives and environmental pollutants
• Automated particle counting and sizing for monitoring and standardization
• Blended material quality control via DSC
• Trace contaminant detection in microplastics using tandem MS

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging needs include analysis of sub-300 µm and nanoplastics, standardization of pretreatment protocols, integration of high-resolution imaging mass spectrometry, improved hyphenated workflows and automation of sample extraction to address global microplastic pollution challenges.

Conclusion

Shimadzu’s portfolio of FTIR, EDX, GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, DSC and particle imaging instruments provides a comprehensive solution for microplastic characterization. These methods support environmental research, regulatory monitoring and industrial quality control to mitigate the impacts of plastic pollution.

Instrumentation Used

• IRTracer-100 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer
• AIM-9000 Infrared Microscope
• EDX-8000 Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
• GCMS-TQ8040 Triple Quadrupole Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer
• LCMS-8060 Triple Quadrupole Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer
• Pyrolysis-GC/MS
• iSpect DIA-10 Dynamic Particle Image Analysis System
• DSC-60 Plus Differential Scanning Calorimeter

References

• Shimadzu Corporation. Diverse Solutions for Improving the Marine Environment. Application Note C10G-E083, 2019.
• Kühn, S.; Jamieson, A.; Keighley, R.; Egelkraut-Holtus, M. “In every ocean, at every depth – microfibers and microplastics.” Shimadzu News 2, 2018.
• Nikolaou, M.; Neofitou, N.; Skordas, K.; et al. “Fish farming and anti-fouling paints: copper and zinc in farmed fish.” Aquaculture Environment Interactions 5, 163–171, 2014.