Microplastics identification in landfill leachates by different spectroscopic techniques

Discovered more than 40 years ago, microplastics have become a major environmental issue. With increasing global plastic production, are of growing concern. Landfills been pinpointed as primary sources to surface waters and they have, in fact, identified quantified such. Due their small size, different polymers interfering non-plastic materials, difficult analyse complex matrix such leachate. To elucidate the impact pre-treatment on performance most common microspectroscopical analytical methods employed, i.e., FT-IR Raman, we re-examined previously pre-treated analysed leachate samples. Additionally, subjected duplicates samples concentrations H2O2 with varied reaction times digest remove organic matter. The were density separation (re-)analysed by means Raman microspectroscopy. Larger particles also near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging. We found concentration possibility identifying quantifying PET particles, scattering microspectroscopy enabling be counted FT-IR. This is likely due increased detectable particle size range, from around 50 μm for 1 Optimized subsequent enabled clearly identify numerous PE but PP, PS, carbon compounds Hyperspectral imaging performed well larger 30 μm.