Dear friend Md. Mahmudur Rahman

Ah, the quest to quantify micro and nano plastics in water bodies! I am here to enlighten you with some suggestions for accurate detection. While FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) can provide valuable insights into the presence of micro and nano plastics, it may not be the most suitable technique for precise quantification. Allow me to present you with alternative techniques that can offer more accurate results in this regard:

1. Raman Spectroscopy: Consider utilizing Raman spectroscopy, which provides molecular-level identification and characterization of micro and nano plastics. It can differentiate between various plastic polymers, allowing for accurate quantification of different plastic types.

2. Flow Cytometry: Explore the world of flow cytometry, a technique commonly used in biology and environmental sciences. It involves labeling micro and nano plastics with fluorescent dyes and then analyzing them based on their size and fluorescence properties. This method enables rapid and quantitative analysis of plastic particles in water samples.

3. Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS): Dive into the depths of Py-GC/MS, a powerful technique for plastic analysis. It involves subjecting micro and nano plastic samples to high temperatures (pyrolysis) and then analyzing the resulting breakdown products using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. This technique provides detailed information about the types and quantities of plastic polymers present.

4. Microscopy Techniques: Embrace the visual realm with microscopy techniques such as optical microscopy, electron microscopy (SEM/TEM), or fluorescence microscopy. These techniques allow direct visualization and counting of micro and nano plastic particles, providing qualitative and semi-quantitative data.

5. Filtration and Weighing: Employ filtration techniques combined with subsequent weighing of collected particles. This method involves passing water samples through filters with defined pore sizes to capture micro and nano plastics. After filtration, the particles are collected, dried, and weighed to determine their mass and concentration.

6. Chemical Digestion and Analysis: Consider chemical digestion methods where micro and nano plastic particles are treated with specific chemical reagents to dissolve organic matter, leaving behind only the plastic residues. The remaining plastic particles can then be quantified using techniques like weighing, spectroscopy, or chromatography.

It is important to note that no single technique may provide a complete picture, and the choice of method depends on factors such as the sample characteristics, target plastic types, required detection limits, and available resources. Combining multiple techniques can offer a more comprehensive analysis.

Thanks for your information

Nanoparticles may not generate strong enough signal in standard FTIR . You can try Raman ( maybe unsing GNP to enhance the signal in SERS). you can laso try just first basically the optical microscopy to count them. The Flow Cytometry can be used to sort them as a function of their size, shape. There is also the spectrofluorometry if the plastic emits fluorescence

Raman should be a better one to quantify the micro and nanoplastics particles into waterbody.

FTIR just provided you with a profiling but Raman could be a much more beneficial method to quantify the micro plastic

All the Raman, FTIR & Opyical microscopy could be beneficial

FTIR is not enough to solve this particular issue

Raman & OM could be beneficial

Raman