I have used FTIR-AT method to detect polymer types in microplastics. Some instances they are detected. However, when microplastics are too small (i.e. < 300 microns), they cannot be detected as they cannot make proper contact with the crystal. Since we do not have a micro FTIR, much appreciate if you can suggest a practical way of doing this ?
Hi
Please go for NMR spectra it will will be helpful in atomic level and most advanced method than FTIR
Best
Dear Dr. R. R. M. K. P. Ranatunga,
spatial resolution is determined by a combination of diffraction and detector element size. Some FT-IR, with suitable ATR Imaging Accessory offers a resolution of 3.1 microns, expressed as the FWHM of the combined spread function. There solution is diffraction limited over most of the spectral range. It provides near-optimum over-sampling by utilizing a pixels pacing of 1.56 microns, which is half the resolution.
Source: https://www.perkinelmer.co.uk/CMSResources/Images/44-74872TCH_SpatialResolutioninATRFT-IRImaging.pdf
Best regards, Pierluigi Traverso
Thanks Arun for the response. I had never tried NMR for microplastic polymer identification. I learned that you need expert support to do the identification. But will give it a try..
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