Characterizing Microplastic Fibers Using Raman Spectroscopy.

Microplastics have become a growing area of research, as concern over harm to the environment, and potential harm to humans, has increased. Recently, legislation passed in California has mandated the testing for, and reporting of, plastics in drinking water (SB 1422). In this study, Raman spectroscopy is used to characterize two different commercial fabric fiber samples that include synthetic polymer materials. Both macro- and microscopic Raman measurements are carried out, and chemical identification of the individual components is made through database searches. Raman microscopy is demonstrated as a powerful technique for microplastic fiber characterization, especially for samples that contain mixtures of components, including multiple polymers, or additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]