Sampling of Microplastics at a Municipal Recycling Facility

Published

April 1, 2024

Author(s)

Abigail P. Lindstrom, Joseph M. Conny, Diana Ortiz-Montalvo

Abstract

Particulate sampling was carried out at a local municipal recycling facility near a conveyer belt containing sorted plastic materials to collect airborne environmental particles on filters. Nucleopore filters were mounted on Teflon support rings, coated with 100 nm aluminum to reduce the background signal for micro-Raman spectroscopy and marked with a fiducial pattern using a laser engraver. The fiducial pattern was crucial in identifying samples, locating particles, relocating particles, and transferring samples between instruments. Optimum sampling conditions of two hours at 25 LPM (liters per minute) were determined using light microscopy to evaluate the particle loadings. The filters were then cut into slices which were attached to sections of thin beryllium-copper sheeting for easy transfer of the filter between microscopy platforms. Scanning electron microscopy was used to identify carbon-rich particles. Light microscopy was used to identify colored particles which were also carbon rich which were then analyzed using micro-Raman spectroscopy to identify specific polymers.

Citation

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Sampling, Environmental, Micro-Plastics, Nano-Plastics, Microscopy, Micro-Raman spectroscopy

Citation

Lindstrom, A. , Conny, J. and Ortiz-Montalvo, D. (2024), Sampling of Microplastics at a Municipal Recycling Facility, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=935965 (Accessed October 13, 2025)