Validation of ATR FT-IR to identify polymers of plastic marine debris, including those ingested by marine organisms

Published

January 3, 2018

Author(s)

Melissa R. Jung, F. D. Horgen, Sara Orski, Viviana Rodriguez Cardenas, Kathryn Beers, George H. Balazs, T. T. Jones, Thierry M. Work, Kayla C. Brignac, Sarah-Jeanne Royer, K. D. Hyrenbach, Brenda A. Jensen, Jennifer Lynch

Abstract

Polymer identification of plastic marine debris can help identify its sources, degradation, and fate. We optimized and validated a fast, simple, and accessible technique, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), to identify polymers contained in plastic ingested by sea turtles. Spectra of consumer good items with known resin codes #1-6 and several #7 polymers were compared to those of scientifically-sourced and raw manufactured plastics. An inter-laboratory comparison with high temperature size exclusion chromatography confirmed ATR FT-IR could differentiate these polymers. High-density (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) discrimination is challenging but a clear step-by-step guide is provided that identified 78% of ingested PE samples. The optimal cleaning methods were wiping ingested pieces with water or cutting. Of 828 ingested plastics pieces from 50 Pacific sea turtles, 96% were identified by ATR FT-IR as HDPE, LDPE, unknown PE, polypropylene (PP), PE and PP mixtures, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and nylon.

Citation

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volume

127

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.061

Local Download

Keywords

marine plastics, turtles, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high temperature size exclusion chromatography

Citation

Jung, M. , Horgen, F. , Orski, S. , Rodriguez Cardenas, V. , Beers, K. , Balazs, G. , Jones, T. , Work, T. , Brignac, K. , Royer, S. , Hyrenbach, K. , Jensen, B. and Lynch, J. (2018), Validation of ATR FT-IR to identify polymers of plastic marine debris, including those ingested by marine organisms, Marine Pollution Bulletin, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.061, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=924694 (Accessed October 20, 2025)