Developing an application to automate and improve microplastic analyses using Raman spectroscopy

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Microplastic pollution has become a contaminant of concern globally. Microplastics are found in soils, water,**wildlife, seafood and drinking water. Methodologies for quantifying and characterizing microplastics in**environmental samples is a work in progress and companies are working hard to help researchers design more**accurate and efficient methods. This is critical, because to wholly understand the sources, fate and effects of**microplastics in the environment, we must be equipped with efficient and effective technologies and methods**to measure the quantity and diversity of microplastic in complex samples.**Our overarching goal is to automate methods and to build a spectral library specific to microplastics. Together,**with Horiba, we will develop an application-based library to enable automation and a spectral library to**streamline the library search. This will be the first application method and library to be developed specific to**microplastics using Raman spectroscopy. Our work plan will include: 1) developing a diverse microplastics**library; 2) developing an application-based library for microplastics to identify the best parameters for**characterizing microplastics; and 3) automating microplastics analysis.**The end product will be a higher throughput method that can be used to count, measure and identify**microplastics in complex environmental samples. Our goal is to not only develop these methods, but also to**share them across the country with our government colleagues. Such methods can facilitate more effective**monitoring programs that will inform policies to mitigate and prevent this emerging contaminate in our**ecosystems and resources.