A Study on the Current Status of Microplastic Analysis in the Air Using FT-IR

Purpose: To collect and analyze microplastics in the atmosphere, a preprocessing method is necessary. Currently, reliable preprocessing methods recognized in academia include oxidation treatment and density separation. Research design, data and methodology: Oxidation treatment is a process for removing organic matter in the sample. By adding 20 mL of H₂O₂ and 20 mL of Fenton oxidation solution to the sample and heating it at 60℃ for 2 hours, the organic matter in the sample is oxidized and removed. Density separation is a process for removing inorganic matter in the sample. By adding 40 mL of ZnBr₂ density separation solution to the sample and allowing it to settle in a separatory funnel for 24 hours, the supernatant is collected for filtration. At this stage, the stopcock at the bottom of the separatory funnel is opened to remove the precipitated inorganic matter based on density differences. Results: Additionally, before applying these preprocessing methods, a resuspension process is required to detach microplastics from the actual sample. This is achieved through sonication for 10 minutes. Conclusions: The objective of this study is to investigate the current status of FT-IR analysis in Korea and to determine the optimal analytical method.