32thEuropeanCongresson

MolecularSpectroscopy2014

EUCMOS 2014 3

EUCMOS2014Düsseldorf

24.8.2014–29.8.2014

Heinrich‐Heine‐UniversitätDüsseldorf

BookofAbstracts

Editor:MichaelSchmitt

ISBN:978‐3‐00‐046327‐3

Session3:EnvironmentalApplicationsinSpectroscopy

EUCMOS 2014 68

EAS3.1MonitoringPlasticWasteUsingFTIRSpectroscopy

AlbertvanOyena,JanAndriesvanFranekerb,UweOppermannc,MarionEgelkraut‐Holtusc

aResearch,Harderhook20,D‐1432Bocholt,CARATGmbH,GermanybResearch,POBox167,1790ADDenBurgTexel,IMARES,Netherlands

cSpectroscopy,Albert‐Hahn‐Str.6‐10,D‐47269Duisburg,ShimadzuEuropaGmbH

Theproductionofplastichas reachedanall‐timehigh, for instance in2012 therehasbeen288million ton (MT)producedworldwide[1].According to theUnitedNationsEnvironment Program it is estimated that annually 6.4 Mt plastic ends in our seas andoceansworldwide.Estimatesof thetotalvolumeinouroceansexceedmorethan100Mt[2]butmoreandmoreresearchassumesthisisanunderestimation.

In the environment degradation of plastic takes place. Under influence of UV‐radiation and the oceanwaves, big pieces of plastic are grinded intomicroplastics (< 5mm).Alargeamountoftheseplasticswillwashupthebeacheswherethesandisabrasive.The sand stores a lot ofheat andexchanges thiswith theplastics,whichaccelerates thedegradation.

An FTIR spectrum of a Polyethylene (PE) fragment in the environment differsstronglyfromthevirginstateofPEasitwasproduced.Theresultofdegradationarelotofnewpeaks.At this time, it’s awell adoptedopinion that degradation of PEmainly takesplaceonthesurface.Theplasticfragmentsonbeachesgettingsandedandsmallpiecesre‐leased of the surface, are forming an invisible pollution. The plastic soup is becoming aplasticbouillon.Experimentalworkisinprogressforanalyzingthemicroparticles.

Marinebiotamistakesplasticforfood.WellknownarethepicturesofChrisJordan[3]ofalbatrosschickswhichdiedofhungerbuthavingastomachfullofplastics.Nowadaysmore andmore researches are concentrating on the stomach content of fish and birds.About95%oftheNorthseafulmarshaveplasticintheirstomach.Inthe1980sabouthalfof these ingestedplasticwere industrialpellets,butnowadays80%bymassisconsumerwaste,mostlyPE.

ForinterpretationofFTIRspectracurrentlythemajorityofthepolymer‐orplasticlibrariesareusingspectraofprimematerialsandareveryusefulforprimematerials,po‐lymerproductionwaste,pre‐consumerrecyclatesbut insufficient forpost consumers re‐cyclatesandplasticfoundintheenvironment.

Plasticsarenotinertbutchangeovertimeastheyarethermodynamicallymetastab‐le. Plastics are losing their preferred and desired mechanical and thermal properties.Therefortheplasticrecyclemarketislimitedbythethermodynamicalstateofthewastedplastics. The identification of plastic in our environment needs an updated determiningmethod.

FTIR‐ATRisastrongtoolforidentifyingplasticoveralongperiodoftime,orevenbetteroveradegradationperiod.Withtherightlibrary,FTIR‐ATRisahelpfultoolforpo‐lymer industryaswellas forpre‐andpost‐consumerplasticwasterecycler,and for theresearcherswhoaredescribingtheplasticwasteinourenvironment.

Keywords:FTIR‐ATRSpectroscopy;Plastic;Environment,Wildlife

References

[1]Plasticthefacts2013,http://www.plasticseurope.org/Document/plastics‐the‐facts‐2013.aspx?FolID=2[2] UNEP, year book 2012, http://www.unep.org/yearbook/2012/ [3] Midway: Message from the Gyre, http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/midway/ [4]IMARES,WageningenUR,PlasticwasteintheSea,www.wageningenur.nl/plastics‐fulmars