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

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

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.061

i

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

2018
By Jung, Melissa R. ; Horgen, F. David ; Orski, Sara V. ; ...

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Journal Title:

Marine Pollution Bulletin
Personal Author:

Jung, Melissa R. ; Horgen, F. David ; Orski, Sara V. ; Rodriguez C., Viviana ; Beers, Kathryn L. ; Balazs, George H. ; Jones, T. Todd ; Work, Thierry M. ; Brignac, Kayla C. ; Royer, Sarah-Jeanne ; Hyrenbach, K. David ; Jensen, Brenda A. ; Lynch, Jennifer M.
NOAA Program & Office:

NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) ; PIFSC (Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center)
Description:

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 identification codes #1–6 and several #7 plastics were compared to standard and raw manufactured polymers. High temperature size exclusion chromatography measurements 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 consisted of 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.
Keywords:

Aquatic Science Oceanography Pollution
Source:

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 127, 704-716
DOI:

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

0025-326X
Format:

PDF
Publisher:

Elsevier BV
Document Type:

Journal Article
Rights Information:

Accepted Manuscript
Compliance:

Library
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:f3fc14147a54673c95fd069e1323c5cf7e1106c84c8a73693e3bf558616aa370c9024523dedf537587958c8b992205e46b4b48006b0cea2d878baec0b95a6d55
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/62799/noaa_62799_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 3.01 MB ]

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