Microplastics have attracted a great deal of attention as emerging contaminants. Nowadays, microplastics in drinking water are of concern worldwide due to their potential impacts on human health. Therefore, the necessary action is required to evaluate the risk caused by microplastics. However, challenges persist in detecting and analyzing plastic particles in the environmental media, especially in drinking water. Such challenges include, but are not limited to, a lack of standardization of sampling, inconsistent pretreatment standards, and a lack of standardization of analytical methods of microplastics. Few studies have been carried out to identify and quantify microplastics in drinking water, including tap water and bottled water. To accurately analyze microplastics in water, a systematic approach, ranging from sample preparation, purification, and analysis to QA/QC, should be taken. In this presentation, an analytical method for pretreatment and characterization of microplastics from a pilot-scale drinking water treatment system is proposed. In addition, the occurrence and removal of the plastic particles during the water treatment processes have been evaluated using a micro-Raman spectrometer.

Application of μ-Raman spectroscopy for characterization and quantification of microplastics in drinking water system

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.