276
V. Singh and S. Chakraborty
2.6 Identification of Functional Groups of the MPs
ATR-FTIR technique (Perkin Elmer Frontier™ FT-IR) has been adopted for the
identification of polymer type, detected in water samples [6]. For every MPs type
(fiber, microbeads, films and fragments), only one particle of each shape was analyzed
under FTIR for polymer identification [21, 22]. Random particles were selected
for the analysis of polymer type using tweezers and forceps. The particles were
carefully removed from filter paper, wrapped in the butter paper and were transferred
to Eppendorf tube. Before initiating the analysis process, the ATR diamond crystal
probe attached with FT-IR was cleaned to prevent any contamination of the samples.
For safety purpose, gloves and mask were put on the face to prevent distortion in the
FT-IR spectral lines. The scanning was initiated for a blank to set up the reference.
Then, the particles were taken out from Eppendorf tube and transferred to diamond
crystal probe with the help of forceps and scanning of the particle was initiated.
The absorption spectra obtained after scanning were analyzed by comparing with
reference spectra and accepted with a match >80% [23].
3 Results and Discussion
3.1 Abundance of MPs in Water Samples
MPs abundance was determined as mean ±SD of items m
−3 of sampled water, and
the results have been presented in Table 1. MPs particles were detected in all the
three stretches ranging from 29 ± 2 to 17 ± 2 particles m
−3 of sampled water.
The mean abundance detected in stretch 1 (pisciculture area) was 29 ± 2 particles
m
−3 of sampled water. In stretch 2 (water supply area), the mean abundance of MPs
detected was 22 ± 2 particles m
−3 of sampled water. In stretch 3 (park area), the mean
abundance detected was 17 ± 2 particles m
−3 of sampled water, which is minimum
among all the three stretches. The overall abundance of MPs in the lake was 68 ± 2
particles m
−3 of sampled water. Total MPs detected in the Kanke lake was 3 particles
m
−3 .
Table 1 MPs abundance, MPs types and polymer type
Stretch
Length (m)
MP abundance (No’s/m 3 )
Mean ± SD
MPs type
1
2000
29 ± 1
Fiber, film, fragment, microbead
2
1700
22 ± 2
Fragment, fiber
3
750
17 ± 2
Film, fiber, fragment
Overall
4450
68 ± 2
Film, fiber, Fragment, microbead
V. Singh and S. Chakraborty
2.6 Identification of Functional Groups of the MPs
ATR-FTIR technique (Perkin Elmer Frontier™ FT-IR) has been adopted for the
identification of polymer type, detected in water samples [6]. For every MPs type
(fiber, microbeads, films and fragments), only one particle of each shape was analyzed
under FTIR for polymer identification [21, 22]. Random particles were selected
for the analysis of polymer type using tweezers and forceps. The particles were
carefully removed from filter paper, wrapped in the butter paper and were transferred
to Eppendorf tube. Before initiating the analysis process, the ATR diamond crystal
probe attached with FT-IR was cleaned to prevent any contamination of the samples.
For safety purpose, gloves and mask were put on the face to prevent distortion in the
FT-IR spectral lines. The scanning was initiated for a blank to set up the reference.
Then, the particles were taken out from Eppendorf tube and transferred to diamond
crystal probe with the help of forceps and scanning of the particle was initiated.
The absorption spectra obtained after scanning were analyzed by comparing with
reference spectra and accepted with a match >80% [23].
3 Results and Discussion
3.1 Abundance of MPs in Water Samples
MPs abundance was determined as mean ±SD of items m
−3 of sampled water, and
the results have been presented in Table 1. MPs particles were detected in all the
three stretches ranging from 29 ± 2 to 17 ± 2 particles m
−3 of sampled water.
The mean abundance detected in stretch 1 (pisciculture area) was 29 ± 2 particles
m
−3 of sampled water. In stretch 2 (water supply area), the mean abundance of MPs
detected was 22 ± 2 particles m
−3 of sampled water. In stretch 3 (park area), the mean
abundance detected was 17 ± 2 particles m
−3 of sampled water, which is minimum
among all the three stretches. The overall abundance of MPs in the lake was 68 ± 2
particles m
−3 of sampled water. Total MPs detected in the Kanke lake was 3 particles
m
−3 .
Table 1 MPs abundance, MPs types and polymer type
Stretch
Length (m)
MP abundance (No’s/m 3 )
Mean ± SD
MPs type
1
2000
29 ± 1
Fiber, film, fragment, microbead
2
1700
22 ± 2
Fragment, fiber
3
750
17 ± 2
Film, fiber, fragment
Overall
4450
68 ± 2
Film, fiber, Fragment, microbead