Characterization of microplastics from beach sediment

Mikroplastika, čestice manje od 5 mm, predstavlja sve veći izvor onečišćenja u svijetu, a zbog svojih malih dimenzija teško ju je analizirati i ukloniti. Procjenjuje se da prosječno osam milijuna tona plastike godišnje završi u oceanima i morima. Djelovanjem valova i morskih struja, mikroplastika koja pluta u morskom stupcu, može dospjeti do morskih plaža gdje se nakuplja, a zbog obraštanja, čime postaje teža od vode, velik dio završi i u sedimentu. U ovome radu ispitivano je 5 vrsta plastike iz 7 različitih ambalaža: polietilen tereftalat (PET), polietilen velike gustoće (HDPE), polietilen male gustoće (LDPE), polistiren (PS), te polipropilen (PP). Rad daje pregled spektara, identifikaciju plastičnih ambalaža te izradu baze podataka. U radu se potvrđuje mogućnost upotrebe nove predložene i opisane metode separacije čestica mikroplastike iz sedimenta pomoću natrijevog polivolframata (SPT; Sodium polytungstat). Natrijev polivolframat je teška tekućina koja se koristi za odvajanje materijala različite gustoće pomoću njihovog uzgona, najčešće kod izdvajanja teških minerala. Svojstvo SPT-a u odnosu na slične tekućine koje se upotrebljavaju kod izdvajanja mikroplastike je njegova netoksičnost, čime bi se mogao smanjiti negativan utjecaj na okoliš. U radu se predlaže i opisuje analiza malih čestica mikroplastike, koje se ne mogu snimati ATR metodom zbog svojih dimenzija, pomoću KBr tableta. Tri od sedam snimanja nisu dala zadovoljavajuće rezultate te se ova metoda, bez dodatnog istraživanja i modifikacije, ne može koristiti za analizu mikroplastike.Microplastic, particles less than 5 mm, is an increasing source of pollution in the world, and due its small dimensions it is difficult to analyze and remove it. It is estimated that an average of eight million tons of plastic per year end in the oceans and seas. By the action of waves and sea currents, microplastic that floats in the sea column can reach seaside beaches where it accumulates, and because of flax becomes heavier than water and ends up in sediment. In this paper, 5 types of plastic were tested in 7 different packaging: polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP). The paper provides an overview of the spectrum, identification of plastic packaging and database creation. This paper confirms the possibility of using a new proposed and described method of separating the microplastic particles from the sediment using sodium polytungstat (SPT). Sodium polytungstat is a heavy liquid used to separate materials of varying densities by their buoyancy, most often when separating heavy minerals. The SPT's properties with respect to the similar fluids used to isolate microplastics is its non-toxicity, which could reduce the negative impact on the environment. The paper proposes and describes the analysis of small particles of microplastic, which can not be recorded by the ATR method because of its dimensions, using KBr tablets. Three out of seven shots did not yield satisfactory results and thus, without further research and modification, this method can not be used for microplastic analysis