Application Navigator

Plastic Waste
Problems in Plastic Waste

Where are MPs coming from?

Plastic waste including Microplastics (MPs) are small bits of plastic either
engineered for end-products, or the result of environmental degradation ofpolymer-based trash.

35%

What are MPs?

MPs are classified into Primary and Secondary MPs. Primary MPs are directly
released into the environment as small plastic particles. These are intentionallyengineered particles, like those found in some consumer and industrial products.
Cosmetics have used MPs as abrasives.
Secondary MPs are the result of the degradation of large plastic waste, like plasticbags and bottles, into smaller plastic fragments when exposed to our environment.
But these particles often weather, degrade or abrade from environmental or
physical events, ending up in our oceans and elsewhere.

SYNTHETIC TEXTILES

28%
TIRES

Why are MPs a concern?

24%
CITY DUST

7%
ROAD MARKINGS

MPs can absorb and be an aggregation center for substances dissolved inwater due to their higher chemical affinity with respect to water (higherhydrophobicity), increasing their load and potential toxicity.
MPs have been found in a huge number of species among all groups ofwildlife and in several types of food. The consumption of these foods cantransfer MPs and their additives into the human body.
Considering this, it is crucial to focus on the analytical techniques whichallow the identification and characterization of the smallest particles.

4%
MARINE COATINGS

2%
PERSONAL CARE
PRODUCTS

0.3%

Model prediction for global count density of microsplastic（1.01 - 4.85 mm）

PLASTIC PELLETS

Citation: Eriksen M, Lebreton LCM, Carson HS, Thiel M, Moore CJ, Borerro JC, et al. (2014)
Plastic Pollution in the World's Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Aﬂoat at Sea.
PLoS ONE 9(12): e111913. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111913, Creative Commons: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/* Created by HORIBA based on IUCN "Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: a Global Evaluation of Sources", 2017

Plastics flows in the environment & related HORIBA solutions
Compact pH & Ion Meter LAQUAtwin

Stack Gas Analyzer ENDA-5000 Series

Can continuously measure stack gas.
Suitable for measuring emissions from waste
incineration plants or boilers.

● Nitrogen oxide ● Sulfur dioxide ● Carbonmonoxide ● Carbon dioxide ● Oxygen

Ambient PM Monitor APDA-372
Can continuously measureparticulate matter suspected ofadversely affecting human healthwhen inhaled.

● Nitrogen oxide ● Sulfur dioxide ● Oxygen● Carbon monoxide ● Carbon dioxide● Methane

MPs can be toxic depending on its composition and also act as a carrier of other bacterial molecules that cling to it. Scientists fear the cumulative buildup of thesetoxins may affect the health of living organisms. Research through particle analysis and Raman spectroscopy in the steps below has begun to identify various MPs
types in order to trace these particles back to its sources.
1. Sample Preparation
Eliminate all types ofpossible organic
contaminants.

Multi-Parameter Water Quality Checker
U-50 Series● pH ● Dissolved oxygen (DO)● Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)● Fluoride ion concentration ● Electric conductivity● Electric resistivity ● Ammonium ● Turbidity● Activated sludge (MLSS) ● Residual chlorine,

Can measure components in combustion gas.

PM4 / PM10 / TSP (PMtot))● pH ● Electric conductivity ● Ion ● Salinity● TDS

Outdoor type analyzer suitable for water
treatment processes.

Portable Gas Analyzer PG-300 Series● Particulate matter (PM1 / PM2.5 /Spoon type pH and ion sensor.

Industrial Water Quality
Analyzer H-1 Seriesetc.

Outdoor use, such as river water, lake water,
well water, and ground water.

● pH ● DO ● Electric conductivity● Turbidity ● ORP ● Salinity● Specific gravity of seawater ● TDS● Water temperature ● Water depth ● GPS

3. Measure &Data AcquisitionIdentifiy the MPs.

2. Filtration
Filter size, filter material andpore sizes must be
carefully selected.

4. Analysis & Reporting
Execute structural analysis
and image analysis.

HORIBA has developed a full solution for thisapplication using Raman Spectroscopy

Raman Spectroscopy for Microplastic Analyis
After considering the optimal MPs analysis workflow andthe needs and challenges, we can provide a full solution
for this application with Raman spectroscopy.

High resolution optical camera
Raman spectrometer with 3 wavelengths (laser):Electric switching (532 nm, 638 nm, 785 nm laser)High precision automatic sample XYZ stage:
XY motorized stage (X = 75 mm, Y = 50 mm)

Material Recycle

BurnRaman Microscope XploRA™ PLUS

HumansFishThermal Recycle

Optical microscope

Harmful to the human body?
Chemical Recycle

RecycleUse

Produce

Spill

ParticleFinder™: Most suitable Raman software option for MPs analysis
River / Ocean
ParticleFinder™

Broken down into microplastics

Laboratory

Explosion-Proof Process Gas Analyzer EIA-51 Series● Carbon monoxide ● Carbon dioxide ● Methane ● Hydrogen ● Oxygen ● Ammonia, etc.
Why EIA-51 Series? 1. Guarantee product quality

2. Hydrogen explosion proof

2. Particle selection and Raman aquisition
SelectThreshold& Locate

Particle Tracking Analysis SystemViewSizer 3000

Enables particle size distribution analysis withwide dynamic range. The Imaging Unit Accessory
enables real-time particle observation.

Additional software options:● Particle size: 10 nm - 5,000 μm

Fluorescence and Absorbance Spectrometer Duetta
Pulverize

Gasification

Chemical Synthesis

CO/CO2/H2/CH4

NH3/CO2/COProduct

Repor�ngRamanAquisi�on

Laser Scattering Particle Size Distribution
Analyzer Partica SeriesWithoutView Sharp™

Collection

3. Statistical analysis

FinishEnables particle size analysis and particle
number concentration measurement.
● Particle size: 10 nm - 15 μm● Particle number concentration: 5 x 10⁶ - 2 x 10⁸

HORIBA Solution in the process of chemical recycling

1. Particle location
ImageAquisi�on

Can continuously measure combustible gases or gases in an explosive environment.
It covers a wide range of applications including infrared gas analyzers for general-purposes
and models for use with oxygen and hydrogen.
* Explosion-proof certification in Japan: Exd II B+H2T4, Expx II T4X

ParticleFinder is a fully automated software for Raman data manipulation and results. With ParticleFinder, particles can quickly be located ona video image, analyzed for size and shape descriptors, and then chemically characterized.

For water analysis. Simultaneously combines the fluorescence andabsorbance analyses.

● Fluorescence: 250 - 1,100 nm● Absorbance: 250 - 1,100 nm

Autofocus function thatprovides a clear viewof all of the sample.

WithMVA Plus
Multivariate analysis
using various algorithms
to judge the similarity ofeach component.

KnowItAllTMBuilding Library
Spectral database that canidentify particles consistingof various substances.

KnowItAll is a trademark of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. HRE-3780A