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Shimadzu Review 79[1・2] (2022)
Abstract
In order to develop new materials and recycle them appropriately, it is important to determine the material characteristics and chemical structure of applicable plastics. This article describes a technique for using FTIR to analyze plastics and describes examples of using the technique to analyze biomass and biodegradable plastics, which have attracted significant attention in terms of “green innovation.” An example of analyzing microplastics, which have been identified as a significant problem in recent years, is also described.
FTIR analysis is widely used to qualitatively analyze plastics and other organic materials by comparing their infrared spectra to known spectra. However, the infrared spectra of plastics change if they are degraded by heat or UV rays, which can prevent valid qualitative analysis. To resolve that problem, Shimadzu has developed spectral libraries for plastics deteriorated by UV rays or heat. The Plastic Analyzer method package is a product that includes both of those libraries to provide powerful support for qualitative analysis of either regular plastics or deteriorated plastics, which were previously difficult to analyze. This article also discusses the typical characteristics of infrared spectra from deteriorated plastics.
1Business Design Unit, Solutions Center of Excellence, Analytical & Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
2Green Solution Unit, Solutions Center of Excellence, Analytical & Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan
3Green Solution Unit, Solutions Center of Excellence, Analytical & Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
4Green Solution Unit, Solutions Center of Excellence, Analytical & Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan
*The information contained in Shimadzu Review has not been modified since the original publication date. Please be aware that in some cases, products mentioned within the articles are no longer available.