Toward the Systematic Identification of Microplastics in the Environment: Evaluation of a New Independent Software Tool (siMPle) for Spectroscopic Analysis

Microplastics (MP) are ubiquitous within the environment, but the approaches to analysis of this contaminant are currently quite diverse, with a number of analytical methods available. The comparability of results is hindered as even for a single analytical method such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) the different instruments currently available do not allow a harmonized analysis. To overcome this limitation, a new free of charge software tool, allowing the systematic identification of MP in the environment (siMPle) was developed. This software tool allows a rapid and harmonized analysis of MP across FT-IR systems from different manufacturers (Bruker Hyperion 3000, Agilent Cary 620/670, PerkinElmer Spotlight 400, and Thermo Fischer Scientific Nicolet iN10). Using the same database and the automated analysis pipeline in siMPle, MP were identified in samples that were analyzed with instruments with different detector systems as well as optical resolutions and the results discussed.