Navigating Global Microplastics Regulations in Drinking Water with Vibrational Spectroscopy

Significance of the Topic

Microplastics are pervasive contaminants in drinking water, raising concerns due to their diverse sizes, shapes, and polymer types. Reliable detection and characterization are critical for public health protection and environmental monitoring, prompting regulatory frameworks worldwide to establish standardized analytical methods.

Objectives and Study Overview

This paper reviews global regulations for microplastics in drinking water, including EU 2024/1441, California Water Boards guidelines, and the developing ISO/DIS 16094-2. It demonstrates how the Agilent 8700 LDIR chemical imaging system with Clarity software fulfills regulatory requirements for accurate, reproducible microplastic analysis.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Sampling and Filtration: Regulatory methods specify large-volume filtration (up to 1,500 L) at collection sites to minimize contamination. Particles are retained on gold- or aluminum-coated filters or low-emissivity slides for direct analysis.
• Instrument Platforms: Vibrational spectroscopy techniques including μ-FTIR, μ-Raman, quantum cascade laser infrared (QCL-IR) imaging, and the Agilent 8700 LDIR system provide polymer identification, particle counts, size, shape, and morphology.
• Quality Control: Procedural blanks and laboratory-fortified blanks ensure contamination is monitored, with defined reporting limits and recovery criteria to validate method performance.

Key Findings and Discussion

• Regulatory Alignment: The 8700 LDIR system meets EU, California, and ISO size ranges (10 µm–5 mm) and polymer requirements, delivering hit quality index values above 0.95 for major plastics and distinguishing natural materials.
• Automated Particle Analysis: Clarity software automates particle detection, library matching, size and shape classification, and real-time data reporting, reducing analysis time and manual intervention.
• Data Reporting: The system generates comprehensive Excel reports with particle counts by size fraction, polymer type, morphology, and spectral and optical images, supporting standardized reporting.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High Throughput: Direct filter analysis via LDIR accelerates workflow compared to traditional μ-FTIR and μ-Raman methods.
• Enhanced Reproducibility: Automated QC and standardized software libraries improve comparability across laboratories.
• Regulatory Compliance: The integrated solution simplifies adherence to evolving global microplastic regulations in drinking water testing.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging standards such as ISO/DIS 16094-2 and ASTM WK87463 will further harmonize microplastic analysis. Advancements in spectral libraries, data analytics, and multi-modal techniques will enhance detection of smaller particles and complex matrices. Integration with mass spectrometry and machine learning promises improved characterization and risk assessment capabilities.

Conclusion

The Agilent 8700 LDIR chemical imaging system, paired with Clarity software, provides a robust, efficient, and compliant approach for microplastic characterization in drinking water. Its automated workflows, broad size range detection, and reliable polymer identification support global regulatory requirements and advance environmental monitoring efforts.

References

1. Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2024/1441. Methodology for Microplastics Measurement in Drinking Water. 2024.
2. California Water Boards. Policy Handbook: Standard Method for Testing and Reporting Microplastics in Drinking Water. 2022.
3. ISO/DIS 16094-2. Water Quality — Analysis of Microplastics in Water: Vibrational Spectroscopy Methods. Under development.
4. ASTM WK87463. New Test Method for Identification and Quantification of Microplastic Particles by IR Spectroscopy. Under development.
5. Bäuerlein PS, Hofman-Caris RCHM, Pieke EN, Ter Laak TL. Fate of Microplastics in the Drinking Water Production. Water Res. 2022;221:118790.
6. Agilent Technologies. Achieving Accurate Microplastics Characterization: The 8700 LDIR System. 2023.
7. Alwan W, Zieschang F. Fast and Simple Material Identification of Plastic Debris Using FTIR. Agilent Technologies. 2023.
8. Primpke S, et al. Reference Database Design for Automated Analysis of Microplastic Samples Based on FTIR. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2018;410:5131–5141.
9. De Frond H, Rubinovitz R, Rochman CM. μATR FTIR Spectral Libraries of Plastic Particles (FLOPP & FLOPPe). Anal Chem. 2021;93(48):15878–15885.