As microplastics regulations evolve and scrutiny over water quality intensifies, laboratories across sectors—from food and beverage to environmental services—are adopting more advanced tools for detection. This article, featuring expert insights from Venkata Mattegunta, Applications Scientist at PerkinElmer, explores how Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy is becoming a cornerstone of regulatory and routine microplastics water testing. With its speed, precision, and scalability, FT-IR is empowering labs to meet the growing demands of microplastics testing with confidence.
Understanding the Complexity of Microplastics Water Testing
Detecting microplastics in water presents significant challenges. These particles come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and polymer types, making them difficult to distinguish from other materials. Additionally, water samples often contain organic matter—such as plant debris, microorganisms, and algae—that can obscure or mimic microplastic particles and complicate visual and chemical identification.
More commonly used techniques for identifying microplastics often face limitations in these complex matrices, so advanced methods such as FT-IR microscopy are needed to achieve reliable and precise analysis of microplastics in water.
"FT-IR microscopy provides chemical identification of microplastic particles down to 10 microns without the fluorescence interference often seen in Raman methods,” explains Mattegunta. “High-sensitivity detectors, all-reflective optics, and dynamic depth tuning ensure clear visualization and accurate spectral capture, even for irregularly shaped particles.".
Equipped with automated single-particle analysis and IR imaging, FT-IR accelerates throughput while preserving spectral integrity, essential in routine and regulatory-driven microplastics analysis.
Microplastics Water Testing: A Workflow Built for Reproducibility and Contamination Control
Ensuring the integrity of microplastics data starts long before analysis—it begins with how samples are handled and prepared. Mattegunta emphasizes that FT-IR microscopy workflows are specifically engineered to support this need:
"Sample loading is fully automated, with autofocus, dynamic illumination, and depth correction to capture high-fidelity images quickly," he notes. "An optional quick-fit purge enclosure isolates the sample area and optical path from airborne particulates."
These workflow features are designed to streamline testing while minimizing human error and contamination risk. Combined with software-guided processes and validation routines, FT-IR systems ensure consistent and reproducible analysis of microplastics in water.
Scalable Microplastics Water Testing Solutions for Evolving Regulatory Demands
Microplastics analysis is rapidly shifting from early-stage research applications to a routine necessity in regulated testing environments. A key question for many labs is whether FT-IR microscopy can scale to meet the needs of routine and regulatory testing. Mattegunta sees FT-IR microscopy as a strong match for both routine and regulatory microplastics analysis. However, he also emphasizes that labs should assess their specific throughput needs and detection goals before scaling up.
"The technique is highly scalable due to modular automation, customizable workflows, and detector switching capabilities that optimize for sample size and complexity," Mattegunta explains. "True nanoscale plastics fall beyond the current detection limit, so labs should factor this into their capacity planning."
Still, for testing for microplastics in water and environmental samples, FT-IR delivers unmatched efficiency.
Growing Industry Demand for Microplastics Testing and Monitoring
Across sectors, the demand for more rigorous microplastics water testing continues to grow. Mattegunta notes that this is particularly pronounced in the food and beverage industry, in which concerns over contamination from bottled water and packaging have made routine testing a high priority. He also highlights how environmental services are ramping up efforts to monitor microplastics in natural ecosystems, including soil and water. Given these pressures, the ability of FT-IR microscopy to deliver fast, reliable identification of contaminants makes it an increasingly vital tool for meeting regulatory expectations and supporting sustainability initiatives.
Future-Proofing Microplastics Water Testing Workflows
As microplastics regulations evolve, attention is increasingly shifting toward even smaller contaminants: nanoplastics. Previously mentioned as a limitation for FT-IR microscopy, these particles are less than one micrometre in size and present distinct analytical challenges: they are more mobile in water systems, can bypass filtration processes, and are difficult to detect using conventional spectroscopy methods. With rising concern about their environmental and health impacts, regulators and researchers are calling for more advanced detection capabilities.
While FT-IR microscopy does not currently detect particles below 1 micron, Mattegunta explains that automation is playing a vital role in future-proofing laboratories.
"Labs are investing in scalable systems with modular automation that can adapt as detection thresholds tighten," Mattegunta confirms. "Automated workflows, including smart particle finding and autofocus, minimize human error and maximize reproducibility."
To stay ahead of future regulations, labs are beginning to pair FT-IR systems with complementary techniques that enable comprehensive quantification of microplastics at the nanoscale.
Actionable Advice for Labs Starting Microplastics Water Testing
Labs looking to build in-house capabilities for microplastics water testing must start with a solid foundation. Mattegunta recommends that teams focus on instrumentation with built-in automation, contamination control features, and flexible imaging modes. These characteristics help ensure consistency from sample preparation to analysis, reducing variability and boosting efficiency.
For labs aiming to meet tightening regulatory requirements, establishing this foundation early is not just practical, it’s strategic. Developing expertise in automated workflows and validation processes positions laboratories to scale their operations, adopt new compliance standards, and future-proof their microplastics testing programs.
Microplastics Water Testing for Today and Tomorrow
FT-IR microscopy offers laboratories a proven, scalable pathway for microplastics water testing. Combining precision identification, workflow automation, and contamination control, this technique supports regulatory compliance and sustainability initiatives alike.
While nanoplastics remain a future challenge, laboratories investing in flexible, automated FT-IR solutions today will be well-positioned to meet tomorrow’s demands. As Mattegunta puts it, "automation and scalability are key to staying ahead as detection limits tighten."
For deeper insights into applying FT-IR microscopy for bottled water and other applications, download the FT-IR Microscopic Analysis of Microplastics in Bottled Water application note.
Meet the Expert
Venkata Mattegunta, Applications Scientist, PerkinElmer
Venkata Mattegunta specializes in advancing infrared microscopy techniques to support regulatory and research applications. His work emphasizes automation, reproducibility, and optimization of FT-IR methods to meet the growing demands of high-throughput microplastics testing. Mattegunta’s insights help laboratories navigate the complexities of analysis of microplastics in water with confidence and precision.