Plasma, UV radiation and ozone for microplastics degradation: Optical characterization of polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene degradation using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy

This study investigated the changes in the optical properties of three types of microplastics-polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS)-when exposed to three different treatments: ozone, UV radiation, and plasma. Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine how each treatment affected the degradation of these polymers. The resulting changes in optical and structural characteristics were analyzed using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. These techniques provided valuable insights into the behavior and persistence of microplastics under various treatments, revealing specific structural modifications at the molecular level.