Plasma, UV Radiation and Ozone for Microplastics Degradation: Optical Characterization of Polystyrene, Polyethylene and Polypropylene Degradation using FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy

Authors

  • Milica Ćurčić Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Predrag Kolarž Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Branka Hadžić Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Ivana Stajčić Institute Vinča, University of Belgrade, P.O. Box 522, 11001 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Zorica Lazarević Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Dejan Maletić Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Mira Aničić Urošević Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Anđelija Ilić Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

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.

Downloads

Published

2026-09-12

Issue

Vol. 58 No. 3 (2026)

Section

Articles

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors retain copyright of the published papers and grant to the publisher the right to publish the article, to be cited as its original publisher in case of reuse, and to distribute it in all forms and media. Articles will be distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0).