Microfiber analysis via femtosecond stimulated Raman microscopy (FSRM)

Abstract Small polymeric particles termed microplastics have become ubiquitous in the environment. They are found in various shapes, among which microfibers are emerging as the most abundant type. Assessing the contamination of aqueous ecosystems with synthetic microfibers requires a clear distinction from natural ones. Here, we introduce femtosecond stimulated Raman microscopy (FSRM) for fast analysis of microplastics in water, particularly microfibers. Utilizing FSRM, fabric samples of both synthetic and natural origin were analyzed. Spatial and nearly complete (1000–3500 cm − 1 ) spectral information on the particles is obtained. Raman images consisting of 40,000 spatial pixels and covering an area of 200 × 200 µm 2 are obtained within seven minutes.