Selective identification and quality control of microplastics : an optimization study

siMPle is widely used software for the automated identification and quantification of FTIR spectra of microplastics on filters. However, the number of MPs found, and the correctness of the identifications, appears to be dependant of the siMPle settings used. False positive identifications of microplastics, of in fact natural organic particles, may occur if too lenient siMPle polymer threshold values (TVs) are used. It was therefore concluded that more investigation into selective identification and quality control for Dutch monitoring of microplastic particles in sediments was needed. The results of these investigations and optimizations are presented in this report.