Presence of Microplastics and Mineral Matter in Biomass used for Anaerobic Digestion of Food and Kitchen Waste as Evidenced by FTIR ATR Spectroscopy

  • Anna CIBORSKA Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
  • Mateusz KOTOWSKI Department of Process Engineering and Chemical Technology, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
  • Aleksandra GRABOWIEC Department of Process Engineering and Chemical Technology, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
  • Stanisław CYTAWA Department of Process Engineering and Chemical Technology, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
  • Jan HUPKA Department of Process Engineering and Chemical Technology, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
  • Anna DOŁĘGA Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Chemical Faculty, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29227/IM-2024-02-89
Keywords: anaerobic digestion, food and kitchen waste, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, microplastics

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion of food and kitchen waste is becoming key source of renewable energy, green chemicals and organic fertilizers. However, contamination of the organic fraction with microplastics, usually originating from packaging, requires frequent recognition of the biomass feedstock quality. In our investigation, material identification of biowaste containing polymers and biopolymers was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Analysis of selectively collected municipal bio-waste revealed contamination with conventional plastics, while biodegradable plastics were less frequent. FTIR spectra indicated the plant-based nature of the biomass feedstock and, despite spectral complexity, provided satisfactory insights into the organic-to-mineral compounds quantitative ratio, which has practical value in biomass characterization.
Published
2025-01-22
How to Cite
CIBORSKA, A., KOTOWSKI, M., GRABOWIEC, A., CYTAWA, S., HUPKA, J., & DOŁĘGA, A. (2025). Presence of Microplastics and Mineral Matter in Biomass used for Anaerobic Digestion of Food and Kitchen Waste as Evidenced by FTIR ATR Spectroscopy. Test, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.29227/IM-2024-02-89
Issue
Vol 3 No 2 (2024): Inzynieria Mineralna
Section
ARTICLES

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