Analysis of Microplastics in Drinking Water using the California Water Board Primary Protocols using FT-IR Spectroscopy

HUMAN EXPLORATION AND OPERATIONS | SCIENCE

This project aimed to provide two current students and future students with research experience and support their acquisition of skills in FT-IR spectroscopy. Such skills are needed to isolate, quantify, and analyze the identity of microplastics in drinking Water using a new FT-IR and IR microscope recently obtained in the APU Chem Lab. The ultimate goal is to cement their aspirations into a reality leading them to a STEM career. According to the California Water Board researchers, such instrumentation is now considered the benchmark for studying microplastics in drinking water.

Profile

Name: Samuel Stevens, Undergraduate Student

Institution: Alaska Pacific University

Mentor: Dee Barker, dbarker@alaskapacific.edu

Award: Apprenticeship

Funding Period: 2023