RECOUP adds microplastic analysis

RECOUP (Recycling of Used Plastics Ltd.), based in England, has expanded its in‑house laboratory by improving its microplastic analysis capabilities, enabling it to examine plastics at a more detailed level.

RECOUP’s enhanced microplastic analysis capability builds on its established laboratory services, including recyclability assessments, material identification and sorting performance evaluation. The upgraded methods allow for more precise examination of microplastics, offering clearer insight into polymer types, particle size, morphology and behavior, according to the organization.

RECOUP now can detect microplastics previously hidden within complex materials such as soil samples. By digesting organic matter and applying density separation, the laboratory can isolate particles that standard visual analysis could miss.

Using a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscope, which combines conventional optical microscopy with an infrared spectroscope, RECOUP can identify polymers in particles as small as 200 microns, providing stronger confirmation of material composition and fragmentation behavior, the organization says. Integrating this capability with existing testing programs allows RECOUP to link product design and recyclability outcomes with how materials behave in real‑world systems and environmental pathways.

“By enhancing our microplastic analysis, we are adding greater scientific depth to the services our members and partners already rely on,” says Richard Cham, technical manager at RECOUP. “This new capability helps us uncover microplastics that were previously undetected in environmental samples and enables us to evaluate plastics more fully across their lifecycle so that organizations can take evidence-based action to reduce environmental impact.”