Preliminary study on FTIR analysis of microplastics in water samples of Erzeni River mouth, Adriatic Sea—Albania

There is a significant gap in the published literature regarding the characterization and analysis of microplastics (MPs) in the aquatic ecosystems of Albania. This study focuses on the delta of the Erzeni River as one of the major sources of anthropogenic pollution, including micro- and macroplasti...

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Main Authors: Vanela Gjeci, Olta Cakaj, Flora Qarri, Kledi Xhaxhiu, Alketa Lame, Pranvera Lazo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Estfalia 2025-07-01
Series:Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rjeec.ro/Read/278?id=Preliminary%20study%20on%20FTIR%20analysis%20of%20microplastics%20in%20water%20samples%20of%20Erzeni%20River%20mouth,%20Adriatic%20Sea%E2%80%94Albania
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author Vanela Gjeci
Olta Cakaj
Flora Qarri
Kledi Xhaxhiu
Alketa Lame
Pranvera Lazo
author_facet Vanela Gjeci
Olta Cakaj
Flora Qarri
Kledi Xhaxhiu
Alketa Lame
Pranvera Lazo
author_sort Vanela Gjeci
collection DOAJ
description There is a significant gap in the published literature regarding the characterization and analysis of microplastics (MPs) in the aquatic ecosystems of Albania. This study focuses on the delta of the Erzeni River as one of the major sources of anthropogenic pollution, including micro- and macroplastics, in the Albanian coastal area of the Adriatic Sea. After oxidative treatment of water samples with H₂O₂ and separation using the high-density method, identification of MPs was performed using spectroscopic and FTIR methods. Spectroscopic and FTIR analysis revealed the presence of MPs of the type PVC or PVC/MMT, nylon, PS, and PE in water samples. Spectral bands in the region of 400 cm-1 to 1100 cm-1 can be associated with the presence of synthetic rubber. The analysis presented in this study investigates the potential sources of MPs in coastal environments, based on the identification of plastic species. This research is the first of its kind in Albania's coastal area that serves as an important initial contribution to the development of a database dedicated to the assessment of MPs in this ecosystem. MPs in water samples from the delta of the Erzeni River that discharges into the Adriatic Sea. The objective of this study was to examine the morphological characteristics and classifications of MPs found in the research area, as well as to assess the consequences of their degradation.
format Article
id doaj-art-26eee3fd528c4a0d82c40802babc4764
institution Kabale University
issn 2668-5418
2668-8530
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Estfalia
record_format Article
series Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry
spelling doaj-art-26eee3fd528c4a0d82c40802babc47642025-08-20T03:30:20ZengEstfaliaRomanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry2668-54182668-85302025-07-0171324110.21698/rjeec.2025.103Preliminary study on FTIR analysis of microplastics in water samples of Erzeni River mouth, Adriatic Sea—AlbaniaVanela Gjeci0Olta Cakaj1Flora Qarri2Kledi Xhaxhiu3Alketa Lame4Pranvera Lazo5National Environmental Agency Tirana, Albania University of Tirana, AlbaniaUniversity “Ismail Qemali”, AlbaniaUniversity of Tirana, AlbaniaUniversity of Tirana, AlbaniaUniversity of Tirana, AlbaniaThere is a significant gap in the published literature regarding the characterization and analysis of microplastics (MPs) in the aquatic ecosystems of Albania. This study focuses on the delta of the Erzeni River as one of the major sources of anthropogenic pollution, including micro- and macroplastics, in the Albanian coastal area of the Adriatic Sea. After oxidative treatment of water samples with H₂O₂ and separation using the high-density method, identification of MPs was performed using spectroscopic and FTIR methods. Spectroscopic and FTIR analysis revealed the presence of MPs of the type PVC or PVC/MMT, nylon, PS, and PE in water samples. Spectral bands in the region of 400 cm-1 to 1100 cm-1 can be associated with the presence of synthetic rubber. The analysis presented in this study investigates the potential sources of MPs in coastal environments, based on the identification of plastic species. This research is the first of its kind in Albania's coastal area that serves as an important initial contribution to the development of a database dedicated to the assessment of MPs in this ecosystem. MPs in water samples from the delta of the Erzeni River that discharges into the Adriatic Sea. The objective of this study was to examine the morphological characteristics and classifications of MPs found in the research area, as well as to assess the consequences of their degradation.https://rjeec.ro/Read/278?id=Preliminary%20study%20on%20FTIR%20analysis%20of%20microplastics%20in%20water%20samples%20of%20Erzeni%20River%20mouth,%20Adriatic%20Sea%E2%80%94Albaniamicroplasticserzeni river deltamicroscopic imagesftiradriatic seaalbania
spellingShingle Vanela Gjeci
Olta Cakaj
Flora Qarri
Kledi Xhaxhiu
Alketa Lame
Pranvera Lazo
Preliminary study on FTIR analysis of microplastics in water samples of Erzeni River mouth, Adriatic Sea—Albania
Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry
microplastics
erzeni river delta
microscopic images
ftir
adriatic sea
albania
title Preliminary study on FTIR analysis of microplastics in water samples of Erzeni River mouth, Adriatic Sea—Albania
title_full Preliminary study on FTIR analysis of microplastics in water samples of Erzeni River mouth, Adriatic Sea—Albania
title_fullStr Preliminary study on FTIR analysis of microplastics in water samples of Erzeni River mouth, Adriatic Sea—Albania
title_full_unstemmed Preliminary study on FTIR analysis of microplastics in water samples of Erzeni River mouth, Adriatic Sea—Albania
title_short Preliminary study on FTIR analysis of microplastics in water samples of Erzeni River mouth, Adriatic Sea—Albania
title_sort preliminary study on ftir analysis of microplastics in water samples of erzeni river mouth adriatic sea albania
topic microplastics
erzeni river delta
microscopic images
ftir
adriatic sea
albania
url https://rjeec.ro/Read/278?id=Preliminary%20study%20on%20FTIR%20analysis%20of%20microplastics%20in%20water%20samples%20of%20Erzeni%20River%20mouth,%20Adriatic%20Sea%E2%80%94Albania
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AT oltacakaj preliminarystudyonftiranalysisofmicroplasticsinwatersamplesoferzenirivermouthadriaticseaalbania
AT floraqarri preliminarystudyonftiranalysisofmicroplasticsinwatersamplesoferzenirivermouthadriaticseaalbania
AT kledixhaxhiu preliminarystudyonftiranalysisofmicroplasticsinwatersamplesoferzenirivermouthadriaticseaalbania
AT alketalame preliminarystudyonftiranalysisofmicroplasticsinwatersamplesoferzenirivermouthadriaticseaalbania
AT pranveralazo preliminarystudyonftiranalysisofmicroplasticsinwatersamplesoferzenirivermouthadriaticseaalbania