ISO 16094: Microplastics Analysis of Water Samples

Microplastic contamination has become an established concern in environmental science and water management. Laboratories worldwide are now expected to produce results that are reliable and comparable across studies.

The ISO 16094 standard provides a common basis for how microplastics are identified and quantified in water. It defines sampling, filtration, and analytical procedures that ensure results can be reproduced and evaluated with confidence.

A central part of this standard is the use of molecular spectroscopy, in particular FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, for chemical identification of polymer particles.

Before the introduction of ISO 16094, laboratories used a variety of in-house methods, which led to inconsistent data and limited comparability.

ISO 16094 addresses this by describing how to collect, prepare, and analyze samples for microplastic assessment. The standard covers particles in the range of 1 µm to 5 000 µm and defines procedures for both optical microscopy and spectroscopic identification.

Part 2 of the standard, published in 2025, focuses specifically on the application of molecular spectroscopy for polymer identification. It builds on earlier frameworks such as ISO 24187 and provides detailed requirements for the analytical steps.

ISO 16094-2 identifies FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy as the preferred techniques for polymer identification in microplastic particles.

Each method provides a characteristic vibrational spectrum that can be matched against reference data to confirm a material’s composition.

• FT-IR spectroscopy offers strong performance for particles below approximately 10 µm. Imaging and mapping capabilities allow analysts to visualize the chemical composition across filter surfaces.
• Raman spectroscopy can detect and identify smaller particles, down to about 1 µm, and is useful for materials where infrared absorption is limited.

Using both methods together provides complete coverage across the size range defined by the standard and improves the confidence of polymer identification.

Introducing the ISO 16094 methodology requires alignment between laboratory procedures, instrumentation, and data handling.

As a manufacturer of analytical instruments, we support laboratories in developing workflows that meet these technical requirements. Our experience with FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy helps laboratories establish validated, repeatable analyses for microplastic detection.

For more information, you can explore our FT-IR  and Raman instruments that are suitable for ISO-compliant microplastic analysis.