Rahmatsyah Rahmatsyah, Rita Juliani, Syarifuddin Syarifuddin, Rini Juliani, Khairanum Andini, Riri Syavira, Agung Setia Batubara
This study aims to detect microplastic pollutants in marine sediment, seawater and river water samples. The study was conducted in Central Tapanuli Regency from May to October 2024. Determination of sampling locations was conducted positively by dividing three stations/locations. Analysis of microplastic samples was carried out at the Physics Laboratory, State University of Medan, Indonesia. Research parameters include analysis of particles number of microplastics based on type, color, and research location. Analysis of microplastic polymer types was carried out using Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR). The results of the analysis showed 5 types of microplastics from marine sediment, seawater and river water samples including fiber, film, foam, fragments, and pellets. A total of 687 microplastic particles were detected in marine sediments, dominated by pellets (290 particles), followed by fibers (225 particles), films (104 particles), and fragments and foam (34 particles each). In contrast, seawater samples contained a lower abundance with 162 particles, where fibers were the most prevalent (88 particles), followed by fragments (39 particles), pellets (26 particles), and films (9 particles). Meanwhile, a total of 272 particles were found in river water, consisting of 147 fibers, 83 fragments, 28 pellets, and 13 films. The results of the FTIR test showed several types of chemical compound polymers, namely polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and polystyrene (PS). This study successfully revealed the types, colors, and polymers of microplastics that pollute marine sediments, seawater, and rivers in Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. © 2026, BIOFLUX SRL. All rights reserved.
Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, Indonesia; Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Medan, Medan, Indonesia; Graduate Studies of Chemistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
