The instrument will facilitate the identification of different types and size ranges of microplastics and their quantification in water, wastewater, soil and food samples, by providing chemical imaging data. Ideally the instrument will use quantum cascade laser direct infrared molecular imaging technology for detailed microplastic analyses. The equipment should have capabilities to analyse multiple size ranges of microplastics simultaneously. The instrument should also provide molecular imaging and spectral data for microplastic samples with rapid sample through-put. The instrument should be accompanied by user friendly software, relevant data analyses packages and show routine day- to-day operations within a single analysis screen.