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Study on applicability of terahertz imaging for microplastic identification in soil sample
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Scientists tested a new scanning method using special light waves (terahertz waves) to spot tiny plastic bits hiding in soil, without damaging the samples. The technique successfully detected plastic at different concentrations, offering a faster way to track microplastic pollution in the ground where our food grows, which matters since these plastics can eventually make their way into our bodies.
Microplastic contamination in soil poses an escalating threat to both the environment and human health. We investigate the potential of nondestructive terahertz frequency-domain spectroscopy (THz-FDS) and imaging techniques for detecting surface-level microplastics in soil. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) serves as a model microplastic and is mixed with pretreated soil (PS) at varying concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 4% by weight. THz-FDS spectral analysis revealed distinct optical properties between LDPE and PS, particularly at 0.1 THz, where LDPE exhibited high transmission and a low reflection coefficient compared with PS. This frequency was found to provide optimal image contrast, and its image was used for classification and enabled pixel-wise quantification of microplastic regions. The proportion of pixels classified as microplastic increased with LDPE concentration, reaching 3.64%, 6.87%, and 7.80% for 1%, 2%, and 4% mixtures, respectively. These terahertz transmission images further validated these spectral differences when both PS and LDPE were in a mixed state. These findings demonstrate that THz-FDS and imaging hold promise as a rapid, nondestructive technique for detecting and identifying microplastics in soil at lower frequency (0.1 THz), with potential applications in future studies investigating the impact of microplastics on soil health.
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Researchers compared terahertz and near-infrared spectroscopy for quantifying microplastics in soil, finding that terahertz spectroscopy offered a faster and more accurate approach than NIR for distinguishing household microplastics from standard reference polymers in soil matrices.
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