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Optical detection of microplastics, paper, and cotton fibers in water
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Researchers tested a new light-based method for detecting microplastics in water, using lab samples of two plastic types (PET and PLA) along with paper, cotton fibers, and sand. The study reports initial results from these early laboratory experiments without further detail on accuracy.
Microplastics come in many different shapes and sizes as well as chemical compositions (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS)) and are manmade. They are produced by macroplastics (e.g. plastic water bottles) that degrade into smaller and smaller pieces due to environmental effects (e.g. sunlight), through the polyester clothes we wear, and through synthetic microbeads that are added to products (e.g. soap or shampoo). By now, it is recognized that microplastics have become a global concern, since they are present in the air, water, and our food and have a serious impact on human, animal, and aquatic life. We have developed an optical technique to detect the presence of microplastics in water. Laboratory experiments were performed using two types of microplastics, PET and polylactic acid (PLA), as well as paper and cotton fibers, and sand, in water to test the optical technique. First results will be presented here.
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Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.