0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Detection Methods Sign in to save

Selective Identification and Quantification of Microplastics Using Solid Fluorescent Green Carbon Dots (SFGCDs) – A Novel, Naked Eye Sensing Fluoroprobe

Journal of Fluorescence 2025 6 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 53 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Ayun R. Jini, G. Gnanamani Simiyon, T. Mary Vergheese

Summary

Researchers developed a novel fluorescent carbon dot probe that can selectively detect and quantify microplastics released from surgical face masks and cosmetic cleansers. The probe works through a fluorescence turn-off mechanism when microplastics are present, with a detection limit as low as 0.0063 g/L for particles 6 micrometers and larger. The study also demonstrated a simple filtration-based remediation approach, with the fluorescence signal recovering after microplastic removal.

The current work presents a Novel, Carbon Dot fluoroprobe to selectively identify and quantify Microplastics (MPs) released from Surgical facemask and Cosmetic Personal Cleansers. Solid Fluorescent Green Carbon Dots (SFGCDs) are synthesized for the first time from a high carbon source natural resin, obtained from Araucaria araucana (Monkey puzzle tree). The increased carbon content is responsible for the green colour of the CDs. SFGCDs function as a TURN OFF fluoroprobe on detection of MPs through dynamic quenching mechanism, which is confirmed from Stern Volmer Plot with an R value of. The minimum LOD being 0.0063 g/l for ≥ 6 μm diameter MPs. The agglomeration of microplastics released from surgical mask and cosmetic cleansers on functions as an insulator on the surface of SFGCDs, forbidding ease of electron- hole transfer between the donor- SFGCDs and acceptor-MPs. The release of MPs from the donor surface results in reappearance of fluorescence obeying FRET mechanism. The detection of MPs/ microfibres released by disposable surgical mask is studied by the degradation of the surgical face mask for a period of 50 days, followed by detection. Turn- OFF in fluorescence of SFGCDs observed in presence of micro fibre Turns On, as remediation of MPs is done by a simple filtration technique. The results demonstrate the potential of the fluoroprobe towards real time detection of MPs and simple remediation of MPs to conserve the ecosystem. The SFGCDs is stable and can be reused for nearly 3 cycles for the detection of MPs. A single PL peak obtained on detection of MPs in presence of monovalent, divalent trivalent ions and biomolecules authenticates the selectivity and stability of SFGCDs to function as an efficient fluoroprobe towards sensing of MPs.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Revolutionizing microplastic detection in water through quantum dot fluorescence

Researchers developed a novel approach using carbon quantum dots to stain microplastics, enabling fluorescence-based detection in water at low cost and with simple synthesis, demonstrating high sensitivity and selectivity without the toxicity concerns of conventional fluorescent dyes.

Article Tier 2

Size- and Concentration-Resolved Detection of PET Microplastics in Real Water via Excitation–Emission Matrix Fluorescence Quenching of Polyamide-Derived Carbon Quantum Dots

Scientists developed a new method to detect tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) in drinking water using special fluorescent dots that dim when they encounter plastic pollution. The technique works best at finding very small plastic pieces—smaller than the width of a human hair—which are hardest to detect but potentially most dangerous since they can get into our bodies more easily. This could help monitor plastic contamination in tap water and other water sources we use daily, giving us better information about our exposure to these harmful particles.

Article Tier 2

Revolutionizing microplastic detection in water through quantum dot fluorescence

Researchers developed a quantum dot fluorescence-based detection system for microplastics in water, achieving sensitive and rapid identification of multiple polymer types with lower detection limits and faster analysis times than conventional spectroscopic methods.

Article Tier 2

Polydopamine-encapsulated carbon dots to boost analytical performance for microplastics detection in fluorescence mode

Sulfur-doped carbon dots encapsulated with polydopamine (S-CDs@PDA) were used to detect polyethylene microplastics via fluorescence, showing 21.3% higher fluorescence signal and 8% better detection efficiency than uncoated carbon dots on modified membrane substrates.

Article Tier 2

In Situ Fluorescent Illumination of Microplastics in Water Utilizing a Combination of Dye/Surfactant and Quenching Techniques

Researchers developed an in situ fluorescent microplastic detection method using a nonpolar dye combined with surfactant to form nanoscale dye particles that selectively adsorb onto and penetrate plastic polymer matrices in water, then quenched free dye fluorescence using aniline to enable direct visualization of stained microplastics without filtration.

Share this paper