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Rapid On-Site and Sensitive Detection of Microplastics Using Zirconium(IV)-Assisted SERS Label
Summary
Researchers developed a rapid, portable detection method using specialized spectroscopy that can identify polystyrene microplastics at concentrations as low as 1 part per billion in water. The technique maintained over 90% accuracy when tested in real tap water samples. Affordable, field-ready detection tools like this are essential for monitoring microplastic contamination in food and water systems to protect human health.
Microplastics have emerged as significant pollutants in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, with their accumulation posing a threat to human health through biomagnification along the food chain. Developing a rapid, on-site, and sensitive method for detecting microplastics in agri-food and environmental systems is important for assessing and minimizing their potential risks. In this study, we developed a novel surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique for the rapid, on-site, and ultrasensitive detection of microplastics. Our innovative technique incorporated Zr4+-assisted SERS label strategies, utilizing rhodamine B as a Raman reporter to improve microplastics analysis. By utilizing Zr4+-assisted SERS label approaches, we can achieve qualitative and ultrasensitive quantification of 10 μm polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) at concentrations as low as 0.1 ppm with a detection limit of 1 ppb. Furthermore, this approach allows for detecting microplastics in real-world scenarios, with recovery rates exceeding 90% for polystyrene microplastic concentrations ranging from 5 to 30 ppm in tap water systems. When integrated with a portable Raman spectrometer, this innovative approach showcases the rapid, on-site, accurate, and sensitive detection of microplastics and has great potential for analyzing various types of microplastics in agri-food and environmental systems.