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Deployment of an innovative microplastic sensor in PLOCAN offshore ocean platform.
Summary
Researchers deployed a novel microplastic detection sensor at an offshore ocean monitoring platform, validating its ability to provide continuous real-time measurements of particle concentrations in open seawater. The sensor represents a step toward automated, large-scale marine microplastic surveillance.
The presence of microplastics (MPs) in water is a significant source of contamination in seas and oceans and poses a serious threat to the health of marine ecosystems. Methods and protocols to detect and remove MPs are essential to improve the water quality and ensure the preservation of the marine environment. LEITAT has developed an optical MP sensor to detect and quantify these particles, distinguishing them from other elements naturally present in the water (sand, algae, etc.). The sensor uses a pump to circulate the water through an optical system that detects the passage of particles in the continuous water stream. A successful detection triggers a camera to capture consecutive magnified frames of the element, which are processed using artificial intelligence (AI) to determine whether they are MPs or other elements. The entire system is housed in an IP67 suitcase to facilitate portability, protect all the components from hazardous environmental phenomena, and ensure long-term unattended operation. Validation was conducted in the laboratory prior to the deployment in real environments, achieving a detection efficiency of 85 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559480/document