On-Site Detection of Nanoplastics in Liquid Phase by SERS Method

Abstract Nanoplastics are prevalent in diverse media owing to their distinctive physical and chemical properties, posing a significant threat to both the environment and human health. Therefore, the specific detection of these particles is of paramount importance. Traditional detection methods, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), are associated with several limitations, including the high cost of equipment and stringent requirements for operational conditions. This study focuses on the detection of nanoplastics (NPs) in aquatic environments using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). SERS leverages a combination of colloidal silver nanoparticles and gold substrates to address the limitations of conventional detection methods, particularly in terms of sensitivity, sample preparation complexity, and the ability to detect NPs. Samples were collected from diverse sources, including river water, tap water, to evaluate the method’s sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility in real-world applications. Additionally, the study explored detection strategies for complex water samples containing NPs. The findings indicate that this method exhibits a high degree of sensitivity and specificity, enabling the effective differentiation of various plastic components (e.g., PE, PP, and PS particles) within the samples. Owing to the efficiency and simplicity of the preprocessing steps, Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy offers a rapid and precise detection of NPs, thereby facilitating environmental pollution monitoring and the assessment of health risks.