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. Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Optimization of glass separating funnels to facilitate microplastic extraction from sediments

MethodsX 2023 10 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Mohammad Wazne, Nans Barthélémy, Nans Barthélémy, Nans Barthélémy, Nans Barthélémy, Nans Barthélémy, Nans Barthélémy, Mohammad Wazne, Mohammad Wazne, Mohammad Wazne, Mohammad Wazne, Mohammad Wazne, Mohammad Wazne, Mohammad Wazne, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Laurent Simon, Mohammad Wazne, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Mohammad Wazne, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Mohammad Wazne, Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Stefan Krause Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Mohammad Wazne, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Mohammad Wazne, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Laurent Simon, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Nans Barthélémy, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Nans Barthélémy, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Mohammad Wazne, Laurent Simon, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Manon Vallier, Manon Vallier, Laurent Simon, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Laurent Simon, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Laurent Simon, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Stefan Krause Laurent Simon, Mohammad Wazne, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Stefan Krause Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Mohammad Wazne, Laurent Simon, Stefan Krause Laurent Simon, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Florian Mermillod‐Blondin, Stefan Krause

Summary

Researchers improved a low-cost glass funnel device for separating microplastics from sediment by replacing a plastic stopcock with a silicone tube and Mohr clamp, achieving a 90% microplastic recovery rate in laboratory tests. This simple modification reduces contamination risk from plastic components in the equipment itself, a known problem with existing tools. Reliable and affordable extraction methods are foundational to accurate monitoring of microplastic levels in sediments worldwide.

Polymers

Study Type Environmental

Recent studies on the distribution of microplastics in aquatic sediments have deployed different methods and devices for density separation of microplastics from sediments. However, instrument specific limitations have been noted, including their high cost, difficulty in handling, or/and the potential for elevated contamination risk due to their plastic composition. This study improves existing sediment microplastic separation techniques by modifying the commonly used conical shape glass separating funnels. The modification consists in connecting a silicone tube at the base of the funnel, whose opening and closure was manually controlled by a Mohr clamp. This adjustment made to the funnels have effectively mitigated critical clogging problems frequently encountered in density separation units. An experiment was conducted using sand-based sediment spiked with polyamide fragments to validate this method modification. Following a complete extraction protocol with the modification of separating funnels, the microplastic extraction efficiency from sediments was high with a 90% recovery rate. Based on these promising results, future studies should consider naturally diverse substrates, as recovery efficiency may be sediment-dependent. Two key adjustments to the glass separation funnels:•Removal of stopcocks•Use of silicone tubes and Mohr clamps to control sediment release.

Read via DOI PubMed PMC Full Text Download PDF

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email