Fast Forward: Optimized Sample Preparation and Fluorescent Staining for Microplastic Detection
Microplastics2023
10 citations
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Score: 40
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Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Erika Myers,
Anika Korzin,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Erika Myers,
Katrin Schuhen
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Erika Myers,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Michael Sturm,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Michael Sturm,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Michael Sturm,
Erika Myers,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Sabrina Polierer,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Anika Korzin,
Erika Myers,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Anika Korzin,
Anika Korzin,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Anika Korzin,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Erika Myers,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Dennis Schober,
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Katrin Schuhen
Summary
Researchers optimized a fluorescent dye-based protocol for detecting microplastics in environmental samples, cutting total processing time to under three hours while achieving recovery rates of 93–102% across multiple polymer types. The method was validated against wastewater treatment plant effluents over the long term, offering a faster and more standardized tool that could help harmonize microplastic monitoring data across labs and support regulatory limit-setting.
The fast, affordable, and standardized detection of microplastics (MP) remains one of the biggest challenges in MP research. Comparable data are essential for appropriate risk assessments and the implementation of laws and limit values. The fluorescent staining of MP in environmental samples is a possible solution to this problem. This study investigates the optimization of a sample preparation process (hydrogen peroxide digestion) and the staining process (temperature, concentration, time, surfactants as staining aids) for using a specifically developed fluorescent dye for MP detection. The optimization is performed by comparing the sample preparation process and staining of MP from different polymers and natural particles. Further, the suitability of the optimized process for the detection of fluoropolymers and tire abrasion was tested. The results show that the optimized method (increased temperature and optimized stain concentration) can detect microplastics reliably with a total sample preparation and measurement time of 2.5–3 h per sample, reaching recovery rates of 93.3% (polypropylene) to 101.7% (polyester). Moreover, two of the three tested fluoropolymers could be detected reliably. Tire abrasion could not be detected with the here presented method, as the black color leads to strong quenching. A long-term study measuring the MP pollution in the effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant compared the optimized and original processes and confirmed the stability of the improved method for routine measurements and contamination control.