We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A microfluidic device for size-based microplastics and microalgae separation
Summary
Researchers designed a microfluidic device that separates microplastics and microalgae by size using controlled flow patterns. The device could be used to isolate microplastics from complex environmental water samples containing biological material, improving the accuracy of microplastic monitoring.
Phytoplankton are microscopic marine algae that constitute the foundation of the aquatic food web. They are essential to drive life in the oceans but can also be harmful in the form of algae blooms, either by producing phytoplankton toxins or massive biomass proliferation. Microalgae cell size is a relevant morphologic trait that can help identifying species responsible for these blooms at early stages. Sorting microalgae based on cell size reduces the complexity of the sea water samples, making identification easier, and allows enrichment of the target size. This work reports the study and optimization of an inertial microfluidic device for size-based separation and concentration of microparticles/microalgae. It is demonstrated the suitability of the device for sorting and separation of microparticles/microalgae of varying sizes. Furthermore, the enrichment of microalgae was also demonstrated, achieving a 2.5-fold increase fluorescence detection with only one spiral passage. This method is well suited for integration in monitoring devices due to its easy fabrication and integration in miniaturized systems and has potential as a pre-sorting and enrichment step prior to analysis. In addition, it can be used to improve the monitoring performance of early harmful algal blooms, or detection of microplastics in the water.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Microfluidic Devices for Microplastics Separation and Identification
This thesis explored the application of low-cost microfluidic devices for separating and identifying microplastics in water and biological samples, developing novel analytical platforms with potential for scalable environmental monitoring and detection of plastic particles.
Review: Impact of microfluidic cell and particle separation techniques on microplastic removal strategies
Researchers reviewed how microfluidic technology — the same miniaturized tools used in medical diagnostics to sort cells — could be adapted to separate and recover microplastics from water, offering a more precise and scalable alternative to conventional filtration methods used in wastewater treatment.
Microfluidic fractionation of microplastics, bacteria and microalgae with induced-charge electro-osmotic eddies
Scientists developed a microfluidic device that uses electrically generated fluid eddies to separate microalgae from microplastic particles and bacteria without physical contact. The system achieved nearly 100 percent efficiency in sorting microalgae from microplastics and about 95 percent purity when removing bacteria. This technology could be valuable for both environmental monitoring of microplastic contamination and producing clean microalgae for pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications.
In-situ microplastic pre-treatment and sorting using an inertial microfluidic device
Researchers developed an inertial microfluidic device capable of pre-treating and sorting microplastics in situ, enabling separation of particles by size and shape prior to chemical analysis or recycling. The system demonstrates the viability of microfluidics for scalable microplastic processing, supporting both environmental monitoring and potential resource recovery applications.
A membrane cascade for size-based separation and concentration of nanoplastics in environmental waters
Researchers developed a cascade system of membrane filters that can separate and concentrate nanoplastics from environmental water samples by size. They demonstrated that the system effectively isolates nanoplastic particles while tracking recovery rates using fluorescent markers. The technology addresses a major challenge in nanoplastic research by providing a reliable method to extract these extremely small particles from water for accurate measurement and analysis.