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Microplastic pollutant detection by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS): a mini-review
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This mini-review surveys surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates and label-free detection strategies for identifying microplastics in water, covering metal nanoparticle suspensions, immobilized substrates, and nanofabricated platforms. SERS offers a highly sensitive analytical tool for detecting and characterizing microplastic pollutants at trace concentrations in complex aquatic environments.
Our pristine nature is getting contaminated by plastic pollutants day by day. Plastic bottles are ending up in landfills and oceans in bulk and micro form. The use of microplastic (plastic particles less than 5 mm) in personal care products has been banned recently, as the accumulation of microplastic is a major concern to marine life and food chain. Even microplastic rain has been reported at certain regions. This mini-review provides an overview of different types of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates such as: (a) Metal nanoparticle in suspension (b) Metal nanoparticle immobilized on solid substrate (c) Nanofabrication of solid substrate. This article also highlights the label-free strategies of analyte retention on SERS substrate such as (i) Direct binding (ii) Electrostatic interaction (iii) Chemical affinity (iv) Mechanical trapping. A state-of-art literature review elucidates how these SERS methodologies can be used to effectively detect microplastic pollutant in water.
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Microplastics Characterization by Raman Microscopy
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Raman microscopy has emerged as a powerful tool for identifying and characterizing microplastics at small particle sizes that are difficult to analyze with other methods, enabling more accurate quantification in environmental samples. Improving characterization techniques is critical because smaller microplastic particles are more numerous and more likely to be ingested by a wider range of organisms, including humans.
Microplastics Characterization by Raman Microscopy
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Raman microscopy enables reliable identification and quantification of microplastics in environmental samples, with smaller particles posing greater ecological risk due to their higher numbers and broader species exposure. Standardizing this analytical technique is essential for producing comparable data across studies and informing effective pollution monitoring.
Raman Spectroscopy Based Approaches for Microplastics Investigations
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Researchers reviewed Raman spectroscopy-based approaches — including confocal Raman microscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and automated imaging — for identifying and characterizing microplastics in environmental samples, highlighting their superior chemical specificity compared to FTIR for sub-10-μm particles. Accurate chemical identification of microplastics at the nanoscale is foundational for both environmental monitoring and toxicological research, as particle composition (polymer type and additives) strongly influences biological harm.
Microplastics Determination with μ-Raman: Potential and Practical Aspects
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This study evaluated micro-Raman spectroscopy as an analytical tool for detecting and characterizing microplastics in drinking water, examining both its capabilities and practical limitations for routine water quality monitoring. Given that microplastics are now found throughout water treatment chains, establishing reliable detection methods is a critical step toward understanding human ingestion exposure from tap and bottled water.
A review of recent progress in the application of Raman spectroscopy and SERS detection of microplastics and derivatives
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This review covers advances in using Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect and identify microplastics in the environment. These techniques offer high resolution and sensitive detection that can identify specific plastic types even at very small sizes. Better detection methods are essential for understanding the true extent of microplastic contamination and its potential risks to human health.
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