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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. Detection Methods Environmental Sources Food & Water Sign in to save

A Method for Sampling Microplastics and Extremophiles in the Stratosphere

AIAA SCITECH 2022 Forum 2022 1 citation ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
James Simmons, Desmond Etumnu, Maxwell Omanga, Hai The Pham, Phillip Pham, Chloe Tovar, Edgar A. Bering

Summary

This engineering paper describes the design of a balloon-borne instrument intended to sample and analyze microplastics and extremophilic organisms in the stratosphere at altitudes of 20 to 30 kilometers. The system uses bellows-driven air filtration and Raman spectroscopy for particle analysis.

The Microplastics and Extremophiles team under the University of Houston’s Undergraduate Student Instrument Project intends to determine the concentration and composition of microplastics and extremophiles in the stratosphere. The team is designing a balloon-borne instrument that will filter stratospheric air from an altitude of 20 km to 30 km. Air will be forced through the filters by the expansion and compression of a bellows. A series of ground collectors will also be used to collect microplastics deposited from the atmosphere. Samples of microplastics will be analyzed via Raman spectroscopy and samples of extremophiles will be analyzed via PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing.

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