0
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. Sign in to save

An IoT Based Low-Cost Optical System for Early Detection of Microplastics in Water Sources

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2026 Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Haresh Balakrishnan, Akash D, Jeffery Ebenezer, Preethi D

Summary

Researchers developed a low-cost device that can detect tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in drinking water using simple LED lights and sensors, which could make testing much cheaper and easier than current lab methods. This matters because microplastics are found in water supplies worldwide and may pose health risks, but expensive testing equipment has made it hard to monitor water quality regularly. The study shows this simpler technology could work, potentially helping communities better track plastic pollution in their water sources.

Microplastics pollution has been recognized as an issue of concern for the environment with implications for freshwater and marine ecosystems at the global level. Conventional techniques for microplastics detection, such as Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and electron microscopy, enable accurate detection of microplastics in water. However, these techniques require sophisticated laboratory facilities and expert technical support. These limitations hinder the continuous monitoring of the environment and detection of microplastics in water. This paper proposes an Internet of Things (IoT)-based microplastics detection in water using an optical sensing technique. The proposed system comprises ultraviolet and blue light-emitting diodes, silicon photodiodes, and an ESP32 microcontroller for detecting changes in the scattering of light caused by microplastics in water. Instead of conducting an experiment, this paper examines the feasibility of microplastics detection in water using experimental results obtained in previous literature. Comparative analysis of experimental results of various studies on the intensity-concentration relationships of microplastics in water indicates an attenuation trend in the intensity of light with an increase in microplastics concentration.

Sign in to start a discussion.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

An IoT Based Low-Cost Optical System for Early Detection of Microplastics in Water Sources

Scientists have developed a low-cost system that can detect tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in drinking water using simple light sensors and internet technology. This matters because microplastics are found in tap water worldwide and may pose health risks when we drink them, but current detection methods are too expensive for regular monitoring. The new system could make it easier and cheaper to check water quality continuously, helping protect people from plastic pollution in their drinking water.

Article Tier 2

Tracking microplastic pathways: Real-time IoT monitoring for water quality and public health

Researchers developed a low-cost, IoT-enabled system called TEMPT for real-time microplastic detection in water using turbidity sensors. The accompanying algorithm achieved 91.47 percent accuracy in identifying microplastic contamination, outperforming conventional methods. The study demonstrates how affordable sensor technology could enable large-scale monitoring of microplastic pollution in diverse water bodies.

Article Tier 2

Survey on IoT Based Microplastic Detection

This research review summarizes new technology that uses internet-connected sensors to detect tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in water in real-time, rather than relying on slow lab tests. Microplastics are a growing health concern because they can get into our drinking water and food chain, potentially harming human health. Better detection methods could help protect our water supplies by catching pollution problems faster.

Article Tier 2

Portable On-Site Optical Detection and Quantification of Microplastics

Researchers built a portable, on-site optical device to detect and quantify microplastics in water. The device addresses the challenge of detecting small, often translucent particles without a laboratory setting. Portable microplastic detection tools could enable real-time monitoring in the field, supporting faster environmental assessments.

Article Tier 2

Real-time detection of microplastics in aquatic environments using emerging technologies

Researchers proposed a real-time microplastic detection system combining AI-enhanced optical sensors and IoT devices, capable of automatically classifying microplastics in ocean water without the time-consuming manual steps required by spectroscopy or microscopy.

Share this paper