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Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Wastewater Using Focal Plane Array-Based Reflectance
Alexander S Tagg1, Melanie Sapp2, Jesse P Harrison3
1†Brunel University London, Experimental Techniques Centre, Institute of Materials and Manufacturing, Bragg Building, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom, UB8 3PH.
Analytical Chemistry
|May 20, 2015
Summary
A new method effectively identifies microplastics in wastewater using hydrogen peroxide pretreatment and Fourier-transform infrared imaging. This robust, nonselective protocol significantly reduces analysis time, aiding research on microplastic pollution pathways.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Microplastics (<5 mm) are global pollutants found in various environmental samples.
- Wastewater treatment facilities are potential entry points for microplastics into aquatic environments.
- Existing methods for microplastic analysis are insufficient for organic-rich wastewater and lack standardization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, standardized method for detecting and quantifying microplastics in wastewater.
- To overcome limitations of existing methods, including bias in visual selection and lack of specificity for wastewater matrices.
- To enable accurate assessment of microplastic abundance in wastewater for environmental research.
Main Methods:
- A pretreatment step utilizing 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to digest biogenic material.
- Focal plane array (FPA)-based reflectance micro-Fourier-transform (FT-IR) imaging for microplastic identification.
- Validation using microplastic-spiked wastewater samples to assess selectivity, reproducibility, and speed.
Main Results:
- The developed method successfully imaged and identified various microplastic types (polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon-6, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene).
- The protocol demonstrated high robustness, nonselectivity, and reproducibility, with an overall identification success rate of 98.33%.
- FPA-based micro-FT-IR imaging significantly reduced analysis time, mapping a 47 mm filter in under 9 hours compared to days with single-element detectors.
Conclusions:
- A novel, efficient, and reproducible method for microplastic analysis in wastewater has been established.
- This method addresses the need for standardized, unbiased analysis of microplastics in challenging matrices.
- The technique is poised to become an essential tool for investigating microplastic contamination pathways via wastewater systems.
