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Multimodal Analysis of Microplastics in Drinking Water using a Silicon Nanomembrane Analysis Pipeline
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Detection limits are central to improve reporting standards when using Nile red for microplastic quantification.

Holly A Nel1, Andrew J Chetwynd1, Liam Kelleher2

  • 1School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.

Chemosphere
|December 10, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study reveals that Nile red fluorescence varies by polymer type, impacting microplastic detection accuracy. Establishing polymer-specific thresholds improves quantification and reproducibility in environmental samples.

Keywords:
AccuracyBiasDetectionFluorescenceSpectroscopyStaining

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Quantitative microplastic analysis faces challenges in reproducibility and comparability.
  • Distinguishing synthetic microplastics from natural organic and inorganic materials is difficult.
  • Nile red, a fluorescent stain, is proposed for microplastic detection but its polymer-specific variability is unaddressed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate Nile red's efficacy for microplastic detection.
  • To systematically investigate factors influencing particle pixel brightness (PPB) variations.
  • To establish informed threshold limits for improved microplastic quantification.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated Nile red fluorescence variability across different polymer types, shapes, sizes, and colors.
  • Assessed fluorescence of natural matrix components (sand, wood, chitin).
  • Determined polymer-specific PPB thresholds to optimize detection.

Main Results:

  • Nile red's PPB varied significantly based on polymer type, shape, size, and staining procedure.
  • Natural materials like sand, wood, and chitin exhibited distinct fluorescence levels.
  • A PPB threshold of 100 a.u. enhanced detection for EPS, HDPE, PP, and PA-6, reducing analysis time by 30-58%.

Conclusions:

  • Nile red's utility for microplastic detection is polymer-dependent.
  • Accurate quantification requires threshold limits informed by polymer-specific fluorescence and matrix effects.
  • This approach is crucial for enhancing comparability and reproducibility in microplastic research.