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Image processing tools in the study of environmental contamination by microplastics: reliability and perspectives
Tommaso Valente1,2, Daniele Ventura3, Marco Matiddi4
1Department of Environmental Biology, La Sapienza' University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, RM, Italy. tommaso.valente@uniroma1.it.
Summary
This study validates image processing tools for microplastic analysis, finding polyethylene terephthalate most vulnerable to chemicals. The methods reliably detect shape and size differences in microplastics.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Microplastic pollution is a significant global environmental concern.
- Inconsistent analytical methods hinder microplastic research comparability.
- Standardized approaches are needed for accurate microplastic characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate image processing tools (shapeR and ImageJ) for microplastic shape characterization.
- To assess the sensitivity of these tools in detecting minor shape variations.
- To analyze the impact of chemical treatments on different microplastic polymers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized shapeR (R package) and ImageJ (1.52v) for microplastic shape analysis.
- Applied a set of shape descriptors to characterize microplastics.
- Exposed six plastic types (NY, PE, PET, PP, PS, PVC) to chemical treatments (KOH, H2O2, H2O2+HNO3) at controlled temperatures.
- Measured pre- and post-treatment variations in particle surface area.
Main Results:
- Image processing tools accurately detected shape and size variations in microplastics.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) showed the largest surface area decrease after KOH treatment.
- Nylon (NY) was most susceptible to 30% H2O2, followed by PVC and PS.
- Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) exhibited high resistance to all tested chemical treatments.
Conclusions:
- The evaluated image processing tools are reliable for detecting subtle microplastic shape and size differences.
- The findings provide insights into the vulnerability of different polymers to specific chemical environments.
- Accessible and low-cost analytical methods can enhance microplastic research capabilities.
