A platform for microplastic assessment in aquatic environments based on the protein corona-induced aggregation effect

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Microplastic pollution poses significant environmental hazards, particularly in aquatic ecosystems.
• In-situ detection of microplastics is hindered by method limitations, instrument scale, and particle size.
• Polystyrene microplastics are a common pollutant requiring effective detection strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel photoelectrochemical sensor for sensitive and real-time detection of polystyrene microplastics.
• To overcome the challenges associated with current microplastic detection methods in aquatic environments.
• To establish a practical platform for analyzing microplastic pollution in real water samples.

Main Methods:

• Design of a photoelectrochemical sensor utilizing the protein corona-induced aggregation effect.
• Utilizing a digital multimeter for real-time data acquisition and analysis.
• Calibration and validation of the sensor using varying concentrations of polystyrene microplastics.

Main Results:

• Achieved a linear detection range of 0.5-500 μg mL⁻¹ for polystyrene microplastics.
• Established a method detection limit of 0.06 μg mL⁻¹ and a limit of quantification of 0.14 μg mL⁻¹.
• Demonstrated high sensitivity, reproducibility (RSDs 0.56%-4.63% intra-day, 0.84%-3.36% inter-day), and real-time detection capability.

Conclusions:

• The developed photoelectrochemical sensor offers a sensitive and reliable method for in-situ microplastic detection.
• The protein corona-induced aggregation approach provides new insights for microplastic sensing.
• The sensor platform has broad applications for monitoring microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.