One-stop quantification of microplastics and nanoparticles based on meniscus self-assembly technology.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) pose a significant global pollution challenge.
• Existing analytical methods struggle with accurate, quantitative analysis of MNPs, particularly nanoplastics.
• Traditional enrichment techniques often lead to particle agglomeration or dispersion, hindering accurate counting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reliable and quantitative analytical method for micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs).
• To introduce a meniscus self-assembly enrichment technique for uniform nanoplastic deposition.
• To establish a comprehensive method for separate quantification of MNPs based on size.

Main Methods:

• Meniscus self-assembly enrichment for uniform nanoplastic deposition and improved particle counting.
• Investigation of key parameters (time, initial concentration) influencing meniscus self-assembly performance.
• A one-stop method combining filtration and meniscus self-assembly for separate MNPs quantification, followed by SEM analysis.

Main Results:

• The meniscus self-assembly method effectively overcomes agglomeration/dispersion issues, facilitating particle counting.
• The developed one-stop method allows for separate counting of microplastics (>1 μm) and nanoplastics (<1 μm).
• Analysis of take-out containers revealed significant MNP migration: 460.55 particles/mL microplastics and 4196.61 particles/mL nanoplastics.

Conclusions:

• The proposed meniscus self-assembly and filtration method offers a more accurate and comprehensive approach to MNP quantification.
• This technique is time-saving, cost-effective, and provides superior statistical data compared to traditional methods.
• The findings highlight the potential for MNPs to migrate from common plastic products, emphasizing the need for improved analytical strategies.