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A portable platform for polyethylene microplastics quantification using an Arduino automatic system.
Shijing Yang1, Yajing Sun1, Yaming Yang2
1School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Functional Polymers, Hebei University of Technology, Xiping Road No. 5340, Beichen District, Tianjin, 300401, China.
Analytica Chimica Acta
|May 26, 2026
Summary
A new portable fluorescence sensor rapidly quantifies polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs) in environmental samples. This low-cost, user-friendly device uses boron-doped carbon dots for detection, offering a significant advancement in microplastic analysis.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) pose a significant threat to human health due to their widespread presence and persistence.
- Developing convenient and effective analytical methods for MP detection is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a low-cost, portable sensing platform for the rapid quantification of polyethylene (PE) microplastics (MPs) in environmental samples.
- To create a user-friendly and field-deployable assay for microplastic analysis.
Main Methods:
- A portable sensing platform was constructed using an ultraviolet light module, color sensor, LCD, and Arduino microcontroller in a 3D-printed box.
- Polyethylene MPs were stained with boron-doped carbon dots (B-CDs), producing a "turn-on" yellow fluorescence detected by the color sensor.
- Vacuum filtration was used for sample preparation, and the decrease in blue RGB value correlated with PE MP mass.
Main Results:
- Linear calibration curves were obtained for PE MPs within a mass range of 0.15-1.00 mg and particle sizes of 2-5 μm.
- The developed platform enabled rapid quantification of PE MPs.
- PE MP content was directly displayed on the integrated liquid crystal display.
Conclusions:
- The portable fluorescence sensor offers an inexpensive, user-friendly, and field-deployable solution for microplastic quantification.
- This assay eliminates the need for complex instrumentation and post-processing, advancing portable microplastic sensing capabilities.
