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Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
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Standardizing microplastic quantification by scanning electron microscopy: Structural performance of filter membranes

Qian Zhang1, Xinyan Xu1, Dengke Zhang1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution and Green Resource Recycling, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.

Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|June 15, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Choosing the right filter membrane is crucial for accurate microplastic (MP) quantification. Single-layer-hole polycarbonate track-etched (PCTE) membranes offer the most reliable results for visual counting and inter-study comparisons.

Keywords:
Bottled drinksFilter membranesMicroplasticsScanning electron microscopyVisual quantification

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Microplastic (MP) isolation relies heavily on filtration methods.
  • Filter membrane choice significantly impacts MP quantification accuracy.
  • Existing studies lack systematic comparisons of different membrane types.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically compare five common filter membrane types for microplastic quantification.
  • To evaluate the impact of membrane structure on particle dispersion, embedding, and aggregation.
  • To identify the most suitable membrane for reliable MP quantification and analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Five membrane types were tested: polycarbonate track-etched (PCTE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), glass fiber (GF), mixed cellulose esters (MCE), and nylon (NY).
  • Polystyrene microspheres were used to assess dispersion and quantification performance under varying concentrations and pH.
  • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for visual counting.
  • Laser direct infrared (LDIR) analysis was used for particle identification in bottled drinks.

Main Results:

  • Single-layer-hole (PCTE) and multilayer-fiber (PTFE) membranes showed superior polystyrene microsphere dispersion.
  • Multilayer-fiber membranes (PTFE, GF) exhibited partial particle embedding, while multilayer-hole membranes (MCE, NY) showed pronounced aggregation.
  • PCTE membranes demonstrated the most stable quantification performance (RSD 3.05-17.68%) and improved differentiation of particle abundance in bottled drinks.
  • Particles in bottled drinks comprised 54.50%-81.29% non-microplastics, with identified microplastics including PET, PE, PBR, and PVC.

Conclusions:

  • Filter membrane selection is critical for accurate microplastic quantification.
  • Single-layer-hole PCTE membranes are recommended for reliable visual counting due to superior particle dispersion and minimal artifacts.
  • PCTE membranes enhance comparability of microplastic data across different studies and sample types.