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Application of Eco-Friendly Fluorescent Dyes in Microplastic Detection
Dovilė Motiejauskaitė1, Karolina Barčauskaitė1
1Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Institute of Agriculture, Instituto al. 1, Kėdainiai Distr., Akademija LT-58344, Lithuania.
ACS Omega
|August 8, 2026
Summary
Eco-friendly dyes effectively stain microplastics, but efficiency varies by polymer type and damage. Coumarin-6 and Nile Red show promise for detecting microplastics, especially damaged ones.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Microplastic detection is crucial for environmental monitoring.
- Efficient and cost-effective fluorescent staining methods are needed.
- Eco-friendly dyes offer a sustainable alternative for microplastic analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate eco-friendly fluorescent dyes (coumarin-6, coumarin-153, curcumin) for microplastic detection.
- To compare staining efficiency across different polymer types and damage states.
- To assess the influence of illumination sources (UV, blue, green light) on fluorescence.
Main Methods:
- Staining of polymer standards (pristine and damaged) with coumarin-6, coumarin-153, curcumin, and Nile Red (control).
- Analysis of staining efficiency and fluorescence intensity distribution under UV, blue, and green light.
- Evaluation of common polymers including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
Main Results:
- Polypropylene (PP) showed the lowest staining efficiency, requiring Nile Red or coumarin-6.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) exhibited high staining efficiency with most dyes under UV and blue light.
- Mechanical and thermal damage generally enhanced fluorescence intensity and uniformity, except for PP.
Conclusions:
- Polymer type, dye choice, illumination, and damage significantly impact microplastic staining.
- Coumarin-6 and Nile Red are effective for microplastic detection, with varying performance based on polymer and conditions.
- Careful consideration of these factors is essential for accurate microplastic analysis.
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