Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small Microplastics
The most commonly used methods for the detection and identification of small microplastics generally require a complex sample preparation procedure and only allow for static measurements. Quality control of food and drinking water therefore requires a lot of effort. Especially in view of the increas...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1390 |
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| author | Alexander Kissel André Nogowski Alwin Kienle Florian Foschum |
| author_facet | Alexander Kissel André Nogowski Alwin Kienle Florian Foschum |
| author_sort | Alexander Kissel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The most commonly used methods for the detection and identification of small microplastics generally require a complex sample preparation procedure and only allow for static measurements. Quality control of food and drinking water therefore requires a lot of effort. Especially in view of the increasing amount of plastic waste in the environment, the rising public awareness of the issue and the indications for adverse effects of microplastics on human health, more sophisticated measuring methods are required. In this paper, we present a measuring setup for the detection and identification of microplastics using flow Raman spectroscopy. We demonstrate the ability to acquire Raman spectra of individual particles as small as about 4 µm, enabling the identification of their plastic type. We show measurements of differently generated and shaped particles and particles made of different plastic types, highlighting the observed challenges and differences. Finally, we show possible applications of the measuring method. We demonstrate that the measuring principle is suitable for detecting and identifying microplastic particles among other particles and that aged plastics can still be distinguished by their Raman spectra. Overall, our results show that flow Raman spectroscopy is a promising method that could significantly reduce the effort required to detect microplastics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85ae1658e6d34418bc3e08e5bf366cd7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-85ae1658e6d34418bc3e08e5bf366cd72025-08-20T02:59:15ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-02-01255139010.3390/s25051390Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small MicroplasticsAlexander Kissel0André Nogowski1Alwin Kienle2Florian Foschum3Institut für Lasertechnologien in der Medizin und Meßtechnik an der Universität Ulm (ILM), Helmholtzstr. 12, 89081 Ulm, GermanySKZ-KFE gGmbH, Europäisches Zentrum für Dispersionstechnologien (EZD), Weissenbacher Str. 86, 95100 Selb, GermanyInstitut für Lasertechnologien in der Medizin und Meßtechnik an der Universität Ulm (ILM), Helmholtzstr. 12, 89081 Ulm, GermanyInstitut für Lasertechnologien in der Medizin und Meßtechnik an der Universität Ulm (ILM), Helmholtzstr. 12, 89081 Ulm, GermanyThe most commonly used methods for the detection and identification of small microplastics generally require a complex sample preparation procedure and only allow for static measurements. Quality control of food and drinking water therefore requires a lot of effort. Especially in view of the increasing amount of plastic waste in the environment, the rising public awareness of the issue and the indications for adverse effects of microplastics on human health, more sophisticated measuring methods are required. In this paper, we present a measuring setup for the detection and identification of microplastics using flow Raman spectroscopy. We demonstrate the ability to acquire Raman spectra of individual particles as small as about 4 µm, enabling the identification of their plastic type. We show measurements of differently generated and shaped particles and particles made of different plastic types, highlighting the observed challenges and differences. Finally, we show possible applications of the measuring method. We demonstrate that the measuring principle is suitable for detecting and identifying microplastic particles among other particles and that aged plastics can still be distinguished by their Raman spectra. Overall, our results show that flow Raman spectroscopy is a promising method that could significantly reduce the effort required to detect microplastics.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1390microplasticRaman spectroscopywaterparticle analysis |
| spellingShingle | Alexander Kissel André Nogowski Alwin Kienle Florian Foschum Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small Microplastics Sensors microplastic Raman spectroscopy water particle analysis |
| title | Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small Microplastics |
| title_full | Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small Microplastics |
| title_fullStr | Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small Microplastics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small Microplastics |
| title_short | Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small Microplastics |
| title_sort | flow raman spectroscopy for the detection and identification of small microplastics |
| topic | microplastic Raman spectroscopy water particle analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1390 |
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