Comparison of Microplastic Detection Methods in Wastewater Treatment Plants †
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Sampling and Processing Methods
2.2. Polymer Characterization
3. Results
References
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Processing Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|
NOAA Method | Organic matter is dissolved, resulting in clean MPs Mps used by several studies | Might need more than one digestion step, increasing the time required Different solutions were used to facilitate separation based on density through flotation; ZnCl2 and NaI had higher extraction efficiency than NaCl, but both are more expensive than NaCI |
Simple Filtration | Easy, time-saving, and low cost | Difficulties in separating plastic particles from other organic or nonorganic particles. |
Centrifugation | Easy and simple to use | Fractioning and deformation of plastic particles, resulting in misrepresentations of quantity, shape, and size |
Staining Method | Easy and low cost | False affirmation of some MP polymers |
Processing Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|
NOAA Method | Organic matter is dissolved, resulting in clean MPs Mps used by several studies | Might need more than one digestion step, increasing the time required Different solutions were used to facilitate separation based on density through flotation; ZnCl2 and NaI had higher extraction efficiency than NaCl, but both are more expensive than NaCI |
Simple Filtration | Easy, time-saving, and low cost | Difficulties in separating plastic particles from other organic or nonorganic particles. |
Centrifugation | Easy and simple to use | Fractioning and deformation of plastic particles, resulting in misrepresentation quantity, shape, and size |
Staining Method | Easy and low cost | False affirmation of some MP polymers |
Techniques | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|
Microscope | Fast and easy Identifies shape, size, and colors | Lack of information on the plastic Composition; not confirmative to plastic nature of the particle |
FT-IR | Identifies the composition of the polymer Confirmation of the composition of the MP Able to detect small plastic particles (~20 μm) | Expensive Tedious work and time-consuming to analyze all of the particles retained on the filter Wavelength radiation can be a limiting detection factor |
Raman | Identification of the composition of the polymer; confirmation of the composition of the MP; detection of small microplastics (1 μm) and nanoplastic (<1 μm) | Expensive instrumentation Time-consuming Interference with pigments and contaminants |
SEM/EDS | Clear and high-resolution images of particles Facilitates differentiation between plastic and mineral particles due to the dominant inorganic elements (Si, Ca) | Nonaffirmative results in plastic particles; Lack of information on the type of polymer |
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Biyik, Y.; Baycan, N. Comparison of Microplastic Detection Methods in Wastewater Treatment Plants. Environ. Sci. Proc. 2021, 9, 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/environsciproc2021009029
Biyik Y, Baycan N. Comparison of Microplastic Detection Methods in Wastewater Treatment Plants. Environmental Sciences Proceedings. 2021; 9(1):29. https://doi.org/10.3390/environsciproc2021009029
Chicago/Turabian StyleBiyik, Yudum, and Neval Baycan. 2021. "Comparison of Microplastic Detection Methods in Wastewater Treatment Plants" Environmental Sciences Proceedings 9, no. 1: 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/environsciproc2021009029