Optical detection of microplastics in water

Unfortunately, the plastic pollution increases at an exponential rate and drastically endangers the marine ecosystem. According to World Health Organization (WHO), microplastics in drinking water have become a concern and may be a risk to human health. One of the major efforts to fight against this problem is developing easy-to-use, low-cost, portable microplastic detection systems. To address this issue, here, we present our prototype device based on an optical system that can help detect the microplastics in water. This system that costs less than $370 is essentially a low-cost Raman spectrometer. It includes a collimated laser (5 mW), a sample holder, a notch filter, a diffraction grating, and a CCD sensor all integrated in a 3D printed case. Our experiments show that our system is capable of detecting microplastics in water having a concentration less than 0.015% w/v. We believe that the designed portable device can find a widespread use all over the world to monitor the microplastic content in an easier and cost-effective manner.

Automated summary

Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems, with the need for low-cost, portable microplastic detection systems becoming increasingly important. A prototype device based on an optical system has been developed, costing less than $370, capable of detecting microplastics in water at concentrations below 0.015% w/v. The designed portable device is expected to be widely used globally to monitor microplastic content in a more convenient and cost-effective manner.