A simple method for detecting and quantifying microplastics utilizing fluorescent dyes - Safranine T, fluorescein isophosphate, Nile red based on thermal expansion and contraction property. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lv, Lulu; Qu, Junhao; Yu, Zihua; Chen, Daihuan; Zhou, Chunxia; Hong, Pengzhi; Sun, Shengli; Li, Chengyong
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 255(2019)Part 2
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Microplastics -- Staining -- Thermal expansion and contraction -- Identification -- Quantification; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Microplastics (particle size <5 mm) are an emerging contaminant for aquatic environmental, which have attracted increasing attention in worldwide range. In this study, an improved fluorescent staining method for detection and quantification of microplastics was developed based on thermal expansion and contraction. This method is effective in detection of polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate plastic particles. In order to avoid error statistics caused by pretreatment, various characterizations of microplastics were measured after heated, such as microstructure, compositions and thermostability. The results showed that there was no significant damage to microplastics even under heating condition at 75 °C for 30 min, and the stained microplastics had strong stability for up to two months. Moreover, this method has been successfully applied to the quantification of microplastics in biological samples and result showed there were about 54 particles g −1 (dry weight) microplastics in the Sipunculus nudus. This new method provides a reliable method for quantitative analysis of microplastics in environment and biological tissue. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A new staining method was developed based on thermal expansion and contraction. Safranine T and FITC dyes were also successfully used in our method compared to NR. Effectively detect PE, PS, PVC and PET plastic particles. Fluorescence intensity of microplastics is stable which can last for several months. Successfully applied to the quantification of microplastics in biological samples.