A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
Microplastic pollution of the environment has been extensively studied, with recent studies focusing on the prevalence of microplastics in the environment and their effects on various organisms. Identification methods that simplify the extraction and analysis process to the point where the extractio...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024011642 |
| _version_ | 1827348349687169024 |
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| author | Maximilian Wohlschläger Martin Versen Martin G.J. Löder Christian Laforsch |
| author_facet | Maximilian Wohlschläger Martin Versen Martin G.J. Löder Christian Laforsch |
| author_sort | Maximilian Wohlschläger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastic pollution of the environment has been extensively studied, with recent studies focusing on the prevalence of microplastics in the environment and their effects on various organisms. Identification methods that simplify the extraction and analysis process to the point where the extraction can be omitted are being investigated, thus enabling the direct identification of microplastic particles. Currently, microplastic samples from environmental matrices can only be identified using time-consuming extraction, sample processing, and analytical methods. Various spectroscopic methods are currently employed, such as micro Fourier-transform infrared, attenuated total reflectance, and micro Raman spectroscopy. However, microplastics in environmental matrices cannot be directly identified using these spectroscopic methods. Investigations using frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FD-FLIM) to identify and differentiate plastics from environmental materials have yielded promising results for directly identifying microplastics in an environmental matrix. Herein, two artificially prepared environmental matrices that included natural soil, grass, wood, and high-density polyethylene were investigated using FD-FLIM. Our first results showed that we successfully identified one plastic type in the two artificially prepared matrices using FD-FLIM. However, further research must be conducted to improve the FD-FLIM method and explore its limitations for directly identifying microplastics in environmental samples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:10:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-44b3bf4cb1924ebeb4e4859250955b32 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:10:59Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-44b3bf4cb1924ebeb4e4859250955b322024-02-17T06:39:44ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-02-01103e25133A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopyMaximilian Wohlschläger0Martin Versen1Martin G.J. Löder2Christian Laforsch3Faculty of Engineering, Technical University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim, Hochschulstraße 1, 83024 Rosenheim, Germany; Corresponding author.Faculty of Engineering, Technical University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim, Hochschulstraße 1, 83024 Rosenheim, GermanyAnimal Ecology I and BayCEER, University Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, GermanyAnimal Ecology I and BayCEER, University Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth, GermanyMicroplastic pollution of the environment has been extensively studied, with recent studies focusing on the prevalence of microplastics in the environment and their effects on various organisms. Identification methods that simplify the extraction and analysis process to the point where the extraction can be omitted are being investigated, thus enabling the direct identification of microplastic particles. Currently, microplastic samples from environmental matrices can only be identified using time-consuming extraction, sample processing, and analytical methods. Various spectroscopic methods are currently employed, such as micro Fourier-transform infrared, attenuated total reflectance, and micro Raman spectroscopy. However, microplastics in environmental matrices cannot be directly identified using these spectroscopic methods. Investigations using frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FD-FLIM) to identify and differentiate plastics from environmental materials have yielded promising results for directly identifying microplastics in an environmental matrix. Herein, two artificially prepared environmental matrices that included natural soil, grass, wood, and high-density polyethylene were investigated using FD-FLIM. Our first results showed that we successfully identified one plastic type in the two artificially prepared matrices using FD-FLIM. However, further research must be conducted to improve the FD-FLIM method and explore its limitations for directly identifying microplastics in environmental samples.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024011642MicroplasticsMaterial identificationEnvironmental scienceFluorescence lifetimeFD-FLIMFluorescence microscopy |
| spellingShingle | Maximilian Wohlschläger Martin Versen Martin G.J. Löder Christian Laforsch A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy Heliyon Microplastics Material identification Environmental science Fluorescence lifetime FD-FLIM Fluorescence microscopy |
| title | A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy |
| title_full | A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy |
| title_fullStr | A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy |
| title_full_unstemmed | A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy |
| title_short | A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy |
| title_sort | promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples a pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy |
| topic | Microplastics Material identification Environmental science Fluorescence lifetime FD-FLIM Fluorescence microscopy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024011642 |
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