Characterization of Nile Red-Stained Microplastics through Fluorescence Spectroscopy
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jmse-12-01403-v2.pdf
Size
4.3 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
7daf124a6d541c9a8d5640867ec63fd7
Author(s)
Prasad, Suparnamaaya
Bennett, Andrew
Triantafyllou, Michael
Date Issued
August 15, 2024
Journal
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Citation
Prasad, S.; Bennett, A.; Triantafyllou, M. Characterization of Nile Red-Stained Microplastics through Fluorescence Spectroscopy. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12, 1403.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), typically defined as plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, are pervasive in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. There is a need for rapid, portable, low-cost detection systems to assess health and environmental risks. Fluorescent tagging with Nile Red (NR) has emerged as a popular detection method, but variations in fluorescent emissions based on NR solvent, plastic polymer, excitation wavelength, and additives complicate standardization. In this study, seven plastic samples stained with acetone-based NR were analyzed using a fluorescent spectrometer to identify optimal emission peaks across UV-Vis excitation wavelengths. These findings aid in selecting appropriate excitation wavelengths and optical filters for future detection systems. Additionally, a straightforward polymer identification scheme was validated against field-collected plastic samples, whose material composition was confirmed via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. This work contributes towards developing accessible microplastic detection technologies by characterizing the fluorescent properties of NR-stained plastics and enhancing the capability for effective environmental monitoring. Future research will expand the dataset to include diverse plastics with varying additives and weathering, and incorporate computer-vision tools for automated data processing and polymer identification.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sea Grant College Program
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12081403
