Microplastics monitoring methodology in seawaters
This research object focusses on presenting a tentative microplastics sampling and analysis methodology in seawater environment.
Rapa, Maria, Teresa Cecchi, Davide Poletto, and Giorgio Castellan. "Microplastics monitoring methodology in seawaters." ROHub. Oct 31 ,2022. https://w3id.org/ro-id/a1fe8d87-7ca4-4846-ab84-869b9d8a2b57.
Economy, business and finance/Economic sector/Chemicals/Synthetic and plastic chemicals
analysis methodology in seawater environment
Microplastics monitoring methodology in seawaters.
This study investigates the occurrence and characterization of microplastic contamination in the Adriatic Sea, where different plastic waste generating activities from neighboring countries are considered as a pollution source
A red filament, with dimension of 542 µm was detected from Stara Baška water sample.
Two black microplastics, as filament type, with dimensions of 600 µm and 3331 µm were detected from Krk water sample.
A black filament, with dimension of 2096 µm was detected from Stara Baška water sample.
Microplastic black from Stara Baška , Croatia
A brown filament with dimension of 2247 µm was found in Krk water sample.
A black mini-microplastic, as filament shape, with dimension of 604 µm was detected in Omišalj water sample.
A black filament with diameter of 554 µm was detected in Saint Mark’s Basin water sample.
Microplastic from Saint Mark’s Basin, Venice
A transparent fragment with dimensions of 271 µm x 108 µm was identified by using optical microscopy analysis from Saint Mark's Basin water sample.
Microfragment from Saint Mark's Basin, Venice
The results of this scouting scientific investigation show the presence of microplastic particles in all sampling locations, with an exception in the case of Melska site.
Relative number of microplastics per liter
The filter papers were examined for the presence of microplastics (MPs) using an optical microscope (Olympus microscope BX 51 M) with acquisition and image analysis software, magnification from 50x up to 500x and resolution of 1 µm. All experiments were performed in triplicates. Two persons examinate each sample and the number of MPs was recorded.
Detection of microplastics were performed by optical microscopy. In this step, the establishing of microplastics morphology, color, size and relative amount per liter were achieved.
About 50 mL of 30% H2O2 for sample (reagent was previously filtered by 0.45 µm pore size) was used for preserve the plastic, while removing organic matters. During this step, the Berzelius beakers are covered with aluminum foil to prevent the air borne plastic contamination.
Filtration was performed by using a vacuum pump together with a suction flash filter (glass microfiber filter, with pore sizes of 1.6 µm, 1 µm or 0.7 µm, respectively, diameter of 47 mm, weighed before). Distilled water and ethanol 70%, at the end, are used for washing and easy drying of microplastics. Blank controls (n >=3) are processed simultaneously to avoid contamination from airborne particles.