Rapid Microplastic Analysis by Microparticle Radars

Introduction

Microplastics pollution is becoming increasingly problematic due to its involvement in a myriad of health problems and its effects on natural wildlife. Water agencies across the globe are progressively implementing screening policies for drinking water to address this issue.

Challenges in Monitoring

However, this is proving to be challenging since the existing monitoring technologies are labor-intensive and time-consuming with low throughput.

Proposed Solution

To address the issue, we propose a new flow-through sensor that builds upon technologies that were developed during our main ERC project. The sensor device combines two different electronic sensors that extract both the size and the dielectric permittivity of microparticles passing through the system in a rapid and high throughput manner.

Importance of Dielectric Permittivity

The dielectric permittivity is a robust parameter that can be used to identify plastics from other materials found naturally in the environment. By utilizing this difference at the single microparticle level, our new technology can be used either to:

1. Eliminate non-plastic materials from samples for downstream conventional microplastics spectroscopy, or
2. Serve as a stand-alone automated sensor for rapid microplastics quantification in drinking water samples.

Validation and Collaboration

Here, we will set up a microplastics workbench to cross-validate the accuracy of our proposed technology. After validation and securing the IP rights, we will seek out drinking water samples from water boards across the globe to analyze them in our lab.

Building Networks

This will allow us to form networks of collaborators and lead us towards providing rapid microplastics analysis as a commercial service to water regulation agencies.

Economic and Environmental Impact

In addition to the potential economic opportunities, we envision that our technology will accelerate microplastics screening and play a significant role in stymieing the spread of microplastics pollution.