In-flow single particle detection of sub-100 micron microplastics

Abstract

The pervasive and growing contamination of ecosystems by microplastics (MPs) has emerged as a critical environmental and societal challenge. These synthetic polymer fragments, typically defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are now recognized not only for their persistence in natural environments but also for their potential to carry adsorbed pollutants and to be ingested by a wide range of organisms, including humans. Of particular concern are MPs in the sub-100 μm range, which are more difficult to isolate and analyze but may exhibit enhanced mobility, reactivity, and bioavailability. The accurate detection, quantification, and chemical characterization of such small MPs are therefore essential for advancing our understanding of their sources, fate, and impacts. However, current analytical approaches—primarily based on filtration, staining, and spectroscopic methods—remain time-consuming and often lack the sensitivity or selectivity required for sub-100 μm particles in complex aqueous matrices. In this study, we present a novel microfluidic strategy for the rapid, in-flow detection and molecular identification of individual MPs in suspension. The method integrates dielectrophoresis (DEP) for the label-free spatial manipulation of particles and Raman microspectroscopy (RM) for their chemical fingerprinting. A custom-fabricated glass microfluidic chip was developed, incorporating electrodes on both the top and bottom surfaces of the main channel to achieve three-dimensional DEP focusing. MPs ranging from 25 to 50 μm in diameter were successfully aligned along the channel's central axis and interrogated in real time using RM. This approach enabled unambiguous, particle-by-particle identification of five widely encountered polymer types: polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), both in monodisperse and polydisperse mixtures. Our results demonstrate that DEP/RM coupling offers a powerful and scalable platform for in-flow MPs analysis, combining high spatial resolution and chemical specificity. This proof of concept opens new possibilities for high-throughput and automated detection of MPs in environmental monitoring and water analysis.