Microplastic particles are a major environmental pollution problem. Challenges in microplastics detection are the broad size range, chemical heterogeneity and low concentrations in liquids. Label free optical imaging methods for the detection and particle type identification were tested and compared. Quantitative Phase Imaging and holographic tomography were used to study cell response and cell uptake of microplastic particles. Optical Coherence Tomography could analyze larger organisms as Daphnia magna for microplastics uptake. Imaging methods combining particle localization with a chemical identification as RAMAN and mid IR spectroscopy could clearly identify different particle types and even detect specific microplastic chemistries inside cells.

Date Published: 9 March 2020
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Proc. SPIE 11243, Imaging, Manipulation, and Analysis of Biomolecules, Cells, and Tissues XVIII, 1124315 (9 March 2020); doi: 10.1117/12.2546098

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 11243:
Imaging, Manipulation, and Analysis of Biomolecules, Cells, and Tissues XVIII
Daniel L. Farkas; Attila Tarnok, Editor(s)