| Title |
Evaluation of the Feasibility of the Sample Pretreatment and Nile Red Fluorescence Staining Methods for Quantification of Microplastics in Wastewater Samples |
| Authors |
김재인 ( Jae In Kim ) ; ( Nguyen Thu Huong ) ; 이병준 ( Byung Joon Lee ) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.15681/KSWE.2024.40.1.36 |
| Keywords |
Fluorescence; Image analysis; Microplastic; Nile Red; Wastewater |
| Abstract |
Microplastics in water resources have been recognized as a serious problem. The discharge of microplastics from wastewater treatment plants is considered a major contributor to environmental pollution in water resources. However, a reliable analytical method for quantifying microplastics in wastewater treatment plants has not yet been established. This study proposes a reliable, quick, and easy analytical method for quantifying microplastics. For the removal of organic particles, preprocessing steps were applied including oxidation, sonication, washing, and sieving. Nile Red staining was used to visualize microplastics, and quantitative analysis was conducted using fluorescent imaging. The stained microplastics were ultimately quantified through image analysis software. Among the preprocessing steps, sonication and washing stages were particularly effective in efficiently removing interfering substances from wastewater, enhancing the accuracy of the microplastic analysis. Additionally, various solvents (methanol, acetone, and N-hexane) for the Nile Red staining solution were tested. When N-hexane was applied as the solvent, the quantity of stained microplastics was lower compared to methanol and acetone. This suggests that N-hexane has a greater potential of reducing false staining and counting of non-plastic particles. In summary, this research demonstrates a robust method for quantifying microplastics in wastewater treatment plants by employing effective preprocessing steps and optimizing the staining process with Nile Red and N-hexane. |