A cost-effective protocol for detecting fluorescent microplastics in arable soils to study redistribution processes
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F68407700%3A21110%2F25%3A00383870" target="_blank" >RIV/68407700:21110/25:00383870 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
A cost-effective protocol for detecting fluorescent microplastics in arable soils to study redistribution processes
Original language description
Understanding microplastics' (MPs) transport from soils to aquatic ecosystems is challenging due to labor-intensive detection methods, especially in large-scale plot experiments analyzing surface runoff and soil erosion. To address this, we used fluorescent MPs as tracers and developed a cost-effective protocol to detect them in dry soils and eroded sediments. We analyzed spherical polyethylene (PE: 125-150 mu m; 425-500 mu m) and irregular polylactic acid (PLA: 125-150 mu m; 250-300 mu m). Sample assays were prepared primarily based on dry and wet sieving. Subsequent darkroom photography under 365 nm illumination, and thresholding and segmentation-based image analysis were done. The developed protocol demonstrates high reliability, precision, and F-scores of 88.7 % +/- 2.9 %, 85.2 % +/- 3.1 %, and 86.9 % +/- 2.8 %. PE exhibited slightly higher recovery rates (85 % +/- 5 %) than PLA (79 % +/- 8 %). Particle size influenced recovery, with larger MPs achieving significantly higher recovery. Smaller particles showed slightly lower recovery under dry soil conditions, but their recovery improved under sediment conditions facilitated by wet sieving and ultrasonication. All fluorescent MPs retained >95 % detectability after three months of storage, highlighting marker temporal stability. Compared to existing methods, this protocol eliminates complex digestion steps, reduces costs, and ensures minimal contamination, providing a robust framework for MP transport studies. It offers potential for enhancement through advanced imaging and machine learning, enabling more efficient and accessible detection in environmental research.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
40104 - Soil science
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
R - Projekt Ramcoveho programu EK
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Polymer Testing
ISSN
0142-9418
e-ISSN
1873-2348
Volume of the periodical
147
Issue of the periodical within the volume
June
Country of publishing house
NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
Number of pages
10
Pages from-to
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UT code for WoS article
001486799400001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105003902201