Comparative evaluation of filtration and imaging properties of analytical filters for microplastic capture and analysis

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2023-08, Vol.332, p.138811-138811, Article 138811
• Main Authors: Carter, Jared, Horan, Teagan, Miller, Joshua, Madejski, Gregory, Butler, Erin, Amato, Corinne, Roussie, James
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical methods; Drinking Water - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Filtration; Filtration - methods; Gold - chemistry; Humans; Microplastics; Microscopy; Optical microscopy; Plastics; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138811

Pollution by microplastics (MPs) is a growing problem that is now well-recognized, as concerning levels of MPs have been found in drinking water, food, and even human tissues. Given the evolving understanding of their toxicological effects on human health, MPs are an area of concern requiring further study. Consequently, there is a need for greater understanding of the performance characteristics of common MP analytical methods and where possible, for standardizing methods and reporting practices. Here, we report our work comparing filtration and imaging properties of five analytical filters suitable for MP capture and analysis. We compared track-etched polycarbonate with (PCTEG) and without gold coating (PCTE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), porous silicon (PSi), and gold-coated microslit silicon nitride membranes (MSSN-Au). Four of the filter types had a nominal 1.0 μm cut-off, except for PCTEG which had a 0.8 nominal cut-off. We examined the ultrastructure of each membrane type by electron microscopy to understand how their physical properties influence filtration and imaging performance. We compared clean water filtration rates and timed volume passage for each filter in comparison to its porosity and working surface area. We further compared optical microscopy imaging properties for each filter with model MP samples in both bright-field and fluorescent modes with accompanying Nile Red staining. In terms of absolute and surface area-normalized flow rates, our measurements ranked the filters in order of MSSN-Au > PTFE > PCTE > PCTEG > PSi. Similarly, we found MSSN-Au filters compared favorably in terms of optical microscopy performance. Collectively, these data will aid practitioners when choosing analytical filters for MP surveillance and testing. [Display omitted] •One of the most widely used methods for the analysis of microplastics involves capture and on-filter interrogation by optical microscopy.•Practices in this field are moving toward greater standardization and harmonization, requiring better understanding of the performance characteristics of analytical methods.•The filtration and optical microscopy performance of five analytical filters is reported, along with related factors that practitioners should consider when evaluating filters for microplastics analysis.