FlowCam and Microplastics Research

FlowCam and Microplastics Research

Ever wonder if you could use your FlowCam to study microplastics? The state of California thinks you can! In its 2021 Draft Microplastics in Drinking Water Policy Handbook, the state cites FlowCam as a viable surrogate for spectroscopic methods like FTIR and Raman Microscopy. Alongside these modalities, our particle imaging analysis of microplastics demonstrates the value FlowCam offers.

Pictured here: Multicolored plastic glitter, as imaged by FlowCam with 4X objective.

The Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) recently presented a training course that informed state regulators, environmental consultants, as well as community and tribal stakeholders of the pervasiveness of microplastics in the environment. And next week, the ITRC, together with the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association (ALGA), is holding an expert panel on the latest microplastics policies, regulations, and research from the US, Australia, and other countries, further emphasizing the severity of the contaminant worldwide.

We know microplastics research is an important topic for many of you - and we're here to tell you that FlowCam can help! While microplastic speciation capabilities are being developed, FlowCam currently provides total microplastic concentration values in addition to these advantages:

  • Rapid analysis: process 1 mL in 5 minutes
  • Particle size distribution: image and count particles from 2 µm to 1 mm (depending on configuration)
  • High reproducibility: accurately count and image all particles in a sample, including microplastics.

Identification of microplastics vs. other particles can be challenging. As shown in the image below, plastic polar fleece fragments appear like detritus in a water sample when imaged by FlowCam.

polar fleece fragments

Photo: Woods et al., 2018

Explore FlowCam Aquatic Applications

To optimize your FlowCam analysis, extra sample preparation steps, like the digestion and staining methods, might be needed. We have collected the following resources for you to reference as you optimize your microplastic samples for FlowCam analysis. We also invite you to contact us if you would like to discuss method development for your microplastics application.

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