Large Scale Microplastic Fibre Analysis in Wastewater: A Comprehensive Review and Recommendations

IF 8.1 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Current Pollution Reports Pub Date : 2025-08-15 DOI:10.1007/s40726-025-00378-2

James V. Tarte, Mohammad Boshir Ahmed, Van-Tung Tra, Qilin Wang, Md Abu Hasan Johir, Long D. Nghiem

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review provides a critical analysis of current and emerging methods for identifying and quantifying microplastic fibres (MPF) in wastewater, covering all key steps of sample collection, pretreatment, and analytical analysis. There are currently no universally accepted standards for collecting and analysing MPF. This review aims to provide new insights to develop appropriate processes for collecting and analysing MPF in wastewater through a critical analysis of the literature.

Recent Findings

Previous studies have used non-selective grab sampling and stacked sieving apparatuses to collect and/or sort microplastics, but very few have been specifically applied to MPF. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) digestion is the most widely used for sample preparation prior to MPF analysis. MPF quantification by manual counting under an optical microscope is possible but is inefficient and unable to meet the required level of accuracy. Either micro–Fourier Transport Infrared (µFTIR) or µ-Raman is suitable for polymer identification. They each have distinctive reported strengths and weaknesses, and µFTIR is more appropriate for MPF analysis.

Summary

Fast and scalable analysis can be achieved with grab sampling for collection, H₂O₂ digestion for pretreatment, filtration using glass fibre or alumina oxide membranes, and then microscopic imaging with fluorene tagging for automated counting. Transmittance μFTIR is the most appropriate tool for polymer identification. Density separation, extensive sample digestion, manual counting, and Raman spectroscopy are not required or incompatible for MPF analysis.

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废水中微塑料纤维的大规模分析：综述与建议

本文综述了当前和新兴的识别和定量废水中微塑料纤维（MPF）的方法，涵盖了样品收集、预处理和分析分析的所有关键步骤。目前并没有普遍认可的强积金收集和分析标准。本综述旨在通过对文献的批判性分析，为开发收集和分析废水中的强积金的适当过程提供新的见解。先前的研究使用非选择性抓取取样和堆叠筛分设备来收集和/或分类微塑料，但很少专门应用于MPF。过氧化氢（H2O2）消解是最广泛用于样品制备之前的MPF分析。在光学显微镜下通过人工计数进行强积金定量是可能的，但效率低下，无法达到所需的精度水平。微傅立叶传输红外（µFTIR）或微拉曼适合于聚合物识别。它们各有不同的优点和缺点，µFTIR更适合强积金分析。快速和可扩展的分析可以通过抓取取样进行收集，H2O2消解进行预处理，使用玻璃纤维或氧化铝氧化膜过滤，然后使用芴标记进行显微成像进行自动计数。透过率μFTIR是聚合物鉴别最合适的工具。密度分离，广泛的样品消化，人工计数和拉曼光谱不需要或不兼容的MPF分析。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Current Pollution Reports Environmental Science-Water Science and Technology

CiteScore

12.10

自引率

1.40%

发文量

期刊介绍： Current Pollution Reports provides in-depth review articles contributed by international experts on the most significant developments in the field of environmental pollution.By presenting clear, insightful, balanced reviews that emphasize recently published papers of major importance, the journal elucidates current and emerging approaches to identification, characterization, treatment, management of pollutants and much more.