For many reasons, microplastics analysis is a growing field of study. Microplastics are small pieces of plastic debris that are less than 5 mm in size. There are endless sources of microplastics: large polymer debris, anything from food packages to car parts, and all will chemically or mechanically decay eventually, leaving thousands or millions of tiny plastics scattered about. There are other direct sources of microplastics, like the microbeads found in skincare products or byproducts from polymer fabrication, among others.

Being so small and buoyant, most of these materials end up in waterways. An overwhelming majority of ocean plastics are estimated to come from land-based sources, but they don’t stop there. They get caught among marine plant life and animals, and then enter the food chain. A recent study featured in the Smithsonian Magazine found that 77% of human blood samples tested contained microplastics. Other studies have linked microplastics to disease, illness and an inability to absorb nutrients from food.

Testing for microplastics

Current microplastic analysis methods generally involve retrieving samples with a filtration device. The most common method is the manta trawl, which consists of a fine mesh net towed along the surface or through the water column by boat.

This captures particles ranging in size from 0.1 mm to 1 cm, depending on the size of the mesh used. Samples can be examined in-situ on the filter, or manually removed for further analysis. However, keeping microscopic bits of plastic safely stored and uncontaminated across a long voyage has proven troublesome and inconvenient.

Recent advances in analysis techniques have led to the development of automated microplastic sample collection methods. These devices make use of a variety of technologies, including electrofishing and imaging systems, to capture and identify particles without the need for manual intervention. Automated filtration devices are able to process larger volumes of samples and in remote areas. However, they may not tell the whole story of the plastic’s source or composition, which can only be done in a full lab.

Borrowing evidence from the crime scene

Scientists sought an easy way to preserve samples and plastics produced by manta trawls and experimented with various containers and devices. Ultimately, they settled on EasyLift tape as the best solution.

The widely trusted collection method is applied to surfaces to capture fingerprints, hair, fibers, powder or other trace clues. Source: Microgen/Adobe Stock

Easylift is widely used in forensic analyses to capture and preserve evidence from crime scenes. It is applied to surfaces to capture fingerprints, hair, fibers, powder or other trace clues, and then affixed to backing; previous tapes required the evidence to be extracted from the tape and was not compatible with some microscope techniques. Easylift tape improves upon these conventional challenges and is widely available.

Once Easylift has been used to lift microplastics from a substrate, the tape can then be cut into small squares for further sampling or analysis. Thanks to its robust adhesive properties, Easylift will securely retain any microplastics found during the collection process. These can then either be stored using traditional methods, such as archiving between glass slides, or subject to more intensive analyses, such as energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

The Easylift method enables high recovery rates of microplastics during filtration processes. This is because it effectively captures plastic fibers that are typically too small or fragile to be manually collected with tweezers or spoons, while also reducing cross-contamination between samples. In addition, the use of adhesive tape allows samples to be transferred easily and quickly, making it a time-efficient approach.

During a trial to collect samples of microplastics from the Hudson River in collaboration with the Rozalia Project, Gwinnett successfully tested a technique and achieved 96.4% mean fiber recovery rate. Moreover, this adhesive tape method preserves each sample so that multiple analytical approaches such as spectroscopy, microscopy or quantitative analysis can be employed afterwards for accurate results.

Easylift adhesive tape is also an affordable and low-waste method for collecting microplastics; as well as being cost-efficient, there is no need to use large amounts of water or solvents which could otherwise increase toxic contamination levels in the sample.

The future of investigating microplastics

Overall, Easylift adhesive tape is proving to be an effective and efficient technique for collecting microplastics for analysis. It allows for higher recovery rates, quicker sampling times and multiple analytical pathways - all while reducing the risk of contamination and lowering costs. By using this innovative approach, researchers can gain a more accurate understanding of microplastic distribution in the environment.

Will Easylift and similar techniques become the standard for analyzing microplastics in the future? Engineering360 wants to hear your thoughts in the comments below.