Microplastic Automatic Preparation Device MAP-100

Significance of the Topic

The increasing prevalence of microplastics in oceans, rivers and lakes poses a serious environmental and public health challenge. Reliable isolation and characterization of microplastics from surface water samples are essential for accurate monitoring, risk assessment and development of mitigation strategies. Automating sample preparation can enhance consistency, reduce human error and accelerate large-scale monitoring programs.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study presents the design and performance of the MAP-100, an automatic preparation device for isolating microplastics from environmental surface water. The primary aims are to:

• Automate digestion, density separation and filtration steps.
• Improve reproducibility across analysts and laboratories.
• Reduce manual labor and enhance operator safety.

Methodology

The MAP-100 workflow consists of three sequential processes:

1. Digestion: Organic material is oxidized in a hydrogen peroxide solution under controlled temperature (30–100 °C) and stirring (50–900 rpm).
2. Separation: Inorganic contaminants are separated by density flotation in a sodium iodide solution (5.3 mol/L).
3. Filtration: The supernatant containing microplastics is passed through a collection filter via an overflow mechanism.

Operators configure reaction parameters through a simple graphical interface. Progress and reagent consumption are monitored in real time, and flow lines can be rinsed for maintenance.

Used Instrumentation

• MAP-100 Microplastic Automatic Preparation Device: reaction vessel, overflow pipe, collection filter.
• Control software on Windows tablet or PC (Windows 10/11 Pro, Intel Core i3-10100Y or later, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB storage).
• Reagents: hydrogen peroxide solution (up to 30 % w/w), sodium iodide solution (5.3 mol/L).
• Optional analytical tools for downstream analysis: STZ-171-TELD stereoscopic microscope; IRSpirit FTIR spectrophotometer with QATR-S accessory; AIRsight Raman microscope.

Main Results and Discussion

The MAP-100 successfully automated the conventional multi-step isolation protocol, achieving:

• Consistent recovery of microplastics in the size range 0.3–5 mm and density up to 1.5 g/cm³.
• Reduced operator hands-on time and standardized reagent handling.
• High reproducibility demonstrated by inter-run and inter-operator comparisons.

Temperature control and stirring speed were effectively maintained, although actual liquid temperatures varied with ambient conditions. The user interface provided reliable status updates and completion estimates.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Key advantages of the MAP-100 include:

• Labor savings: fewer man-hours per sample preparation cycle.
• Improved reproducibility: uniform handling across different users and labs.
• Enhanced safety: minimized direct contact with strong oxidants and dense salt solutions.
• Scalability: suitable for routine environmental monitoring and research laboratories.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advancements may include integration with inline spectroscopic or imaging modules for real-time identification, larger-volume processing capabilities, and the application of AI-driven process optimization. Coupling automated preparation with high-throughput analysis could support global microplastic surveillance networks.

Conclusion

The MAP-100 represents a significant step toward standardized, efficient and safe isolation of microplastics from surface water samples. By automating key preparation steps and providing robust monitoring, it addresses critical challenges in reproducibility and throughput, paving the way for broader adoption in environmental laboratories.

References

No literature references were specified in the source document.