Buoyancy-driven microfluidic for concentration and classification of heterogeneous microplastics particles

Le résumé fourni par la source

Rising concerns about microplastic contamination in freshwater systems have highlighted the need for efficient, scalable, and high-throughput sampling technologies. Although microfluidic platforms have shown promise for the detection, removal, and classification of microplastics, their practical implementation has been limited by low throughput. This study presents a gravity-driven, high-throughput microfluidic device designed for continuous concentration and density-based classification of microplastic particles. The system operates at moderate Reynolds numbers and accommodates a broad particle size range (4–200 μm) and plastic densities from 910 up to 1380 kg/m 3 . The device functions both as a density-based particle classifier and as a pretreatment module for sample concentration. Performance was evaluated using controlled particle suspensions and river water samples. The device successfully separated particles with density differences as small as 0.03 g/cm 3 , enabling discrimination between plastics with closely similar material properties. When configured as a concentrator, the system demonstrated size-independent separation performance, achieving separation purities of 94–100% at throughputs up to 25 mL/min in river water samples. The gravity-driven design enabled continuous operation without external pumping complexity while maintaining high classification efficiency. The proposed microfluidic platform overcomes conventional throughput limitations and enables rapid, high-purity density based separation of microplastics across a wide size and density spectrum. Its dual functionality as both a classifier and concentrator enhances downstream analytical workflows and supports recycling applications. Environmentally, this technology offers a scalable solution for improved sampling and quantification of microplastics, contributing toward more rapid, standardized, and accurate environmental monitoring.

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