article · RSC Advances
Microplastics represent an escalating threat across diverse environmental compartments, prompting an urgent need for reliable, accessible detection methods that avoid false results. While electrochemical remediation has advanced, electrochemical sensors for identifying microplastics have received comparatively little focus. Recent research highlights how electrochemical sensing can serve as a low-cost analytical alternative to conventional laboratory equipment. These techniques encompass diverse detection mechanisms, electrode modification strategies, device configurations, and emerging nanoimpact approaches. By drawing on existing remediation platforms, researchers can inform the development of novel sensors capable of monitoring microplastics in environmental and other matrices. Achieving practical deployment requires addressing detection limits, reducing testing errors, and overcoming technical hurdles through focused research and device optimisation.
Microplastics contaminate ecosystems globally, yet detecting them accurately remains challenging and frequently reliant on expensive laboratory equipment. Exploring electrochemical sensing provides a pathway towards more accessible, lower-cost analytical tools. Improving these detection techniques helps environmental managers and researchers monitor contamination levels effectively, lower the incidence of false readings, and better understand the spread of pollutants.
This work points towards low-cost analytical sensing devices for environmental monitoring agencies, water utilities, and testing laboratories. Because the work reviews detection mechanisms, electrode modifications, and future research requirements, the technology appears to be at an early development stage, moving towards prototypes that could eventually supplement or replace bulky, expensive laboratory equipment.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Microplastics (5 μm) are a developing threat that contaminate every environmental compartment. The detection of these contaminants is undoubtedly an important topic of study because of their high potential to cause harm to ecosystems. For many years, scientists have been assiduously striving to surmount the obstacle of detection restrictions and minimize the likelihood of receiving results that are either false positives or false negatives. This study covers the current state of electrochemical sensing technology as well as its application as a low-cost analytical platform for the detection and characterization of novel contaminants. Examples of detection mechanisms, electrode modification procedures, device configuration, and performance are given to show how successful these approaches are for monitoring microplastics in the environment. Additionally included are the recent developments in nanoimpact techniques. Compared to electrochemical methods for microplastic remediation, the use of electrochemical sensors for microplastic detection has received very little attention. With an overview of microplastic electrochemical sensors, this review emphasizes the promise of existing electrochemical remediation platforms toward sensor design and development. In order to enhance the monitoring of these substances, a critical assessment of the requirements for future research, challenges associated with detection, and opportunities is provided. In addition to-or instead of-the now-in-use laboratory-based analytical equipment, these technologies can be utilized to support extensive research and manage issues pertaining to microplastics in the environment and other matrices.
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DOI: 10.1039/d3ra06755f
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