Development of an Inexpensive and Comparable Microplastic Detection Method Using Fluorescent Staining with Novel Nile Red Derivatives

Fluorescent staining of microplastics as a detection method is consistently gaining importance in research, it fast, easy to use, and requires low technical effort. In this study, complete procedure was developed, from sample collection processing detection, measure with cost time requirements. The developed tested by measuring the effluent German wastewater treatment plant over period one year. results show that process especially well suited investigate temporal variations microplastic contamination, which large number samples be processed. Further, precision selectivity could improved applying newly Nile red derivatives for fluorescent staining. A budget modification microscope imaging compared precise optical bandpass filters. script enabling automated counting improving accuracy comparability process.