The Water Supplies Department
The ability to study microplastic is hindered by lack of technologies for rapid characterization of environmental samples. The standardized laboratory testing method is two-pronged - microscopy to identify potential particles, and spectrometers to determine the type of plastic by chemical confirmation. The spectroscopy is mostly done by FTIR spectrometer, those performance is affected by water, and therefore work only with dried samples. Here, we aim to develop a fluidic hyperspectral imaging system to inspect microplastic that is suspended in water. The size of around 150 microns is of great interest, below which is believed to be absorbed by human body, and with the greatest chance of causing adverse health issues. Therefore, 20 to 150 microns plastic is the main target of the proposed sensing system. In this project, a microscopic hyperspectral imaging device with flow cell integration, together with specially designed collapsible water sample collection and chemical treatment modules will be developed. On-site testing will be conducted for freshwater locations in Hong Kong for the performance verification.