Controllable preparation of mesoporous spike gold nanocrystals for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy detection of micro/nanoplastics in water

Microplastics and nanoplastics are emerging classes of environmental contaminants that pose significant threats to human health. In particular, small nanoplastics (<1 mu m) have drawn considerable attention owing to their adverse effects on human health; for example, nanoplastics have been found in the placenta and blood. However, reliable detection techniques are lacking. In this study, we developed a fast detection method that combines membrane filtration technology and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), which can simultaneously enrich and detect nanoplastics with sizes as small as 20 nm. First, we synthesized spiked gold nanocrystals (Au NCs), achieving a controlled preparation of thorns ranging from 25 nm to 200 nm and regulating the number of thorns. Subsequently, mesoporous spiked Au NCs were homogeneously deposited on a glass fiber filter mem-brane to form an Au film as a SERS sensor. The Au-film SERS sensor achieved in-situ enrichment and sensitive SERS detection of micro/nanoplastics in water. Additionally, it eliminated sample transfer and prevented the loss of small nanoplastics. Using the Au-film SERS sensor, we detected 20 nm to 10 mu m standard polystyrene (PS) microspheres with a detection limit of 0.1 mg/L. We also realized the detection of 100 nm PS nanoplastics at the 0.1 mg/L level in tap water and rainwater. This sensor provides a potential tool for rapid and susceptible on-site detection of micro/nanoplastics, especially small-sized nanoplastics.

Automated summary

In this study, a fast detection method combining membrane filtration technology and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was developed to simultaneously enrich and detect nanoparticles as small as 20 nm. The method successfully detected standard polystyrene microspheres ranging from 20 nm to 10 μm and 100 nm polystyrene nanoplastics in tap water and rainwater.