The fight against micro- and nanoplastic pollution

Micro- and nanoplastic pollution is a growing environmental concern, affecting marine ecosystems and potentially entering the human food chain. To combat this issue, the PlastTrack project has been established as a cross-border initiative between Denmark and Germany. One of the key technologies enabling PlastTrack’s mission is hyperspectral imaging, and Qtechnology’s hyperspectral camera together with its mothercompany Newtec, plays a crucial role in detecting and analyzing plastic particles in marine environments.

Each year, millions of tons of plastic waste enter the environment, and studies have revealed that 28% of fish in the Baltic Sea contain microplastics. However, the processes by which these plastics degrade, transform, and accumulate in ecosystems remain largely unknown. Existing monitoring and sampling techniques often struggle to accurately classify microplastic types or trace their sources. To address this, an innovative approach was required to automate detection, refine classification methods, and enhance scientific research on plastic pollution.

The mission

PlastTrack’s mission is to develop an advanced toolbox for monitoring plastic pollution. A key component of this toolbox is Qtechnology’s hyperspectral camera, which enables researchers to identify and classify different plastic polymers based on their unique spectral fingerprints.

As part of PlastTrack’s field research, Qtechnology’s hyperspectral camera incorporated in Newtec’s hyperspectral imaging system, the Buteo, was deployed during a test cruise in June 2024 to analyze microplastic samples collected from the Baltic Sea.

The findings

Microplastic particles were collected from various depths using specialized filtration techniques. Once retrieved, the particles were manually sorted and scanned with Qtechnology’s hyperspectral camera, allowing for precise polymer composition analysis. The hyperspectral data was then processed to categorize the plastic waste, offering valuable insights into the distribution and degradation of microplastics within the marine ecosystem.

Initial findings confirmed the effectiveness of hyperspectral imaging in identifying polymer compositions, significantly contributing to PlastTrack’s research on pollution sources and plastic movement in aquatic environments.

Future Prospects

Given the success of hyperspectral imaging in tracking microplastic pollution, future advancements include expanding research into nanoplastics, pushing detection limits even further. Scaling up automation for large-scale marine plastic monitoring, Integrating AI-driven models to further enhance data analysis and predictive capabilities.

Qtechnology’s hyperspectral camera has proven to be an essential tool in PlastTrack’s fight against microplastic pollution. By providing precise plastic classification and enabling non-invasive environmental monitoring, the technology empowers scientists, policymakers, and environmentalists with the tools needed to combat plastic pollution effectively.