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Hyperspectral Imaging as a Potential Online Detection Method of Microplastics

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Abstract

Microplastic pollution in aquatic environment has raised concern and as a result a number of studies have recently been published to find solutions for its rapid increase. Different methods have been proposed for microplastic identification. Spectral imaging shows a lot of promise for polymer identification; however, the identification time needs to be improved. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with chemometric analysis can reduce the identification times. In this study, we provide a review of recent studies related to polymer identification using HSI with a focus on the adopted classification algorithm and its factors for the online implementation of HSI. Furthermore, we review the limit of detection by HSI and the effect of particle size on classification accuracy. Additionally, performance of this method for various types of samples is also discussed. We conclude that HSI is possible to be a fast alternative for online microplastic detection.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number: 31801619), the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Grant Number: LY18F050002), and the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Number: 2016YFC1402403).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316021, Zhejiang, China

    Hui Huang, Junaid Ullah Qureshi, Zehao Sun, Chunfang Zhang & Hangzhou Wang

  2. The Engineering Rresearch Center of Oceanic Sensing Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Zhoushan, 316021, Zhejiang, China

    Hui Huang, Chunfang Zhang & Hangzhou Wang

  3. Key Laboratory of Ocean Observation-Imaging Testbed of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan, 316021, Zhejiang, China

    Hui Huang

  4. Jacobs Engineering, University of California of San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA

    Shuchang Liu

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  1. Hui Huang
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  2. Junaid Ullah Qureshi
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  4. Zehao Sun
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Correspondence to Hangzhou Wang.

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Huang, H., Qureshi, J.U., Liu, S. et al. Hyperspectral Imaging as a Potential Online Detection Method of Microplastics. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 107, 754–763 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-020-02902-0

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