Gaining traction of optical modalities in the detection of microplastics

The detection of microplastics is crucial, given their widespread occurrence as a global contaminant. Although numerous techniques exist for identifying small plastic particles, optical methods are increasingly acknowledged as efficient tools, particularly due to their noninvasive nature. The sub-nanoscale wavelength of light enables the identification of the unique characteristics of microscopic plastic particles through the use of technologies that integrate applied optics. This paper presents a comprehensive perspective of the various optical approaches used for the accurate detection and analysis of microplastics across different environmental settings.