I am going to conduct some microplastic work in my labs. Before I start, I was thinking about what should I do to keep the working space plastic-free (to reduce the contaminations).
Things that come into my mind including using plastic containers, Tweezers, etc.
Try to use plastic-free water (so better not using plastic pipes to connect DI water).
But I still have one question:
What would be a good lab coat for microplastic research to avoid contamination?
Any other recommendations when working with microplastic in the lab?
Thank you very much for your help!
Airborne microplastic contamination is the major concern. To avoid this, all glass materials must be rinsed with ultrapure/desionized/filtered water at least twice before usage. Wear gloves and a lab coat. Tools like tweezers and scissors must be cleaned while being observed under a dissecting microscope. All surfaced wiped clean. Samples and materials must be covered while not using them. If you are doing floatation (most of the tome 120g/L NaCl), the saline solution must be filtered through the smalled pore possible. If you are working with a species, the digesting solution (i.e. KOH), must be filtered too, and a natural cotton lab coat must be worn (causa natural fibers will be destroyed by the caustic solution during digestion). Even after haven this whole protocol, it is necessary to have an airborne blank (placing a wet filter in a petri fish on the work table the whole time and observe it under a dissecting microscope after finishing the lab), the water used for the solutions vaccum filtrated and observe the filter under a dissecting microscope; these 2 blanks for every batch. If possible, perform the whole microplastoc extraction process under a fumehood.
Good luck
Airborne microplastic contamination is the major concern. To avoid this, all glass materials must be rinsed with ultrapure/desionized/filtered water at least twice before usage. Wear gloves and a lab coat. Tools like tweezers and scissors must be cleaned while being observed under a dissecting microscope. All surfaced wiped clean. Samples and materials must be covered while not using them. If you are doing floatation (most of the tome 120g/L NaCl), the saline solution must be filtered through the smalled pore possible. If you are working with a species, the digesting solution (i.e. KOH), must be filtered too, and a natural cotton lab coat must be worn (causa natural fibers will be destroyed by the caustic solution during digestion). Even after haven this whole protocol, it is necessary to have an airborne blank (placing a wet filter in a petri fish on the work table the whole time and observe it under a dissecting microscope after finishing the lab), the water used for the solutions vaccum filtrated and observe the filter under a dissecting microscope; these 2 blanks for every batch. If possible, perform the whole microplastoc extraction process under a fumehood.
Good luck
Xiaoyu Gao The answer by Gabriel E De-la-Torre covers it all!
The only addition I would do is to cover all the possible gaps in the lab with a thick curtain/foil/sealant (preferably non-fibre) so as to avoid any further cross-contamination from outside air.
Please always perform blank with every batch to keep a track of the contamination in your lab.
Thank you very much for the answer, Anju Baroth Gabriel E De-la-Torre . It is very helpful to hear from the people who are working with microplastics!
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