Table 1 Recovery of seeded microplastics from sediment samples by direct counting of NR-stained fragments after NR staining with or without inclusion of the density separation step.

From: A rapid-screening approach to detect and quantify microplastics based on fluorescent tagging with Nile Red

Protocol

No extraction step

With extraction

Matrix amount

0.5 g

1.0 g

5.0 g

5.0 g

Microplastic type

Mixed polymers

Mixed polymers

nylon

PE

Number seeded

30

30

20

20

Sample

CAP1 coarse sand

LIT 7C coarse sand

Replicate 1

32

27

20

17

Replicate 2

29

27

20

21

Replicate 3

31

30

19

20

Mean

31

28

20

19

S.D.

1.5

1.7

0.5

1.7

Recovery %

102

93

98

97

Sample

SPI 6 fine silt

LIT 81C fine silt

Replicate 1

28

28

17

16

Replicate 2

29

32

20

20

Replicate 3

30

28

14

17

Mean

29

29

17

18

S.D.

10

2.3

2.4

1.7

Recovery %

97

98

85

88

  1. The mixed polymer sample contained a total of 30 microplastics, 5 each of: nylon, PS, PVC, PET, PE and PP.
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