A field deployable imaging system for detecting microplastics in the aquatic environment

Abstract

Microplastic (MP) pollutants, which are widely distributed and resistant to decomposition, pose serious threats to both ecosystems and human health. Developing efficient, field deployable, and low-cost MP detection systems is of paramount importance for promoting sustainable development. In this work, we design an integrated imaging system for detecting MPs in various aquatic environments. To address the challenge of image degradation caused by scattering effects, a de-scattering algorithm based on synthetic polarization holography is proposed. Calibration results demonstrate a substantial enhancement in image contrast and spatial resolution. Furthermore, our imaging system enables simultaneous capture of amplitude, phase, and polarization information, which is advantageous for the quantification and identification of MPs. Consequently, this field deployable imaging system offers an efficient solution for realtime monitoring of MPs in turbid aquatic environments.