ERIC Number: EJ1445482
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Oct
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: EISSN-1938-1328
Available Date: N/A
Lighting up for Learning--Fluorescence Analysis of Microplastic Particles by Secondary School Students Using Nile Red
Journal of Chemical Education, v100 n10 p4007-4012 2023
Microplastics have been detected in most ecosystems around the world. They affect the environment and organisms in it, including humans and possibly their health. Hence, the analysis of microplastic occurrence in the environment is highly relevant. However, there are only a few practical and easy-to-implement methods published for school use, and therefore, microplastics still receive little attention in the classroom. This review presents an approach for separation and detection of microplastic particles in sediment with secondary school students based on methods used in current research. After sieving and density separation, the fluorescence marker Nile Red is used to selectively stain microplastic particles. Subsequently, the particles can be detected using a DIY low-cost fluorescence photobox. It offers an opportunity to address the problems associated with microplastics in a school context and can be used as an example for further discussion.
Descriptors: Plastics, Secondary School Students, Science Instruction, Scientific Concepts, Environmental Education, Spectroscopy, Science Experiments, Pollution, Climate, Student Attitudes, Feedback (Response), Foreign Countries
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Austria
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A