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Detects microplastic particles and fibers ranging in

size from 1-micron to millimeters in milliseconds

Detects and Classifies Microplastic Part

icles and Fibers:

• Sample origin: Marine, lakes, rivers, sediment, wastewater, sanitation… • Discriminates against organics and sediment • Microplastic size: From 1 micron to millimeters to meet current environmental concerns • Speed of analysis: Typically less than 100-milliseconds. Average sample throughput between 50 to 80 samples per hour. Each FOV can contain an unlimited number of particles

Sample preparation: Often little to none

Works with colored microplastics: Works with all colors - including

black.

Microplastics that can be detected:

Almost all including Polyethylenes, Acrylics, Carbonates, Polyvinyl Chloride,

Styrene…

•

Includes those that are stained and/or filled during manufacture.

•

Note:ColSpec detects, but does not identify the polymers present

in microplastic candidates.

Sample mounting:

• Typically, up to 47-mm filter membranes . • Includes X, Y, and Z sample translation with reference scales

ColSpec Eliminates Nile Red and Fluorescence

• Eliminates staining, noxious chemicals, incubation, lasers, • No waiting to run a sample. Works in the field or laboratory

Ideal ColSpec users: Understaffed, budget strapped, State, Federal,

University, laboratories.

Detects microplastics based on color-spectral imaging

(CSI)

• CSI is a cousin of hyperspectral imaging. • Color-spectral imaging replaces an imaging spectrometer with a high-end color camera, that records the characteristics of objects in HSV color-space • HSV: Hue, Saturation, and Value: where “Value = Brightness.” the critical component missing from “RGB” • For detailed technical information on “color-space” go here

How CSI in Critical Angle Darkfield Illumination (CADFLI)

works:

• High-intensity (40,000 lumen) illumination works in darkfield reflection strikes objects at angles greater than 75-degrees • At angles greater than or equal to 75-degrees, microplastics scatter light to reveal themselves as bright, high contrast, structurally detailed objects on a black or dark background • In contrast, weakly scattering non-plastic materials contribute to an overall dark background (see Figures B and C). • At non-zero angles of incidence, reflectivity and surface texture impacts HSV values to reveal structural detail not evident at normal incidence • ColSpec uses this information to deliver highly sensitive microplastic classification and characterization.

ColSpec hardware includes:

• See Figure A • High numerical aperture zoom objective lens for variable magnification • High intensity, 40,000 lumen, CADFLI darkfield illuminator • Custom color camera acquires HSV color-spectra in darkfield reflectance • Sample translation stage • Optical breadboard base • 10” x 12” footprint • Works off 24V DC power supply

Microplastic Color-Spectral libraries:

• Created using both supervised, and unsupervised learning • Object recognition libraries are based on the HSV values of either known microplastics or microplastics candidates • Each HSV reference library signature becomes a “class” that correlates with a particular object or plastic material Note: ColSpec detects, but does not identify the polymers present in microplastic candidates.
ColSpec hardware
A. ColSpec MK2 Click and drag to enlarge
Histgram showing microplastic partcles by area in the field of view
B. Sample taken from upper peat layer, Biarritz, France. Image courtesy of Oskar Hagelskjær, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France
D. Histogram showing the area occupied by particles
Mixed microplastics with clear PET,and red and blue HDPE Histogram showing the Equivalent Diameter distribution of microplastic in a field of view
C. Mixed sub-millimeter microplastics including clear, PET, with red and blue HDPE
E. Histogram showing equivalent diameter size ranges in the above image
ColSpec® An Innovative Microplastics Detection System for Environmental Studies

Works with custom ColSpec software that includes:

Algorithms that are analogous to those used in hyperspectral imaging but in HSV color space that include: • Statistical analysis Percentages, areas occupied… • Object classification: plastic candidates are automatically assigned a class • Object recognition by class • Library creation: designated classes are entered into a library • Class abundance determination • Size and area distribution of recognized classes (Figures D and E) • Correlation algorithms with tolerancing • Data output numerical analysis in csv format

Related technology – Darkfield Microscopy:

Darkfield imaging microscopy, in transmission, was first formally reviewed over one hundred years ago in the “Transactions of the American Microscopical Society Vol. 39, No. 2, Apr. 1920” For a detailed description of darkfield microscopy, see here hosted by Florida State University ColSpec applies the same principles of microscope-based darkfield transmission into darkfield reflection.

ColSpec Pricing and usage: ColSpec is a portable, modular system right-priced for tight budgets

Bottom line: ColSpec detects microplastics in a wide variety of sample types with minimal if any sample preparation in

milliseconds.

Microparticle candidates found in upper peat layer, Biaritz France

ColSpec Eliminates The Need For Nile Red or Fluorescence

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Contact info(@)lightforminc.com LightForm, Inc 825C Merrimon Ave., Suite 351 Asheville NC 28804 USA
Copyright 2023 © Lightform. Inc All rights reserved

ColSpec ®: Detects Environmental

Microplastics

ColSpec hardware
ColSpec: Detects microplastic particles and fibers ranging in size from 1-micron to millimeters in milliseconds

Detects and Classifies Microplastic Part

icles

and Fibers:

• Sample origin: Marine, lakes, rivers, sediment, wastewater, sanitation… • Discriminates against organics and sediment • Microplastic size: From 1 micron to millimeters to meet current environmental concerns • Speed of analysis: Typically less than 100-millseconds. Average sample throughput between 50 to 80 samples per hour. Each FOV can contain an unlimited number of particles • Sample preparation: Often little to none • Colored microplastics: Works with all colors - including black.

Microplastics that can be detected:

Almost all, including Polyethylenes, Acrylics, Carbonates,

Polyvinyl Chloride, Styrene…

Includes those that are stained and/or filled during manufacture.

Note: ColSpec detects, but does not identify the polymers

present in microplastic candidates.

Sample mounting:

• Typically, up to 47-mm filter membranes • Includes X, Y, and Z sample translation with reference scales

Eliminates Nile Red and Fluorescence

• Eliminates staining, noxious chemicals, incubation, lasers, • No waiting to run a sample. Works in the field or laboratory

Ideal ColSpec users:

• Understaffed, budget strapped, State, Federal, University, laboratories.

Detects microplastics based on color-spectral imaging

(CSI)

• CSI is a cousin of hyperspectral imaging. • Color-spectral imaging replaces an imaging spectrometer with a high-end color camera, that records the characteristics of objects in HSV color-space • HSV: Hue, Saturation, and Value: where “Value = Brightness.” the critical component missing from “RGB” • For detailed technical information on “color-space” go here

How CSI in Critical Angle Darkfield Illumination

(CADFLI) works:

• High-intensity (40,000 lumen) illumination works in darkfield reflection strikes objects at angles greater than 75-degrees • Then microplastics scatter light to reveal themselves as bright, high contrast, structurally detailed objects on a black or dark background • In contrast, weakly scattering non-plastic materials contribute to an overall dark background. • At non-zero angles of incidence, reflectivity and surface texture impacts HSV values to reveal structural detail not evident at normal incidence • ColSpec uses this information to deliver highly sensitive microplastic classification and characterization.

ColSpec hardware includes:

• High numerical aperture zoom objective lens for variable magnification • High intensity, 40,000 lumen, CADFLI darkfield illuminator • Custom color camera acquires HSV color-spectra in darkfield reflectance • Sample translation stage • Optical breadboard base • 10” x 12” footprint • Works off 24V DC power supply

Works with custom ColSpec software that

includes:

Algorithms are analogous to those used in hyperspectral imaging, but in HSV color space. • Object classification: plastic candidates are automatically assigned a class • Object recognition by class • Library creation: designated classes are entered into a library created using both supervised, and unsupervised learning • Object recognition libraries are based on the HSV values of either known microplastics or microplastics candidates • Each HSV reference library signature becomes a “class” that correlates with a particular object or plastic material

Measures microplastic size and area statistics

• Abundance of classes • Size and area distribution of recognized classes • Correlation algorithms with tolerancing • Outputs numerical analysis in csv format Bottom line: CADFLI measures color-spectra in HSV color-space. Illuminating the FOV at grazing angles reveals microplastics as bright, high- contrast objects on a dark background.

An Optical Solution That Eliminates The

Need For Nile Red or Fluorescence

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