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Description
Microplastic management using acoustic waves, especially ultrasound, is an emerging and effective technique that utilizes radiation forces to aggregate, separate, and extract particles present in water samples. By applying controlled sound waves in microfluidic systems, the particles are entrained toward equilibrium points due to a radiation force induced by the ultrasonic waves at certain acoustic conditions, facilitating their concentration and subsequent removal separated from their host samples. This enrichment-based approach avoids the use of chemicals and reduces reliance on physical filters that can easily become clogged. Furthermore, it allows for precise process control, improving energy efficiency and the sustainability of water treatment. In practical applications, this technology can be integrated into treatment plants or portable devices, offering an innovative solution to the growing problem of microplastic pollution in fresh water or sea samples. Its implementation also opens up opportunities for real-time water quality monitoring and the adaptation of parameters such as frequency, amplitude, and channel geometry according to the type of particle present. This results in a flexible, scalable, and environmentally friendly system for various industrial applications.This paper presents some strategies to optimize microplastics detection and separation with focus on different conditions of the suspensions: different chip materials, particle concentration or viscous properties of the water samples define the ultrasonic work conditions to achieve highly efficiencies in the microplastic collection/separation.