Week Eight: Filtration

 Happy upcoming spring break week!!

This week, the microplastic research group and I completed the experiment's filtration process. 

Using autoclave sterilized glassware, we each measured out 300 mL of the salt solution (200 mL of 5 M NaCl with 600 mL of the collected wastewater samples), where we then proceeded to use the Buchner funnel apparatus with the suction vacuum and the glass filter paper to capture microplastics from the 300 mL salt solution. 

We ensured the reduction of cross-contamination by flame-sterilizing our tweezers when coming in contact with the filter paper and completing the filtration process underneath a fume hood. 

Once the 300 mL was filtered, we placed glass filter paper in glass dishes to examine microplastics using Nile-red dye and the FTIR machine.