Marine microplastics detection and filtration self-cleaning membrane processed by electrospinning

Marine microplastic pollution, particularly from polystyrene, poses serious risks to ecosystems and human health. Traditional detection methods, though sensitive, are often costly and complex, which restricts their application in large-scale marine monitoring. This study presents a low-cost electrochemical detection – filtration strategy using electrospun nanofiber membranes for the rapid identification and removal of microplastics in seawater. A functional membrane composed of PVDF, chitosan, and SiO₂ is fabricated via electrospinning, offering high porosity, uniform structure, and self-cleaning properties. By comparing the current before and after filtration, a correlation between current response (ΔI) and microplastic concentration is established, enabling semi-quantitative detection. The membrane effectively filters 10–50 μm polystyrene microplastics with a theoretical efficiency above 90%, while maintaining hydrophobicity under dynamic seawater conditions. This approach provides a practical, minimally instrumented, portable solution for marine microplastic monitoring and offers theoretical support for the development of efficient sensing materials.