Sampling devices for MPs analysis in sources of water for human consumption, with focus on the Tiber river

Microplastics (MPs) analysis in water is necessarily structured in four phases: sampling, pre-treatments, identification quantification-characterization, reporting. Sampling is a crucial moment of the MPs analysis protocol as it is the first step that defines the MPs subsample analysable. MPs are indeed solid particles, suspended in the liquid matrix, which can be described by many environmentally relevant parameters, such as size, shape, mass, volume, surface MPs analysis in water is necessarily structured in four phases: sampling, pre-treatments, identification quantification-characterization, reporting. Sampling is a crucial moment of the MPs analysis protocol as it is the first step that defines the MPs subsample analysable. MPs are indeed solid particles, suspended in the liquid matrix, which can be described by many environmentally relevant parameters, such as size, shape, mass, volume, surface. Furthermore, this research aims at discussing the feasibility of MPs monitoring in surface water for MPs in the size range 20-300µm. The case study of the research is the Tiber river, one of the major Italian rivers and possible source of water for the Italian Capital in the years to come.