The Synthesis of Surface-Modified Gold Nanoparticles for Detecting Micro and Nanoplastic Contamination

            Plastic waste, when degraded into micro- or nanoscale plastic particles, can circulate through the food chain of various animals and eventually be consumed by humans. Detecting contaminated plastic particles typically requires the use of multiple complex chemical analysis instruments. This invention involves the synthesis of gold nanoparticles that can be used to instantly confirm the presence of micro- and nanoplastic particles through a visible color change resulting from the chemical reaction of the gold nanoparticles.