High-Speed, Automated Analysis of Tiny Microplastics
Official title: High-Speed Automated Analysis of Sub-20 µm Microplastics by Photothermal Infrared Spectroscopy
Funded at Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp. · NIH-11312399 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new automated system to quickly detect and identify tiny microplastics (smaller than 20 micrometers) in air, water, soil, and food to help protect health and the environment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Barbara, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,022,908 |
| NIH project number | 1R44ES035665-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11312399 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable (environmental health focus; no human participation required).
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient involvement or clinical application in this grant.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop the Photothermal Infrared Particle Analyzer (PIPA), a fast, automated platform that can image and chemically identify more than 1,000 microplastic particles per hour with sub-micron resolution. It uses innovative laser-scanning photothermal infrared microscopy to overcome current limits of FT-IR and Raman methods, enabling high-throughput analysis. The system will automatically segment particles, pre-screen to remove non-plastics, and apply advanced classification to report size, shape, and composition. The goal is to provide rapid, reliable data to researchers, regulators, and industry to better understand exposure and risks from microplastics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the platform could dramatically accelerate and streamline microplastic monitoring, informing safer products and environmental policies.
How similar studies have gone: Current methods are slower and less capable at sub-20 µm scale; this work aims to dramatically improve throughput and resolution, with some prior photothermal techniques informing the approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp.
Santa Barbara, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kjoller, Kevin — Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp.
- Study coordinator: Kjoller, Kevin
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.