Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) – A cheap, non-toxic and high-density floating solution for microplastic isolation from beach sediments

Beaches are good indicators for local microplastic distribution and pollution. Multiple methods have been developed extracting microplastics from sediment through density separation. However, the chemicals applied often expensive harmful to user or environment. We briefly review problems associated with use of these present a new floatation medium, potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3 ), that has many advantages over other available media. It is non-toxic cheap, 1.54 g/cm K solution yielded mean recovery rate around 90% PVC, one densest polymers, cannot be easily extracted alternative propose particularly promising long term large-scale monitoring studies, because it allows involving citizen scientists in such leading an increased public awareness plastic problem seas. • Potassium ) novel floating isolation beach sediments With , can extract most abundant polymers cheap studies.