Microplastic analysis often begins with a sample that contains much more than the particles researchers want to study. Water samples, environmental materials, and other liquid samples can contain particles of different sizes along with unwanted material that needs to be removed before further analysis. Effective sample preparation is therefore an important part of the overall workflow.

The challenge becomes greater when researchers need to process large sample volumes. Filtering a few milliliters is very different from processing hundreds of milliliters or several liters. Large samples can require repeated filtration, frequent transfers, and considerable manual handling if the filtration equipment is not designed for the volume being processed.

Microplastic research may also require researchers to distinguish particles according to size. A single filtration step may not provide enough information when different particle fractions need to be collected separately. In such cases, using different mesh sizes in sequence can provide greater control over the preparation process.

The pluriStrainer® Maxi is designed for precisely these larger-volume filtration requirements. It is a sieving device suitable for sample volumes ranging from more than 100 ml to more than 10 L. Its bottle-top design, range of mesh sizes, and ability to be stacked into a filtration cascade allow laboratories to adapt the filtration process to different sample types and research requirements.

The device can be used for environmental analysis, water analysis, agricultural sciences, and microplastic analysis. For researchers working with environmental samples, its design provides a way to organize large-volume filtration without relying on repeated small-scale filtration steps.

This article looks at how the pluriStrainer® Maxi can simplify sample preparation for microplastic analysis, from selecting a suitable mesh size to processing large samples and separating particles into different size fractions.

Why Microplastic Sample Preparation Can Be Challenging

Microplastic analysis requires careful preparation because the sample being studied may contain particles across a wide range of sizes. Researchers may need to separate these particles from other material before continuing with analysis.

Processing Large Sample Volumes

Environmental and water analysis can involve substantial sample quantities. When the available sample is larger than the capacity of a small filtration device, researchers may need to process it in multiple batches.

Repeatedly loading a small filter can make sample preparation slower and more labor-intensive. Researchers may also need to move the sample between different containers during the process. A filtration system designed for larger volumes provides a more practical starting point for these applications. The pluriStrainer® Maxi is designed for sample volumes from more than 100 ml to more than 10 L, making it suitable for workflows where small-volume filtration would be inefficient.

Separating Microplastic Particles from Unwanted Material

Environmental samples rarely contain only the particles of interest. Other material may also be present and can complicate subsequent analysis.

Filtration provides a way to separate material according to size. By selecting an appropriate mesh, researchers can retain particles above a specific size while allowing smaller material to pass through.

This provides a straightforward way to prepare a sample before further examination.

Handling Different Particle Sizes

Microplastic particles do not all have the same size. Depending on the research objective, scientists may need to collect different fractions rather than treating all retained particles as a single group. Using different mesh sizes allows researchers to divide a sample into size-based fractions. This can be particularly useful when particle size is an important part of the analysis.

Reducing Unnecessary Sample Transfers

Every additional transfer adds another handling step to the workflow. When large samples need to pass through several filtration stages, moving material between separate filters and containers can make the procedure more complicated.

A system that allows multiple filtration stages to be combined can reduce these transfers and make the overall workflow easier to manage.

How the pluriStrainer® Maxi Supports Microplastic Filtration

The pluriStrainer® Maxi is designed as a large-volume sieving device for applications where filtration and particle separation are required.

Its capacity of more than 100 ml to more than 10 L makes it suitable for larger environmental and laboratory samples. Instead of adapting a small filtration device to handle a large volume, researchers can use a system designed specifically for this type of processing.

Bottle-Top Design

The pluriStrainer® Maxi has a standard GL45 thread, allowing it to be used with standard GL45 laboratory bottles. This bottle-top format provides a direct connection between the sample container and the filtration device. Adaptors are also available for GL32 and GL80 bottle threads, allowing the device to work with additional bottle types.

This compatibility can simplify sample handling by allowing laboratories to use containers already familiar within their workflows.

High-Flow Channel System

Large-volume filtration requires a design that can support the movement of substantial quantities of liquid. The pluriStrainer® Maxi includes a special high-flow channel system designed to support faster flow rates and higher throughput. This can help make large-volume filtration more efficient, particularly when processing environmental or water samples.

The design is intended to support the movement of liquid through the strainer without requiring researchers to divide a large sample into numerous small batches.

Supporting Different Microplastic Workflows

Not every microplastic analysis requires the same filtration procedure. Researchers may need to retain particles above a particular size, divide a sample into several fractions, or process a large environmental sample before further analysis.

The pluriStrainer® Maxi provides flexibility for these different requirements through its wide selection of mesh sizes and stackable design.

Selecting the Right Mesh Size for Microplastic Analysis

Mesh size is one of the most important considerations when setting up a filtration workflow. The selected mesh determines which particles are retained and which can pass through.

The pluriStrainer® Maxi is available in 13 mesh sizes:

• 5 µm

• 20 µm

• 40 µm

• 70 µm

• 100 µm

• 200 µm

• 300 µm

• 400 µm

• 500 µm

• 750 µm

• 1,000 µm

• 1,400 µm

• 2,000 µm

This range gives researchers flexibility when working with particles of different sizes.

Matching Mesh Size to the Research Objective

The appropriate mesh size depends on what the researcher needs to retain or remove from the sample. A finer mesh can retain smaller particles, while a larger mesh can be used to separate larger particles or material. Rather than relying on a single filtration level for every sample, laboratories can select a mesh according to the requirements of each analysis.

Using Different Mesh Sizes Together

The broad mesh range becomes particularly useful when researchers need to separate a sample into multiple fractions.

Different pluriStrainer® Maxi units can be combined to create a multi-stage filtration setup. This allows larger particles to be separated first, followed by progressively smaller particles in subsequent stages.

Color-Coded Mesh Sizes

The different mesh sizes are color-coded, making them easier to identify during laboratory work. When several strainers are being used in the same workflow, clear identification can help researchers select and arrange the correct mesh sizes while reducing confusion between filtration stages.

How pluriStrainer® Maxi Simplifies Sample Preparation for Microplastic Analysis

Multi-Stage Filtration for Different Particle Fractions

Microplastic samples may contain particles that vary considerably in size. When researchers need to study these different fractions separately, filtering the entire sample through a single mesh may not provide enough control.

The pluriStrainer® Maxi offers a practical solution through its stackable design. Multiple units can be combined to create a multi-stage filtration setup, allowing researchers to use different mesh sizes within the same workflow.

Building a Lab Strainer Cascade

By stacking pluriStrainer® Maxi units with different mesh sizes, researchers can create a Lab Strainer cascade for sequential filtration.

A larger mesh can be positioned at the first stage to retain larger particles, while smaller particles pass through to the next mesh. A finer mesh can then retain smaller particles that passed through the first stage. This arrangement allows the original sample to be divided into different size fractions during a single organized filtration process.

Separating Material by Size

The ability to use several mesh sizes gives researchers greater control over particle separation. Instead of collecting all retained material together, different particle fractions can be isolated according to their size. This can be useful when the size distribution of microplastic particles is relevant to the research objective.

Reducing Repeated Filtration

Without a multi-stage setup, researchers may need to filter a sample through one mesh, collect the resulting material, transfer it to another filtration device, and repeat the process.

Stacking the pluriStrainer® Maxi units reduces the need for these repeated transfers. The sample can move through the selected mesh sizes in sequence, helping make the overall preparation process more organized.

Improving Large-Volume Sample Processing

Microplastic analysis can involve large quantities of environmental or water samples. Processing these volumes manually through small filtration devices can take considerable time. The pluriStrainer® Maxi is designed for larger sample volumes, making it suitable for applications ranging from more than 100 ml to more than 10 L.

Manual Sample Loading

For smaller batches or workflows where researchers prefer direct control, the sample can be loaded manually into the strainer. The large-volume design provides more capacity than small filtration devices, reducing the need to divide the sample into numerous small batches.

Automated Sample Loading

For larger or repeated workflows, the pluriStrainer® Maxi includes a lid with a port that can be connected to tubing.

This allows sample material to be drawn directly from the sample vessel into the strainer. The system can therefore support automated refilling rather than requiring researchers to repeatedly pour material into the filtration device.

Low-Pressure Filtration

The tubing port can also be connected to a low-pressure system. This can improve filtration speed and support more efficient processing of larger samples.

For laboratories that regularly process substantial quantities of environmental samples, the ability to combine filtration with low-pressure operation can make the workflow easier to manage.

Using Standard Laboratory Bottles

The pluriStrainer® Maxi features a standard GL45 thread, allowing it to connect with standard GL45 laboratory bottles. Adaptors are also available for GL32 and GL80 bottle types.

This compatibility gives laboratories greater flexibility when selecting sample containers and makes it easier to integrate the strainer into existing workflows.

Practical Microplastic Analysis Workflows

The pluriStrainer® Maxi is suited to several applications where larger liquid samples need to be filtered or separated according to particle size.

Fresh Water Samples

Fresh water can contain particles that need to be separated before further analysis. The pluriStrainer® Maxi can be used to filter larger quantities of water while allowing researchers to select a mesh size appropriate for their sample.

When several particle fractions need to be collected, multiple mesh sizes can be combined into one filtration setup.

Environmental Samples

Environmental analysis may require processing samples that contain a mixture of particles and other material. Large-volume filtration provides a way to prepare these samples before subsequent examination.

The pluriStrainer® Maxi's range of mesh sizes allows researchers to adapt the filtration process according to the size of material they want to retain.

Collecting Different Particle Fractions

When particle size is an important part of an investigation, collecting different fractions separately can provide a more organized sample for further analysis. A multi-stage setup allows larger material to be retained at one stage while smaller particles continue through to finer meshes.

This approach can help researchers organize the sample according to size without repeatedly moving material between separate filtration devices.

Supporting Consistent Sample Preparation

Using the same filtration setup across multiple samples can make routine preparation easier to organize. Researchers can select a defined combination of mesh sizes and use the same sequence for comparable samples.

This provides a practical way to standardize the filtration stage of a larger microplastic analysis workflow.

Why Workflow Simplicity Matters in Microplastic Research

Microplastic analysis can involve multiple preparation and analysis steps. Keeping the filtration stage organized can help researchers manage samples more efficiently and reduce unnecessary handling.

Fewer Manual Transfers

The ability to stack different mesh sizes means researchers can perform several filtration stages within one setup. This reduces the need to transfer material from one filtration device to another after each stage. Fewer transfers can make the workflow easier to manage, especially when processing large sample volumes.

Flexible Filtration Setup

Not every environmental sample requires the same filtration procedure. Researchers may need to change the mesh size or use several mesh sizes depending on the material being studied. With 13 available mesh sizes, the pluriStrainer® Maxi can be configured for different filtration requirements without changing to an entirely different filtration system.

Easier Identification of Mesh Sizes

Color-coded mesh sizes help researchers identify the different strainers during routine work. This is particularly useful when several units are arranged together for multi-stage filtration. Clear identification can make it easier to maintain the intended order of filtration and reduce confusion during sample preparation.

Supporting Larger Research Workflows

For laboratories and businesses working with environmental samples at larger volumes, workflow efficiency becomes increasingly important. Repeated manual loading and transfers can consume time that could otherwise be used for analysis and other research tasks.

The pluriStrainer® Maxi brings large-volume capacity, multiple mesh options, stackability, and optional automated loading into one filtration system. This allows researchers to design a workflow suited to the size and characteristics of their samples.

Conclusion

Sample preparation is an important part of microplastic analysis, particularly when researchers need to process large environmental or water samples containing particles of different sizes.

The pluriStrainer® Maxi simplifies this stage by providing a large-volume filtration system that can process more than 100 ml to more than 10 L. Its 13 mesh sizes, ranging from 5 µm to 2,000 µm, allow researchers to select filtration levels according to their sample and research requirements. Its stackable design provides another important advantage. By combining different mesh sizes, researchers can create a Lab Strainer cascade that separates material into different particle fractions while reducing repeated transfers between filtration devices.

For larger workflows, the pluriStrainer® Maxi also supports flexible sample loading. Researchers can load samples manually or connect tubing for automated refilling. A low-pressure system can be connected through the tubing port to support faster filtration, while the GL45 thread allows the device to connect with standard laboratory bottles.

Together, these features make the pluriStrainer® Maxi a practical option for microplastic sample preparation. By combining large-volume capacity, flexible mesh selection, multi-stage filtration, and simplified sample handling, it helps laboratories organize filtration workflows around the needs of their environmental samples.