Scientists develop technology for ‘nano’ tire particle detection

Gothenburg, Sweden – Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed a technology to detect small tire wear particles that were previously too small to be spotted.

In collaboration with the CNR Institute for chemical and physical processes in Messina, Italy, the scientists have built a form of optical tweezers can be used to detect and examine particles from tires and roads less than five micrometre in size.

Raman tweezers include a combination of optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy, and enable researchers to trap and chemically analyse individual particles in a liquid environment, said the University of Gothenburg in a 16 March statement.

The device can help fill “a technological gap” in the detection and analysis of the ‘nanoplastics’ within the larger context of studying microplastic pollution.

“The research shows that we can use this combination of optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy to characterise the microscopic particles that are created by the abrasion of tires on roads and often end up in the sea,” said Giovanni Volpe, professor at the Department of Physics.

This, he said, “closes a gap between other available techniques, in terms of [particle] size.”

According to the research team, the technology can be used to create more sustainable tires which produce less polluting particles.