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What happens to microplastics in nature
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Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in the liver, kidney, and gills of wild freshwater turtles from a heavily polluted river, finding particles predominantly in liver tissue. Polymer types included polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon, consistent with the range of plastics found in the surrounding aquatic environment, and liver histopathology showed signs of chronic inflammation.
This work was focused on preparation of microplastic particles which correspond to microplastics in the environment. The five most used plastics (polyethylene, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene glycol terephthalate, and polystyrene) were used for preparation. Microplastics were prepared by grinding common used plastics to match the actual microplastics present in the environment as closely as possible. The shape and size of the prepared particles were obtained by scanning electron microscopy. Raman and infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the microplastic structures. Simultaneously, methodology to determine the amount of microplastic particles in simulated water samples was developed.
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Removal of Contaminants from Water.
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This study prepared microplastic samples by abrading common plastics including PS, PTFE, PA, PET, PE, and others to simulate environmental microplastic particles, then characterized them using SEM, Raman, and IR spectroscopy. The resulting fingerprint library supports standardized characterization of real environmental microplastics.
Microplastics and their removal from water using sorbents.
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This Czech study characterized five common microplastic polymer types using SEM, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy, then tested natural bentonite- and zeolite-based sorbents for microplastic removal from water. Results confirmed that sorbent effectiveness depends on composition and textural properties, with modification of sorbents able to improve removal efficiency.
Microplastics monitoring in different environments: separation, physicochemical characterization, and quantification
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Researchers systematically monitored microplastic contamination across multiple environments including a wastewater treatment plant, surrounding water bodies, and soils near plastic factories, characterizing shape, size, color, and polymer composition via microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. They found fragments and fibers to be the most common microplastic shapes in water environments and documented simultaneous contamination across all sampled matrices.
Efeito dos microplásticos no comportamento ambiental de contaminantes emergentes em matrizes aquáticas
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This Brazilian study evaluated the efficiency of FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, carbon elemental analysis coupled with mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry for characterizing virgin and artificially aged polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics. The work discusses the strengths and limitations of each technique for detailed chemical characterization, including assessment of degradation stage, to inform standardized analytical protocols for environmental microplastic samples.
Strategies for environmental polymer analysis: micro-/nanoplastics and water-soluble polymers
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A comprehensive review of analytical strategies for environmental polymer detection—covering mass spectrometry, infrared, Raman, and fluorescence spectroscopy—highlights the strengths and limitations of each method for quantifying micro- and nanoplastics as well as water-soluble polymers. Advancing robust, standardized analytical platforms is fundamental to accurately measuring microplastic contamination across environmental matrices and human health studies.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.