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Advanced Techniques for Sampling, Quantification, and Characterization of Microplastics
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This review chapter covers the full workflow of microplastic analysis — from sampling strategies and extraction methods through identification, quantification, and characterization techniques — and emphasizes the need for standardized protocols across different environmental matrices and biological samples. Without consistent methods, results from different studies cannot be reliably compared, making it harder to understand the true scale of microplastic contamination. Methodological standardization is considered a foundational requirement for advancing the field.
Microplastics are a solid contaminant in all environments worldwide. To monitor, detect, and remove microplastics from different environments, a standardization of methodologies needs to be established for sampling, quantification, and characterization of microplastics in different environments/biota, which is the focus of this chapter. Sampling is one of the most crucial components for microplastic analyses; thus, sampling techniques, together with suitable sampling tools, must be used that provide a reliable spatial distribution and concentration. Samples are processed through extraction, identification, quantification, and preprocessing. It is primarily required for assessing the properties of microplastics, such as weight, concentration size, shape, and chemical composition. Quality assessment and quality control must be implemented at all stages to increase the credibility of the findings. Different identification and quantification methods (often depending on sophisticated/advanced equipment) are available for high-resolution output of microplastic samples. Nevertheless, additional research must be conducted to advance our understanding of microplastic identification, quantification, and characterization, such as finding more appropriate reference materials and establishing processes for comparing the collected data to acquire a complete awareness of how microplastics behave in an environment.
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