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Tier 2
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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Detection Methods
Nanoplastics
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Physicochemical characterization and quantification of nanoplastics: applicability, limitations and complementarity of batch and fractionation methods
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry2023
56 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 50
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Lisbet Sørensen,
Maximilian J. Huber,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Andy M. Booth,
Fanny Caputo,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Maximilian J. Huber,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Irina Beer,
Fanny Caputo,
Robert Vogel,
Irina Beer,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Roland Drexel,
Andy M. Booth,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Andy M. Booth,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Andy M. Booth,
Maximilian J. Huber,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Maximilian J. Huber,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Jérémie Parot
Roland Drexel,
Andy M. Booth,
Roland Drexel,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Florian Meier,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Dóra Méhn,
Dóra Méhn,
Dóra Méhn,
Dóra Méhn,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Dóra Méhn,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Irina Beer,
Ivana Bianchi,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Gabriele Vella,
Andy M. Booth,
Irina Beer,
Andy M. Booth,
Ivana Bianchi,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Roland Drexel,
Florian Meier,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Dóra Méhn,
Andy M. Booth,
Roland Drexel,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Maximilian J. Huber,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Dóra Méhn,
Dóra Méhn,
Ivana Bianchi,
Otmar Geiss,
Ivana Bianchi,
Florian Meier,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Florian Meier,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Florian Meier,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Florian Meier,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Roland Drexel,
Florian Meier,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Florian Meier,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Dóra Méhn,
Dóra Méhn,
Roland Drexel,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Otmar Geiss,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Florian Meier,
Roland Drexel,
Andy M. Booth,
Florian Meier,
Roland Drexel,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Dóra Méhn,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Dóra Méhn,
Andy M. Booth,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Florian Meier,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Andy M. Booth,
Dóra Méhn,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Andy M. Booth,
Alicja Molska,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Jérémie Parot
Otmar Geiss,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Gabriele Vella,
Adriele Prina‐Mello,
Adriele Prina‐Mello,
Robert Vogel,
Fanny Caputo,
Andy M. Booth,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Lisbet Sørensen,
Natalia P. Ivleva,
Dóra Méhn,
Andy M. Booth,
Jérémie Parot
Summary
Researchers evaluated a suite of techniques for measuring the size, shape, and chemical makeup of nanoplastics — plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer — and found that no single method works for all sample types, especially when particles vary in size or clump together. Combining multiple complementary techniques is essential for reliable nanoplastic characterization, particularly in complex environmental or biological samples.
A comprehensive physicochemical characterization of heterogeneous nanoplastic (NPL) samples remains an analytical challenge requiring a combination of orthogonal measurement techniques to improve the accuracy and robustness of the results. Here, batch methods, including dynamic light scattering (DLS), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as separation/fractionation methods such as centrifugal liquid sedimentation (CLS) and field-flow fractionation (FFF)-multi-angle light scattering (MALS) combined with pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (pyGC-MS) or Raman microspectroscopy (RM) were evaluated for NPL size, shape, and chemical composition measurements and for quantification. A set of representative/test particles of different chemical natures, including (i) polydisperse polyethylene (PE), (ii) (doped) polystyrene (PS) NPLs, (iii) titanium dioxide, and (iv) iron oxide nanoparticles (spherical and elongated), was used to assess the applicability and limitations of the selected methodologies. Particle sizes and number-based concentrations obtained by orthogonal batch methods (DLS, NTA, TRPS) were comparable for monodisperse spherical samples, while higher deviations were observed for polydisperse, agglomerated samples and for non-spherical particles, especially for light scattering methods. CLS and TRPS offer further insight with increased size resolution, while detailed morphological information can be derived by electron microscopy (EM)-based approaches. Combined techniques such as FFF coupled to MALS and RM can provide complementary information on physical and chemical properties by online measurements, while pyGC-MS analysis of FFF fractions can be used for the identification of polymer particles (vs. inorganic particles) and for their offline (semi)quantification. However, NPL analysis in complex samples will continue to present a serious challenge for the evaluated techniques without significant improvements in sample preparation.