We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Extraction and characterization methods for microplastics from estuarine and coastal samplings – Example of the 2019 TARA expedition
AI summary Read the abstract
As part of the 2019 Tara European river expedition, this study developed extraction and automated analysis methods for microplastics collected from nine major European rivers. The three most common polymers identified were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene.
To investigate plastic pollution in rivers, the Tara schooner collected samples from 9 of the main European rivers from May to November 2019. The objectives of the present study are the quantification of the microplastic (MP) contamination and the identification of the chemical nature of microplastics. Thus, extraction methods and automated computer processing for polymer characterization were developed. The three main polymers found were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS). These results must be compared to the results from other rivers to draw a consistent pattern.
More Papers Like This
Chapter Extraction and characterization methods for microplastics from estuarine and coastal samplings – Example of the 2019 TARA expedition
AI summary Read the abstract
This study developed extraction methods and automated polymer characterization for microplastics collected from 9 major European rivers during the 2019 TARA expedition, finding polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene as the three main polymers. The automated processing pipeline enables consistent, reproducible chemical identification of river microplastics at scale, providing a comparative framework for multi-river pollution assessment.
Mission Tara Microplastics: a holistic set of protocols and data resources for the field investigation of plastic pollution along the land-sea continuum in Europe
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers present a comprehensive set of sampling protocols from the Tara Microplastics mission, which investigated plastic pollution along nine major European rivers by measuring microplastic concentrations, microbial communities, and biophysicochemical parameters along salinity gradients.
A review on microplastics in major European rivers
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in six major European rivers, finding polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene as the most common types. The researchers noted significant inconsistencies between studies due to different sampling and analysis methods, making it difficult to compare results or assess true contamination levels. Standardizing how scientists measure microplastics in rivers is essential for understanding the real scope of contamination in European freshwater supplies.
Microplastics in the environment : development of a sample preparation method with further application and evaluation in fluvial and marine compartments
AI summary Read the abstract
This thesis developed and validated a sample preparation method for detecting microplastics in river and marine environments, then applied it to characterise contamination in both freshwater and coastal sites. The work contributes to methodological standardisation, which is a key challenge in microplastic monitoring.
Analytical Techniques of Microplastic in an Aquatic Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This chapter provided a concise overview of microplastic analytical techniques in aquatic environments, covering sampling, extraction, and identification methods for detecting microplastics in coastal, freshwater, and deep-sea habitats—with comparison of spectroscopic and other approaches for polymer characterization.
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.