We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Critical steps for microplastics characterization from the atmosphere
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review of atmospheric microplastic sampling and characterization methodologies finds that divergent results across studies stem from inconsistent collection and pre-treatment methods, and that the choice of characterization technique (FTIR vs. Raman) should be matched to the MPs' origin and environmental matrix.
The microplastics found in many environments, whether in atmospheric, terrestrial, aquatic marine, or freshwater systems, result from exaggerated consumption of plastics. These, when discarded incorrectly, persist in the environment, and degrade into many forms. Researchers have studied microplastics using many collection and characterization methodologies, yet often obtaining divergent results for the same environments. This study presents a bibliographic review of sampling and characterization methodologies for nano and microplastics in the atmospheric environment. Part I of this review presents sampling types and pre-treatment microplastics found in the air to elucidate the principal means of separating plastic species with consequent polymer identification. In Part II, Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy techniques are evaluated for their precision in microplastic identification. The study demonstrates by a systematic revision that depending on the MPs origin, certain characterization techniques are more appropriate. Considering the direct influence of sample impurities, sample pre-treatment is a critical step for correct chemical identification.
More Papers Like This
Analytical methods for identifying microplastics in environment: a critical review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review systematically covers the full analytical pipeline for identifying environmental microplastics — from sample collection and density separation through digestion, filtration, and spectroscopic identification — highlighting that Raman spectroscopy outperforms FTIR for particles under 10 µm and that method standardization remains the central challenge for cross-study comparability.
A review of airborne micro- and nano-plastics: Sampling methods, analytical techniques, and exposure risks.
AI summary Read the abstract
This review of 140 articles on airborne micro- and nanoplastics found that diverse sampling and analytical methods make cross-study comparisons difficult, limiting exposure risk assessment. The authors recommend standardization of methods and highlight that active samplers and FTIR/Raman spectroscopy are the most commonly used approaches for collecting and identifying atmospheric plastic particles.
Atmospheric deposition of microplastics: a sampling and analytical method including the associated measurement uncertainties
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed and validated a tailored analytical chain—including sample collection, processing, and FPA-µ-FTIR analysis—for quantifying atmospheric microplastic deposition at particle sizes of 20–215 µm. The protocol enabled reliable measurement of MP fallout rates, supporting studies of the atmosphere as a major MP transport pathway.
Analytical tools in advancing microplastics research for identification and quantification across environmental media: from sample to insight
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the analytical tools most commonly used for identifying and quantifying microplastics, focusing on FTIR and Raman spectroscopy as the two primary methods. The review compared their strengths and limitations and provided guidance for choosing between them based on particle size, sample matrix, and research objectives.
A review of analytical methods and models used in atmospheric microplastic research
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes sampling devices, pretreatment methods, identification techniques, and transport models used in atmospheric microplastic research, highlighting the need for standardized approaches to better understand airborne plastic pollution.
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.