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Recent perspectives of microplastic analysis from sampling to characterization
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Researchers reviewed the full workflow for detecting and identifying microplastics across different environments — water, sediment, wildlife, and wastewater — comparing sample preparation methods and analytical tools like infrared and Raman spectroscopy. They found that inconsistent methods across studies make it hard to compare results, and call for more standardized protocols to improve the reliability of microplastic monitoring.
Microplastic (MP) pollution has been an emerging global concern due to its persistent nature and the requirement for sophisticated detection techniques. However, MP research has always been complexified due to the unavailability of structured methodology and the ambiguity of process selection. This review has critically analyzed different aspects of MP abundance in water, sediments, biota and wastewater and MP analyzing techniques. MP analysis results are solely dependent on its processing stages, such as oven drying and sieving, chemical digestion, and alkaline treatment, which are the crucial parts of MP sample preparation and processing. To identify the specified polymer in MP samples, analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectra (RS), and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr GC-MS) are widely used. Among the applied techniques, FTIR is the cheapest, whereas µ-RS is the most accurate. MP matrix specifications and concentrations vary for water, sediments, biota, and wastewater sources. The highest concentration of 152,688 ± 92,384 particles/m3 MP was observed for the Sea Surface Microlayer of 1000 µm. The MPs concentration in river water reached 718 ± 244 MPs/m3. River sediments of developing countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia and Taiwan have very high concentrations of MPs, which is a great concern for river biota. Various types of plastics, including PP, PE, PE-PP, PE-PDM, PET, nylon, T-elastomer, CP, wool, and cotton, were identified in reported studies. The study discloses recent perspectives on MP research and appropriate sampling and analysis techniques are crucial for reporting MPs in environmental samples.
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Researchers developed an improved analytical procedure for detecting and identifying microplastics in freshwater environments. The method combines careful sample preparation with advanced instrumental techniques like infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The study highlights the importance of standardized methods to ensure that microplastic measurements across different studies are reliable and comparable.
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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.
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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.
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Advanced analytical techniques for microplastics in the environment: a review
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Researchers reviewed the most advanced laboratory tools for detecting and identifying microplastics in environmental samples — including infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and pyrolysis gas chromatography — summarizing the strengths and weaknesses of each technique to help researchers choose the right method for accurate microplastic analysis.
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