Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Detection of Sub-20 μm Microplastic Particles by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Comparison with Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers compared two spectroscopy techniques for detecting microplastic particles smaller than 20 micrometers. They found that ATR-FTIR was more sensitive for the smallest particles (6 micrometers), while Raman spectroscopy performed better with larger particles. The study also identified spectral patterns that could serve as indicators of particle size, opening new possibilities for quickly classifying microplastic populations without time-consuming imaging.

2023 ACS Omega 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimizing microplastic analysis through comparative FTIR and raman spectroscopy: Addressing challenges in environmental degradation studies

This study optimized microplastic analysis by comparing FTIR and Raman spectroscopy approaches for identifying degraded polymer particles in environmental samples where photooxidation and mechanical fragmentation have altered spectral signatures. A combined spectroscopy approach outperformed either technique alone for accurately identifying degraded microplastics in complex environmental matrices.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Analysis of environmental microplastics by vibrational microspectroscopy: FTIR, Raman or both?

This study reviewed analytical methods for environmental microplastic analysis using vibrational microspectroscopy — comparing FTIR, Raman, and related techniques — and provided guidance on method selection for different sample types and research questions.

2016 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 975 citations
Article Tier 2

Contributions of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in microplastic pollution research: A review

This review covers advances in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques — including chemical imaging — for identifying polymer types in microplastic samples and tracing their fate in different environmental matrices.

2020 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 480 citations
Article Tier 2

Refined Analysis of Microplastics: Integrating Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy

This study optimized the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy for characterizing microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that integrating both techniques improves identification accuracy and physicochemical characterization.

2025 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
Article Tier 2

Analytical tools in advancing microplastics research for identification and quantification across environmental media: from sample to insight

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.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Standardization of micro-FTIR methods and applicability for the detection and identification of microplastics in environmental matrices

Researchers worked to standardize micro-FTIR spectroscopy methods for detecting and identifying microplastics as small as 20 micrometers across different environmental samples. They tested reflection and transmission modes against known polymer standards and validated the approach on real-world water, sediment, and biological samples. The study provides a reproducible methodology that could help make microplastic measurements more consistent and comparable across laboratories.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 131 citations
Article Tier 2

Detecting small microplastics down to 1.3 μm using large area ATR-FTIR

Researchers introduced large-area ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as a new technique capable of detecting microplastics as small as 1.3 micrometers, outperforming conventional micro-FTIR for small particle detection in marine water samples.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of μ-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and py-GCMS as identification tools for microplastic particles and fibers isolated from river sediments

Researchers compared two identification methods — micro-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and pyrolysis-GC-MS — for characterizing microplastics extracted from river sediments, finding that the methods generally agreed on dominant polymers but differed in sensitivity to certain types. The comparison provides practical guidance for choosing analytical methods in freshwater microplastic monitoring programs.

2018 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 286 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in environment by thermal gravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Researchers developed a method combining thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify and quantify microplastics in environmental samples, demonstrating that the combined temperature profiles and absorption spectra provide greater discriminatory power than either technique alone.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 137 citations
Article Tier 2

Chemical characterization of microplastics from biosolids: a comparison of FTIR and O-PTIR microspectroscopy

Researchers compared conventional FTIR microspectroscopy with the emerging Optical Photothermal Infrared (O-PTIR) technique for chemical characterization and polymer-type identification of microplastics extracted from biosolids, finding that O-PTIR's submicron resolution and artifact-free spectra offer advantages over traditional methods.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The applicability of reflectance micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for the detection of synthetic microplastics in marine sediments

Researchers developed and validated an optimized micro-FT-IR spectroscopy protocol for detecting microplastics in coastal marine sediments, providing a detailed operating procedure. The standardized method improves detection reliability and enables comparison of results across laboratories studying sediment microplastic contamination.

2012 The Science of The Total Environment 375 citations
Article Tier 2

An investigation on the applications of advanced Infrared Spectroscopy, Spectral Imaging and Machine Learning for Polymer Characterization, including microplastics

This study integrated advanced infrared spectroscopy, spectral imaging, chemometrics, and machine learning to identify and characterize microplastics and polymer degradation products. The combination of techniques improved both the accuracy and throughput of MP analysis compared to conventional methods.

2025 Research Repository UCD (University College Dublin)
Article Tier 2

A novel method for purification, quantitative analysis and characterization of microplastic fibers using Micro-FTIR

Researchers developed an improved method for purifying, quantifying, and characterizing microplastic fibers using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, addressing the challenge that fibers are harder to process and identify than other microplastic shapes. The method improvements enable more accurate characterization of this common but technically challenging category of environmental microplastics.

2019 Chemosphere 191 citations
Article Tier 2

A comparison of spectroscopic analysis methods for microplastics: Manual, semi-automated, and automated Fourier transform infrared and Raman techniques

Researchers compared manual, semi-automated, and fully automated methods for identifying microplastics using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. They found that the semi-automated approach was the best balance of accuracy and efficiency, detecting 22% more microplastic particles than manual analysis while taking less time. The fully automated method was fastest but had an 80% false positive rate, while Raman microscopy was better for very small particles but took nine times longer.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of new analysis methods for simultaneous and rapid identification of five different microplastics using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics

Researchers developed and evaluated ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometric analysis for simultaneous rapid identification of five common microplastic polymer types in water samples. The method achieved high classification accuracy across polymer types, offering a faster and more automated alternative to conventional single-polymer identification approaches.

2024 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Article Tier 2

A Universal Approach to Mie Scatter Correction inFTIR Analysis of Microsized Samples

Researchers developed a universal computational approach to correct for Mie scattering distortions in FTIR infrared microspectroscopy of microsized samples, including microplastics. The method recovers accurate chemical information from spectra that would otherwise be distorted by optical effects from particle size and shape.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Application of a Hybrid Fusion Classification Process for Identification of Microplastics Based on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

A hybrid machine learning approach was developed to improve the identification of microplastics using infrared spectroscopy, overcoming the limitations of standard library-matching methods. The new method better handles weathered or contaminated microplastic particles, which are harder to identify using conventional approaches.

2020 Applied Spectroscopy 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of an FT-IR microscopy method for the determination of microplastic particles in surface waters

Researchers validated an FT-IR microscopy method for reliably detecting and quantifying microplastic particles in aquatic and solid samples. Validated, standardized analytical methods are essential for producing comparable data across laboratories and building a reliable global picture of microplastic contamination.

2020 MethodsX 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimizing microplastic analysis through comparative FTIR and raman spectroscopy: Addressing challenges in environmental degradation studies

Researchers compared FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for analyzing degraded microplastic polymers in environmental samples, evaluating how polymer aging affects identification accuracy. The study found that spectral databases based on pristine polymers can misidentify weathered microplastics, calling for updated reference libraries.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Development of a rapid detection protocol for microplastics using reflectance-FTIR spectroscopic imaging and multivariate classification

Reflectance-FTIR spectroscopy was evaluated as a faster and more automated detection method for microplastics in environmental samples, with results showing strong potential for high-throughput screening. The method could reduce the time and cost of routine microplastic monitoring programs.

2023 Environmental Science Advances 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastics by FTIR and Raman microscopy: a novel silicon filter substrate opens the important spectral range below 1300 cm−1 for FTIR transmission measurements

Researchers developed a new approach using silicon filters compatible with both FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy to identify microplastics in environmental samples. The silicon filter substrate allows transmission-mode IR imaging across the entire sample without manual pre-sorting, improving efficiency and reducing contamination risk.

2015 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 322 citations
Article Tier 2

Applications of Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy in microbial cell biology and environmental microbiology: advances, challenges, and future perspectives

This review covers how Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is used in microbiology to identify microorganisms, study biofilms, and monitor environmental interactions. While not directly about microplastics, FT-IR is one of the primary tools scientists use to identify and measure microplastic contamination in environmental samples. The review discusses challenges and future directions that could improve microplastic detection accuracy.

2023 Frontiers in Microbiology 171 citations
Article Tier 2

μ-FTIR Reflectance Spectroscopy Coupled with Multivariate Analysis: A Rapid and Robust Method for Identifying the Extent of Photodegradation on Microplastics

Researchers developed a faster, more sensitive method for identifying weathered microplastics using infrared reflectance spectroscopy combined with statistical analysis. The technique can classify different plastic types and assess their level of sun damage without complex data preprocessing. The approach could improve the speed and accuracy of environmental microplastic monitoring, particularly for particles that have been altered by exposure to sunlight.

2025 Analytical Chemistry 16 citations