Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Extraction of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Microplastic from Agriculture Soil

Researchers examined methods for extracting polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics from agricultural soil, investigating how microplastic concentrations affect soil properties and crop productivity while evaluating density separation and other extraction protocols to improve detection and quantification of plastic pollution in agroecosystems.

2024 International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology
Article Tier 2

Olive oil-based method for the extraction, quantification and identification of microplastics in soil and compost samples

An olive oil-based extraction method was developed for recovering microplastics from soil and compost samples, exploiting the oleophilic properties of plastics to separate them regardless of their density. Recovery rates were consistently above 90% for six different polymer types, including high-density polymers that conventional density separation methods often miss.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 173 citations
Article Tier 2

Upgraded Protocol for Microplastics’ Extraction from the Soil Matrix by Sucrose Density Gradient Centrifugation

Extracting microplastics from soil is technically difficult because soil contains dense organic matter and particles that look similar to plastic under analysis. This study refined a sucrose density gradient centrifugation method to more cleanly separate microplastics from soil, improving recovery rates while reducing contamination from non-plastic material. A reliable soil extraction protocol is essential for accurately measuring how much microplastic pollution has accumulated in agricultural and urban land.

2025 Soil Systems 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The power of centrifugation: How to extract microplastics from soil with high recovery and matrix removal efficiency

This study developed and validated a centrifugation-based method for extracting microplastics from soil samples with high recovery and efficient removal of organic matter. The approach is particularly useful for monitoring the fragmentation and biodegradation of both conventional and biodegradable polymers released into agricultural soils.

2024 MethodsX 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Extraction from Agricultural Soils Using Canola Oil and Unsaturated Sodium Chloride Solution and Evaluation by Incineration Method

Researchers developed and validated a simple, low-cost method for extracting microplastics from agricultural soils using canola oil and sodium chloride density separation, combined with incineration-based quantification, offering a practical approach for soil microplastic analysis in resource-limited settings.

2022 Soil Systems 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of Oil Extraction and Density Extraction Method to Extract Microplastics for Typical Agricultural Soils in China

This study compared two methods for extracting microplastics from agricultural soils across China: an oil-based method and a traditional density-based method using salt water. Researchers found the oil extraction approach was more effective overall, especially for denser plastics like PET, while soil chemistry, particularly iron and aluminum content, could reduce extraction efficiency for both methods.

2024 Agronomy 7 citations
Article Tier 2

A modified methodology for extraction and quantification of microplastics in soil

Researchers developed and validated an improved methodology for extracting and quantifying microplastics from soil samples using optimized density separation with different salt solutions. The method achieved high recovery rates for various polymer types and particle sizes while minimizing organic matter interference. The study provides a standardized and reproducible analytical approach that could help address inconsistencies in how microplastics are measured across different soil studies.

2024 NanoImpact 17 citations
Article Tier 2

An optimized density-based approach for extracting microplastics from soil and sediment samples

Researchers optimized a density-based extraction method for isolating microplastics from soil and sediment samples, testing different density solutions and separation steps to maximize recovery efficiency. The improved protocol reduces contamination risks and particle loss, enabling more accurate quantification of microplastics in terrestrial and freshwater sediment matrices.

2019 Environmental Pollution 215 citations
Article Tier 2

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Researchers developed a low-cost, accessible method for extracting and identifying microplastics from farmland soils using density separation, fluorescent staining, and infrared spectroscopy. The protocol achieved recovery rates between 82% and 101% across different soil types and particle sizes. This standardized approach could help scientists worldwide compare results more reliably and give policymakers better data on agricultural microplastic contamination.

2025 Journal of Visualized Experiments 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifying an accurate and efficient approach to soil organic matter removal for quantifying microplastics in agricultural soils

Researchers evaluated multiple soil organic matter removal strategies for microplastic extraction from agricultural soils, comparing their efficiency in decomposing organic interference while preserving microplastic integrity. The study identifies an optimal approach that balances thorough SOM removal with minimal microplastic degradation, supporting more accurate quantification in contaminated agricultural samples.

2025 Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
Article Tier 2

Advances in the analysis of relevant microplastic types in agricultural soils

Researchers developed and validated an improved soil purification protocol for extracting microplastics from agricultural soils, based on systematic testing across different soil types to efficiently isolate plastic particles for polymer identification. The method built on prior work by Moller et al. (2022) and addressed the challenge that soil remains one of the most difficult matrices for microplastic analysis.

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

Microplastics everywhere: A review on existing methods of extraction

This review compiled and evaluated existing methods for extracting microplastics from environmental samples, including density separation, oil extraction, and other techniques, assessing their advantages and limitations across different environmental matrices.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Advances in the analysis of relevant microplastic types in agricultural soils

Researchers developed an optimized soil purification protocol for extracting and identifying microplastic particles from agricultural soils, systematically testing and combining multiple extraction and purification steps to improve the accuracy of polymer identification across different soil types.

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

Microplastics in soils: A comparative review on extraction, identification and quantification methods

This review compares the various methods scientists use to extract, identify, and measure microplastics in soil, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Soil is a particularly challenging material to work with because its organic matter and complex structure can interfere with accurate microplastic detection. The authors recommend combining multiple techniques and minimizing harsh chemical steps that could accidentally destroy the very plastic particles being measured.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 22 citations
Article Tier 2

An efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly protocol for extracting microplastics from soil samples

Researchers developed an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly protocol for extracting microplastics from soil samples, addressing the lack of standardized methods and evaluating extraction performance across different soil matrices.

2025 Omorika - Repository of the Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade
Article Tier 2

Developing a systematic method for extraction of microplastics in soils

A systematic comparison of microplastic extraction methods for soils tested hydrogen peroxide, potassium hydroxide, and Fenton's reagent for organic matter removal alongside density separation, finding that method performance varied strongly with soil organic matter content and particle size distribution.

2021 Analytical Methods 183 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of Microplastics in Soils Using Accelerated Solvent Extraction: Comparison with a Visual Sorting Method

Researchers evaluated accelerated solvent extraction as an alternative to visual sorting for quantifying microplastics in soil, finding it recovered similar total amounts but with some differences by polymer type. Improving the accuracy and efficiency of soil microplastic measurement is essential for understanding agricultural and terrestrial plastic contamination.

2021 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in agricultural soils: Extraction and characterization after different periods of polythene film mulching in an arid region

Researchers developed a new method to extract microplastics from agricultural soil and found that fields mulched with plastic film for 30 years had the highest microplastic concentrations, at 40 mg per kilogram of soil, with particle size decreasing as the years of mulching increased. The study highlights the long-term accumulation of microplastics in soils under continuous plastic film agriculture.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 256 citations
Article Tier 2

A high-precision, effective method for extraction and identification of small-sized microplastics from soil

Researchers developed a novel device called the Plastic Flotation and Separator system to improve extraction of very small microplastics (under 60 micrometers) from soil samples. The system achieved a 90% recovery rate for particles as small as 45 micrometers, significantly outperforming traditional methods. The study suggests that previous research may have underestimated microplastic contamination in soils due to limitations in detecting these smaller particles.

2024 Talanta 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Oil-based extraction as an efficient method for the quantification of microplastics in environmental samples

Researchers validated an oil-based extraction method for pulling microplastics out of sewage sludge and organic-rich soils, finding that pre-treating samples with Fenton's reagent (which destroys organic matter) improved recovery rates to nearly 100% for some plastic types. The study advances efforts to standardize microplastic measurement in complex environmental samples where current methods vary widely.

2024 Environmental Sciences Europe 19 citations