Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Quantifying UV-Driven Aging of Sub-10 µm Airborne Microplastics with High-Resolution µFTIR-ATR Imaging

Researchers developed a high-resolution infrared imaging method to quantify UV-driven aging in airborne microplastics smaller than 10 micrometers. The technique uses a fourth-derivative oxidation index to resolve overlapping chemical signatures, enabling sensitive analysis of PET surface oxidation at the single-particle level. When applied to ambient samples from Japan and Cambodia, the method revealed clear regional differences in microplastic aging that corresponded to local UV exposure levels.

2026 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Degradation degree analysis of environmental microplastics by micro FT-IR imaging technology

Researchers used micro-FTIR spectral-image fusion to classify the degradation degree of polyethylene microplastics collected from coastal environments, achieving 97.1% classification accuracy and enabling estimation of environmental persistence time from spectral data.

2021 Chemosphere 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to Assess the Degree of Alteration of Artificially Aged and Environmentally Weathered Microplastics

Researchers used Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to compare the chemical weathering of microplastics collected from an Italian river with artificially aged plastic samples. They found that environmental microplastics showed distinct patterns of chemical degradation that differed from lab-accelerated aging. The study demonstrates how FTIR analysis can serve as a useful tool for assessing how long microplastics have been exposed to environmental conditions.

2023 Polymers 197 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

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

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

Atmospheric deposition of microplastics: a sampling and analytical method including the associated measurement uncertainties

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.

2026 Atmospheric measurement techniques 1 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
Article Tier 2

Handheld portable FTIR spectroscopy for the triage of micro and meso sized plastics in the marine environment incorporating an accelerated weathering study and an aging estimation

Researchers tested a handheld portable FTIR spectrometer for rapidly identifying micro and mesosized plastic debris on beaches and in the marine environment. Portable FTIR devices enable fast field identification of plastic polymer types, making marine litter surveys more efficient.

2019 Repository@Hull (Worktribe) (University of Hull) 5 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

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

Analysis of aged microplastics: a review

This review looks at how microplastics change over time in the environment through exposure to sunlight, temperature changes, and biological activity. Aging alters the surface properties of microplastics, which can make them more toxic and change how they interact with other pollutants. Advanced techniques like infrared and Raman spectroscopy are the best current methods for identifying and tracking these aged microplastics in environmental samples.

2024 Environmental Chemistry Letters 113 citations
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

Monitorization of polyamide microplastics weathering using attenuated total reflectance and microreflectance infrared spectrometry

Researchers monitored the weathering of polyamide (nylon) microplastics using attenuated total reflectance and microreflectance infrared spectrometry, finding that natural aging produces spectral changes that can make weathered plastics difficult to identify against standard reference databases.

2021 Spectrochimica Acta Part A Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Novel Single-Particle Analytical Technique for Inhalable Airborne Microplastic Particles by the Combined Use of Fluorescence Microscopy, Raman Microspectrometry, and SEM/EDX

Researchers developed a new method combining fluorescence microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopy to analyze individual airborne microplastic particles small enough to inhale. The technique can identify both the polymer type and chemical composition of particles under 10 micrometers found in urban air samples. Better tools for characterizing breathable microplastics are essential for understanding respiratory exposure risks.

2023 Analytical Chemistry 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Direct µ-FTIR analysis of microplastics deposited on silicon in indoor air environments

Direct micro-FTIR analysis of microplastics deposited on silicon wafers was optimized for improved detection sensitivity and throughput. The refined protocol reduces sample preparation steps and improves the accuracy of polymer identification, advancing the standardization of microplastic analysis methods.

2025 npj Emerging Contaminants 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Harmonizing infrared spectroscopic techniques for microplastic identification: a comparative evaluation of ATR and µFTIR transmission and reflection modes

Researchers systematically compared the performance of Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) and micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (muFTIR) in both transmission and reflection modes for identifying microplastics from twelve common real-world plastic products, providing guidance on optimizing spectroscopic technique selection.

2025
Article Tier 2

Raman Spectral Imaging for the Detection of Inhalable Microplastics in Ambient Particulate Matter Samples

Researchers developed a filter-based sampling method compatible with Raman spectral imaging to detect inhalable-sized microplastics in ambient air samples. They successfully identified and mapped plastic particles as small as a few micrometers on sampling filters. The study provides a practical new analytical approach for measuring airborne microplastic exposure, an area where reliable detection methods have been lacking.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 143 citations
Article Tier 2

Possibilities and Limitations of AFM-IR to Detect Nanoplastic Particles in the Atmosphere

Researchers evaluated the capabilities and limitations of AFM-IR spectroscopy for detecting nanoplastic particles in atmospheric samples. They found that while the technique can identify individual nanoplastic particles, significant challenges remain in quantifying atmospheric nanoplastic concentrations due to detection limits and sample preparation complexity. The study highlights the need for improved analytical methods to assess human inhalation exposure to nanoplastics.

2026 Environmental Science Nano
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

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

Review of egusphere-2025-4786

Researchers developed a tailored analytical chain for quantifying microplastics in atmospheric wet and dry deposition samples, combining on-site precipitation filtration with focal plane array micro-FTIR spectroscopy to detect particles in the 20-215 micrometers size range. The study presents a novel sampling setup and validation approach for improving atmospheric microplastic measurement methodology.

2025
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastics in Ambient Particulate Matter Using Raman Spectral Imaging and Chemometric Analysis

Researchers optimized Raman spectral imaging combined with chemometric analysis to detect and identify microplastics in ambient airborne particulate matter at sizes down to 2 micrometers. The study demonstrates a method for spectroscopically verifying the chemical composition of airborne microplastics, addressing concerns about human inhalation exposure to small plastic particles that can reach the lungs.

2020 Analytical Chemistry 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoscale infrared, thermal and mechanical properties of aged microplastics revealed by an atomic force microscopy coupled with infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) technique

Researchers used atomic force microscopy coupled with infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) to characterize nanoscale infrared, thermal, and mechanical properties of TiO2-pigmented microplastics before and after aging, finding that weathering roughened surfaces and altered carbonyl and methylene band intensities.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 98 citations