Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Optical measurement technologies for detecting low levels of pollution and identifying microplastics in water

Researchers reviewed optical technologies for detecting and identifying microplastics in water, experimentally characterizing the fluorescence spectra of PE and PET microplastic samples under 365 nm excitation and identifying spectral bands enabling identification of different polymer types, then proposing a comprehensive hardware solution using a fluorescent probe for microplastic visualization.

2024
Article Tier 2

Outlook on optical identification of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments

Researchers studied the optical properties of micro- and nanoplastics and evaluated near-infrared spectroscopy as a detection method for plastic particles in water, finding that optical techniques show promise for rapid, non-destructive identification. Improved optical detection methods could enable faster and more cost-effective monitoring of plastic pollution in aquatic environments.

2018 Chemosphere 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Photoluminescence‐Based Techniques for the Detection of Micro‐ and Nanoplastics

This review examined photoluminescence-based techniques for detecting micro- and nanoplastics, evaluating fluorescent labeling and spectroscopic methods as promising approaches to address the challenge of identifying plastic particles at the smallest scales.

2021 Chemistry - A European Journal 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the potential of photoluminescence spectroscopy in combination with Nile Red staining for microplastic detection

Researchers explored photoluminescence spectroscopy combined with Nile Red staining as a cost- and time-efficient detection method for microplastics, evaluating improvements to existing fluorescence microscopy approaches for more reliable global monitoring of microplastic abundance.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 86 citations
Article Tier 2

The right excitation wavelength for microplastics detection via photoluminescence

Researchers investigated which light wavelengths are best for detecting microplastics using photoluminescence, a technique where particles glow under specific light. Finding the optimal excitation wavelength could make this a practical, low-cost complement to existing microplastic detection tools.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A New Optical Method for Quantitative Detection of Microplastics in Water Based on Real-Time Fluorescence Analysis

Researchers developed a new fluorescence-based particle counter for real-time quantitative detection of microplastics in water, validating the method against FTIR analysis on wastewater treatment plant samples containing polyethylene and PVC particles.

2022 Water 29 citations
Article Tier 2

A non-contact in situ approach for detecting fluorescent microplastic particles in flowing water using fluorescence spectroscopy

Researchers developed a non-contact in situ method combining fluorescence spectroscopy and interferometric particle imaging to detect, characterise, and classify fluorescent polypropylene microplastic particles in flowing water.

2025 Environmental Science Advances
Article Tier 2

Measurements of the inherent optical properties of aqueous suspensions of microplastics

Researchers measured the inherent optical properties — including absorption and scattering coefficients — of aqueous microplastic suspensions at environmentally relevant concentrations, comparing different polymer types and particle sizes. The optical signatures varied substantially across polymers and sizes, providing reference data for developing optical remote sensing approaches to detect microplastics in surface waters.

2024 Limnology and Oceanography Letters 6 citations
Article Tier 2

The Detection of Plastic and Petroleum Hydrocarbon Pollution at Sea with Laser-Induced Fluorescence

Researchers evaluated a compact laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) apparatus using a 405 nm laser for detecting and classifying plastic and petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants in water. Fluorescence spectra were successfully recorded for polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PMMA, and several petroleum substances, with a novel identification indicator proposed for classifying pollutant types under realistic environmental conditions.

2023 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Optical transmission spectra study in visible and near-infrared spectral range for identification of rough transparent plastics in aquatic environments

Researchers proposed using light transmittance measurements to characterize the surface roughness and thickness of microplastics in water. This non-invasive optical method could help track how microplastics change as they weather in aquatic environments, becoming rougher and more likely to adsorb pollutants.

2020 Chemosphere 43 citations
Article Tier 2

On the Potential for Optical Detection of Microplastics in the Ocean

This study examines the potential for optical methods to detect microplastics in ocean water at large spatial scales, noting that while optical detection is promising for overcoming the limitations of discrete water sampling, methods remain in early development and reference libraries of microplastic optical properties are sparse.

2023 Oceanography 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Fast and portable fluorescence lifetime analysis for early warning detection of micro- and nanoplastics in water

Researchers developed a portable fluorescence-based system that can detect micro- and nanoplastics in water without any sample preparation or labeling. The method works by measuring the natural fluorescence lifetime of plastic particles using a pulsed laser, achieving detection limits as low as 0.01 mg/mL. The study presents a promising early-warning tool for rapid, on-site monitoring of plastic contamination in water sources.

2023 Environmental Research 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Potential of Time-Resolved Photoluminescence Spectroscopy for the Detection of Plastics

Researchers tested time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy as a faster alternative to conventional Raman and FTIR spectroscopy for identifying plastic polymers. The technique showed promise for rapid plastic identification, which could speed up microplastic analysis in environmental samples.

2020 Applied Spectroscopy 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards the Development of Portable and In Situ Optical Devices for Detection of Micro-and Nanoplastics in Water: A Review on the Current Status

This review surveys the development of portable and in-situ optical devices for detecting micro- and nanoplastics in water, as most current detection methods are laboratory-based. Researchers evaluated emerging technologies including portable Raman and infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence-based sensors, and smartphone-integrated detection systems. The study identifies key technical challenges that must be overcome to enable real-time, field-based monitoring of plastic pollution in water.

2021 Polymers 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifying plastics with photoluminescence spectroscopy and machine learning

Researchers showed that combining photoluminescence spectroscopy (shining light on plastic and measuring what comes back) with machine learning can reliably identify different types of plastic materials. This low-cost, widely accessible approach could help scientists track and characterize plastic pollution in the environment at a global scale.

2022 Scientific Reports 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastics through an optical sensor array using nano-graphene oxide and fluorophore conjugates

An optical sensor array using fluorescence signals was developed to detect and identify microplastics by polymer type in water samples. The sensor offers a rapid, low-cost alternative to traditional spectroscopy for field monitoring of microplastic pollution.

2025 Nanoscale 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of marine microplastics based on laser-induced fluorescence and principal component analysis

Researchers developed a method to identify different types of marine microplastics using laser-induced fluorescence combined with principal component analysis. The technique successfully distinguished nine types of microplastics based on their fluorescence signatures and could detect microplastic concentrations as low as 0.03% by mass. The study suggests this approach could be a practical tool for rapid microplastic identification in marine environments.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Spectro‐Microscopic Techniques for Studying Nanoplastics in the Environment and in Organisms

This review examines spectro-microscopic techniques for detecting and characterizing nanoplastics (under 1 um) in environmental and biological matrices, arguing that effective analysis requires combining particle imaging with chemical characterization of the same particles, and highlighting methods capable of simultaneous morphological and chemical identification.

2022 Angewandte Chemie 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Nile Red-Stained Microplastics through Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Researchers developed an improved method for characterizing microplastics using Nile Red fluorescent staining combined with fluorescence spectroscopy. They found that different plastic polymers produce distinct fluorescent signatures when stained, enabling more reliable identification of plastic types. The technique offers a faster and more affordable alternative to traditional microplastic detection methods, which could help scale up environmental monitoring efforts.

2024 Preprints.org 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Rapid and reliable detection of microplastics in drinking water using fluorescence microscopy

This study developed a rapid and reliable fluorescence-based method for detecting microplastics in drinking water, addressing the need for faster alternatives to time-consuming conventional analytical approaches. The method demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for common plastic polymers in drinking water matrices.

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

Rapid and reliable detection of microplastics in drinking water using fluorescence microscopy

Researchers developed a fluorescence-based method for rapid detection and quantification of microplastics in drinking water, addressing the need for faster and more practical monitoring tools. The method achieved high sensitivity and allowed polymer discrimination without requiring expensive spectroscopic instrumentation.

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

Evaluation of Monitoring Technologies and Methods for Micro Plastics in Water as Novel Pollutants

This review surveys the range of technologies currently available for detecting and monitoring microplastics in water, including spectroscopic, microscopic, and chemical identification methods, outlining the strengths and limitations of each. Consistent and effective monitoring is identified as essential for controlling microplastic pollution, yet no single approach yet meets all needs across diverse water types and concentrations. The paper calls for stronger monitoring frameworks to support both research and regulatory decision-making on microplastic contamination.

2024 Scalable Computing Practice and Experience 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Revolutionizing microplastic detection in water through quantum dot fluorescence

Researchers developed a quantum dot fluorescence-based detection system for microplastics in water, achieving sensitive and rapid identification of multiple polymer types with lower detection limits and faster analysis times than conventional spectroscopic methods.

2025 Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A
Article Tier 2

On optical sensing of surface roughness of flat and curved microplastics in water

Researchers developed and tested an optical sensor prototype capable of detecting microplastic particles of different shapes and surface textures in water by measuring light reflection patterns. The sensor offers a potential path to faster, in-situ microplastic detection without requiring chemical analysis.

2020 Chemosphere 25 citations