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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Insight into the physical and chemical attributes of polypropylene microplastics
ClearIdentification and morphological characterization of different types of plastic microparticles
Researchers used multiple complementary techniques to identify and characterize the morphology and polymer composition of different types of plastic microparticles. They compared methods including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and spectroscopic analysis to evaluate their reliability. The study provides practical guidance for standardizing microplastic identification protocols, which is important for producing comparable results across different research laboratories.
The effect of weathering environments on microplastic chemical identification with Raman and IR spectroscopy: Part I. polyethylene and polypropylene
Researchers compared Raman and IR spectroscopy for identifying weathered polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics, finding that weathering significantly alters surface chemistry and that Raman spectroscopy is more robust for identifying heavily weathered samples than IR spectroscopy.
Degradation of polypropylene : proportion of microplastics formed and assessment of their density.
Researchers quantified the proportion of microplastics generated during UV-driven degradation of polypropylene and assessed changes in chemical composition caused by photooxidation. The study found that UV exposure progressively fragments polypropylene and alters its surface chemistry, affecting subsequent environmental behavior and toxicity.
Microplastic fouling: A gap in knowledge and a research imperative to improve their study by infrared characterization spectroscopy
Researchers analysed 4,042 infrared spectra of polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene microplastics collected from the Mediterranean Sea using principal component analysis, identifying that spectral variability in weathered marine microplastics is primarily driven by three processes: chemical ageing, organic fouling, and inorganic fouling.
Optimization of methylene blue dye degradation using heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction with Fe3O4 nanoparticles/PVDF macrospheres: A response surface methodology approach
Researchers characterized polypropylene microplastics using SEM and FTIR analysis, finding irregular shapes with cracks and a size distribution of 14-96 micrometers, and tested sodium lauryl sulfate at 5% concentration as an effective dispersant for improving stability in suspension. The study provides foundational insights into polypropylene microplastic physical and chemical properties relevant to toxicological testing and environmental fate studies.
Advances in microplastic characterization: Spectroscopic techniques and heavy metal adsorption insights
This review covers the various techniques scientists use to identify and characterize microplastics and the heavy metals that stick to their surfaces, including infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. Understanding what types of plastics are present and what toxic metals they carry is essential for assessing the health risks of microplastic exposure.
Elaborating more realistic model microplastics by simulating polypropylene's environmental ageing
This study developed more realistic model microplastics by simulating the environmental aging of polypropylene, producing laboratory particles with surface chemistry, roughness, and density closer to field-collected environmental microplastics.
Characterization of Microplastics by Advanced Analytical Techniques
Researchers applied advanced analytical techniques — including Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and nanoindentation — to characterize the structure and properties of polyolefin microplastics collected from Japanese coastal waters, elucidating mechanisms of formation, photo-oxidative degradation, and fragmentation.
Analytical methods for microplastics in the environment: a review
Researchers reviewed classical and advanced analytical methods for detecting microplastics in the environment. The methods covered include visual analysis, electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis, mass spectrometry, and flow cytometry, providing a comprehensive overview of available tools for microplastic identification and quantification.
Degradation of polypropylene : proportion of microplastics formed and assessment of their density.
This study quantified microplastic formation during UV degradation of polypropylene and characterized the chemical changes in the polymer structure caused by photooxidation. UV exposure was shown to generate new particles and alter chemical composition in ways that may change microplastic toxicity and environmental behavior.
Methods and challenges in the detection of microplastics and nanoplastics: a mini‐review
This review evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of analytical methods used to detect and identify microplastics and nanoplastics, including microscopy, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry techniques. Researchers identified key challenges such as distinguishing genuine environmental microplastics from contamination introduced during sample collection and processing. The study provides recommendations for improving data quality and reliability in microplastic research.
A comparison of microscopic and spectroscopic identification methods for analysis of microplastics in environmental samples
Researchers compared microscopic and spectroscopic methods for analyzing microplastics in environmental samples, evaluating accuracy and efficiency and finding that spectroscopic confirmation substantially reduces misidentification errors.
Microplastics monitoring in different environments: separation, physicochemical characterization, and quantification
Researchers systematically monitored microplastic contamination across multiple environments including a wastewater treatment plant, surrounding water bodies, and soils near plastic factories, characterizing shape, size, color, and polymer composition via microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. They found fragments and fibers to be the most common microplastic shapes in water environments and documented simultaneous contamination across all sampled matrices.
Multiparameter characterisation of a nano-polypropylene representative test material with fractionation, light scattering, high-resolution microscopy, spectroscopy, and spectrometry methods
This study comprehensively characterised a nano-polypropylene reference material using a battery of analytical techniques to understand its size, shape, and surface properties — filling a critical gap because researchers currently lack standardised nanoplastic reference materials. Reliable reference materials are essential for producing comparable, reproducible data across laboratories studying nanoplastic risks.
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.
High-resolution characterization technology for micro-/nano-plastics
This review provides an overview of advanced technologies for detecting and characterizing micro- and nanoplastics, including Raman spectroscopy, infrared imaging, and mass spectrometry techniques. Researchers evaluated the capabilities and limitations of each method, particularly for identifying the smallest plastic particles that are most challenging to measure. The study emphasizes that improving detection at the nanoscale is essential for accurately assessing the environmental and health risks of plastic pollution.
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.
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.
Short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging of microplastics: Effects of chemical and physical processes on spectral signatures and detection capabilities
Researchers evaluated short-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging for rapid microplastic detection and polymer identification, testing the effects of various physical and chemical weathering agents on spectral signatures and finding the technique effective for identifying multiple polymer types in complex samples.
Raman and ATR-FTIR unmask crystallinity changes and carboxylate group and vinyl group accumulation in natural weathering polypropylene microplastics
Scientists used advanced spectroscopy techniques to study how polypropylene microplastics change as they weather naturally on a Japanese beach. They found that sunlight exposure creates new chemical groups on the plastic surface, including carboxylate and vinyl groups, and alters the material's crystal structure. These chemical changes are important because weathered microplastics may release different toxic compounds and interact differently with the environment than fresh plastics.
Analysing micro- and nanoplastics with cutting-edge infrared spectroscopy techniques: a critical review
This review evaluates cutting-edge infrared spectroscopy techniques for detecting and analyzing micro- and nanoplastics in environmental and food samples. Better detection methods are crucial for understanding human exposure because they allow scientists to measure smaller particles more accurately, including nanoplastics that are small enough to cross biological barriers and accumulate in human tissues.
Advanced analytical techniques for microplastics in the environment: a review
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.
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.
Characterizing photochemical ageing processes of microplastic materials using multivariate analysis of infrared spectra
Researchers tracked how four common plastic types weather under UV light and sunlight over six months, using infrared spectroscopy and multivariate analysis to characterize surface chemistry changes. They found that polypropylene weathered fastest, while all plastics showed photooxidation at different rates depending on light source. The study proposes a multivariate spectral approach as a more broadly applicable method than the traditional carbonyl index for assessing microplastic aging.