Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Measuring PETase enzyme kinetics by single-molecule microscopy

Scientists developed a new single-molecule microscopy technique to watch individual PETase enzymes, which break down PET plastic, in action at a level of detail not previously possible. The approach revealed that an enhanced version of the enzyme binds to plastic surfaces faster and stays attached longer than the natural version, providing insights that could help engineer even more effective plastic-degrading enzymes.

2024 Biophysical Journal 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative assessment and monitoring of microplastics and nanoplastics distributions and lipid metabolism in live zebrafish using hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering microscopy

Researchers developed a new imaging technique to watch microplastics and nanoplastics accumulate in live zebrafish in real time, without needing dyes or labels. They found that these tiny plastic particles built up in the fish's digestive system and disrupted fat metabolism, providing direct visual evidence of how micro- and nanoplastics can interfere with basic biological processes.

2024 Environment International 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Magnetic Peroxidase Nanozyme Gears Up for Microplastic Removal and Deconstruction

Researchers developed a magnetic peroxidase nanozyme capable of removing and deconstructing microplastics, offering a novel enzymatic approach that overcomes limitations of conventional plastic waste handling methods like landfilling and incineration.

2023 Chemistry - Methods 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Raman Tweezers for Small Microplastics and Nanoplastics Identification in Seawater

Researchers used Raman tweezers - optical tweezers combined with Raman spectroscopy - to capture and chemically identify individual small microplastic and nanoplastic particles in seawater samples in situ. This novel technique could enable real-time identification of the smallest plastic particles in marine environments, filling a critical gap in nano- and micro-plastic detection.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 329 citations
Article Tier 2

Real-Time Quantification of Microplastics in Aquatic Systems via Fluorescence Microscopy

Researchers developed a real-time fluorescence microscopy method capable of quantifying microplastics in aquatic systems with high precision, providing a faster and more accessible tool for monitoring microplastic contamination in drinking water reservoirs.

2023
Article Tier 2

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for the detection of microplastics

Researchers developed a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy method using gold nanoparticles to detect polystyrene microplastics at concentrations as low as 6.5 micrograms per milliliter, offering a new tool for detecting sub-micron plastic pollutants in water.

2022 Applied Surface Science 140 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and visualization of environmental microplastics by Raman imaging based on hyperspectral unmixing coupled machine learning

Researchers developed a new method combining Raman imaging with machine learning to identify and visualize microplastics in environmental samples without destroying them. The technique can distinguish between different polymer types and map their distribution within a sample. The study offers a faster, more accurate approach to microplastic detection that could improve environmental monitoring efforts.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Ultrasensitive SERS detection and efficient flotation removal of nanoplastics from water using bubble-spouting micromotor swarms

Researchers developed magnetic Ag/Co micromotors that spout microbubbles and used them to simultaneously detect nanoplastics via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and remove them from large water volumes through bubble-assisted flotation, demonstrating a new integrated approach for nanoplastic remediation.

2025
Article Tier 2

Visible-light-sensitive microrobots using H2O as fuel for highly efficient capture and precise detection of nanoplastics

Researchers developed a cage-like microrobot powered by visible light and water that captures nanoplastics from solution within two minutes and detects them at low concentrations using surface-enhanced Raman scattering, with the robot recoverable via magnet for reuse.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent advances in techniques for microplastic detection, microbial biodegradation and its genomic insights: a review

This review covers recent advances in both detecting microplastics and understanding how microorganisms can biodegrade them. Researchers summarized traditional methods like Raman and infrared spectroscopy alongside newer approaches such as hyperspectral imaging and electrochemical biosensors for microplastic identification. The study also highlights key bacterial, fungal, and algal species capable of degrading common plastics and the specific genes and enzymes involved in the biodegradation process.

2026 Biodegradation
Article Tier 2

Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small Microplastics

Researchers developed a new method using flow Raman spectroscopy to detect and identify individual microplastic particles as small as 4 micrometers while they move through water. Unlike current methods that require complex sample preparation, this technique could work in real time for monitoring food and drinking water quality. The method can distinguish between different plastic types even after they have been weathered by the environment.

2025 Sensors 6 citations
Article Tier 2

How to Identify and Quantify Microplastics and Nanoplastics Using Raman Imaging?

This paper reviews advances in Raman imaging as a method for identifying and quantifying microplastics and nanoplastics in environmental samples, discussing current protocols, analytical challenges, and the need for standardization.

2024 Analytical Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

In Situ SERS Monitoring of Plasmon-Mediated Degradation of Microplastics

Researchers demonstrated that gold nanoparticle clusters can degrade polyethylene microplastics in water under visible light through plasmon-mediated catalysis. The nanogaps within the gold clusters generate hot carriers that drive the degradation process, while also enabling real-time monitoring of chemical changes via surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The study provides mechanistic insights into a potential light-driven approach for breaking down persistent microplastic pollutants.

2026 Journal of the American Chemical Society
Article Tier 2

Detection and identification of microplastics directly in water by hyperspectral imaging

Researchers used hyperspectral imaging to identify different types of microplastics mixed together in water, demonstrating that the technique can distinguish polymer types based on their spectral signatures. This non-destructive, real-time method could improve the speed and accuracy of microplastic monitoring in water samples.

2023 EPJ Web of Conferences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Detection in Streaming Tap Water with Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy can detect and identify microplastic particles in streaming tap water in real time, offering a rapid non-destructive method for monitoring plastic contamination in drinking water.

2019 Sensors 156 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracking nanoplastics in drinking water: a new frontier with the combination of dielectrophoresis and Raman spectroscopy

Researchers developed a new combined technique using dielectrophoresis and Raman spectroscopy to detect and identify nanoplastics in drinking water. The method can trap and concentrate nanoplastic particles that are too small for conventional detection approaches, then chemically identify them. This advancement addresses a critical gap in our ability to monitor nanoscale plastic contamination in water supplies.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Facilitates the Detection of Microplastics <1 μm in the Environment

Researchers developed a method using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to detect and identify individual microplastic particles smaller than one micrometer. This technique addresses a major gap in environmental monitoring, since most current methods cannot reliably detect the smallest microplastics that may pose the greatest risk due to their ability to enter cells and tissues.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 325 citations
Article Tier 2

Immobilization of PETase enzymes on magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for the decomposition of microplastic PET

PETase enzymes capable of degrading polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were immobilized on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles via a His-tag to improve stability and enable magnetic recovery. The immobilized enzyme system showed enhanced efficiency and reusability for breaking down PET microplastics in water.

2021 Nanoscale Advances 96 citations
Article Tier 2

In situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for the detection of nanoplastics: A novel approach inspired by the aging of nanoplastics

Researchers developed a novel in-situ SERS (surface-enhanced Raman scattering) detection method for nanoplastics that exploits UV photoaging to generate silver nanoparticles directly on particle surfaces, enabling highly sensitive identification of polystyrene, PVC, and PET nanoplastics in real lake water samples at concentrations as low as 1 × 10⁻⁶ mg/mL.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Real-time monitoring of magnetic nanoparticle-assisted nanoplastic agglomeration and separation from water

Researchers developed a real-time monitoring approach using magnetic particle spectroscopy to track superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as they assist in agglomerating and removing nanoplastics from water, while also identifying limitations of the method.

2022 Environmental Science Nano 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling microplastics with hyperspectral Raman imaging: From macroscale observations to real-world applications

This study demonstrated that hyperspectral Raman imaging can identify and characterize microplastics across scales from macro observations to individual particles in real environmental samples, offering advantages over single-point Raman measurements for heterogeneous samples.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Enzyme_Metal‐Organic Framework Composites as Novel Approach for Microplastic Degradation

Researchers developed a new approach to breaking down microplastics by embedding a plastic-degrading enzyme inside a metal-organic framework, a porous crystalline material. The combined system eliminated 37% of a common plastic degradation product from contaminated water within 24 hours through both enzymatic breakdown and adsorption. The method could potentially be reused across multiple treatment cycles, offering a more practical and cost-effective strategy for cleaning microplastic pollution from water.

2024 ChemSusChem 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Fast microplastics identification with stimulated Raman scattering microscopy

Stimulated Raman scattering microscopy was applied to rapidly identify and image microplastic particles in complex environmental samples at speeds dramatically faster than conventional Raman spectroscopy. The technique has potential to enable high-throughput microplastic analysis that could make large-scale environmental monitoring more feasible.

2018 Journal of Raman Spectroscopy 165 citations
Article Tier 2

Online Coupling of Field-Flow Fractionation with Raman Microspectroscopy Enables the Advanced Study of Nanoplastics Directly in Food

Researchers developed an online coupling of field-flow fractionation with Raman microspectroscopy to enable direct detection and characterisation of nanoplastics in complex food matrices, overcoming limitations of existing methods that require laborious sample preparation.

2025 Analytical Chemistry