Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The power of a multi-technique approach for the reliable quantification of microplastics in water

Researchers applied multiple analytical techniques in combination to improve the accuracy and reliability of microplastic quantification in environmental samples. The multi-technique approach outperformed any single method, demonstrating its value for generating robust data from complex matrices.

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

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.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 820 citations
Article Tier 2

Unraveling Microplastics: Sources, Environment and Health Impacts, and Detection Techniques

This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic sources, environmental transport mechanisms, health risks, and current detection technologies used across water systems. The authors examine a broad range of analytical methods, from spectroscopy to sensor-based approaches, for identifying and quantifying microplastics in diverse environmental samples. The study concludes that no single detection technique is sufficient on its own, and integrated multi-method approaches are needed for reliable monitoring.

2026 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Identifying microplastic contamination in drinking water: analysis and evaluation using spectroscopic methods

Researchers developed analytical methods to identify and quantify microplastic contamination in drinking water, evaluating extraction efficiency and detection accuracy across different water types and plastic particle sizes. The study assessed health implications based on measured plastic loads in treated water.

2024 Interdisciplinary Environmental Review
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

A systematic protocol of microplastics analysis from their identification to quantification in water environment: A comprehensive review

This review provides a systematic protocol for identifying and quantifying microplastics in water environments, covering sampling, extraction, and analytical techniques. Researchers evaluate the strengths and limitations of methods including visual sorting, spectroscopic analysis, and thermal techniques for characterizing microplastic pollution. The study emphasizes the urgent need for standardized methodologies to enable meaningful comparisons across different microplastic research studies.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 150 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of multi-step approach for comprehensive identification of microplastic particles in diverse sediment samples

Researchers developed a multi-step analytical approach to comprehensively identify and characterize microplastics in environmental samples, combining visual, spectroscopic, and thermal analysis. A systematic, multi-method approach is needed to capture the full diversity of microplastic types present in complex environmental matrices.

2020 Water Science & Technology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

An optimized multi-technique based analytical platform for identification, characterization and quantification of nanoplastics in water

Researchers developed an analytical platform combining flow fractionation, light scattering, and pyrolysis-GC/MS to simultaneously identify polymer type, measure particle size distribution, and quantify nanoplastics in water samples down to 0.01 ppm, filling a key gap in nanoplastic monitoring tools.

2024 Talanta 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in River Water: Features of Analytical Methods for Quantitative Determination

Researchers developed and tested a method for isolating and quantifying microplastics from freshwater river samples using three analytical techniques: spectroscopy, fluorescence analysis, and thermal analysis. The study highlights the lack of standardized methods for microplastic detection across environmental samples and demonstrates the advantages and limitations of each approach for accurate quantification.

2026 Environments
Article Tier 2

A Review of Microplastic Identification and Characterization Methods in Aquatic Environments

This review evaluates the various methods used to identify and characterize microplastics in water environments, from visual sorting to advanced spectroscopy and thermal analysis techniques. Researchers compared the strengths and limitations of each approach, noting that no single method can fully capture the diversity of microplastic pollution. The study recommends combining multiple analytical techniques and standardizing protocols to improve the reliability of microplastic monitoring worldwide.

2024 Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Advanced analytical techniques for assessing and detecting microplastic pollution in water and wastewater systems

This review evaluates the various laboratory methods available for detecting and measuring microplastics in water and wastewater, including spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and newer combined techniques. Each method has different strengths and limitations in terms of what particle sizes they can detect and how accurately they identify plastic types. The review helps researchers choose the right tools for measuring microplastic contamination, which is essential for understanding how much microplastic people are exposed to through drinking water.

2024 Environmental Quality Management 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative Raman analysis of microplastics in water using peak area ratios for concentration determination

Researchers developed a new method using Raman spectroscopy to measure microplastic concentrations in water. By analyzing the ratio of plastic-specific signals to the water signal, they created a reliable calibration model for detecting polyethylene and PVC microplastics, even when multiple plastic types are mixed together. This approach could make it faster and easier to monitor microplastic contamination in real-world water sources.

2024 npj Clean Water 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Simultaneous Trace Identification and Quantification of Common Types of Microplastics in Environmental Samples by Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a method for simultaneous trace identification and quantification of common microplastic types in environmental samples, improving detection efficiency and enabling more accurate monitoring of multiple plastic polymers at once.

2017 Environmental Science & Technology 589 citations
Article Tier 2

Analytical Techniques for the Detection and Characterization of Microplastics: an Overview

This overview reviews state-of-the-art analytical methods for identifying and characterizing microplastics, covering spectroscopic and microscopic approaches and their strengths and limitations for detecting plastic particles across environmental compartments including water, soil, and biological samples.

2025 KDU Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies
Article Tier 2

The development of an analytical procedure for the determination of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers developed an improved analytical procedure for detecting and identifying microplastics in freshwater environments. The method combines careful sample preparation with advanced instrumental techniques like infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The study highlights the importance of standardized methods to ensure that microplastic measurements across different studies are reliable and comparable.

2024 Analytical Methods 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Marine Environment: A Review of the Methods Used for Identification and Quantification

This review covered the methods used to identify and characterize microplastics in marine environmental samples, evaluating the strengths and limitations of visual, spectroscopic, and chemical approaches for field and laboratory analysis.

2012 Environmental Science & Technology 5047 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Detection and Analysis from Water and Sediment: A Review

This review summarized current methods for detecting and analyzing microplastics in water and sediment samples, covering sampling techniques, extraction procedures, identification technologies, and quality control measures needed for reliable microplastic quantification.

2023 Macromolecular Symposia 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Miscounting microplastics as a result of matrix molecules: optimizing identification and quantification of microplastics in natural freshwater systems

Researchers investigated how matrix molecules in environmental samples can cause miscounting of microplastics during identification, optimising analytical protocols to distinguish true microplastic particles from interfering compounds and improve the accuracy of microplastic quantification in environmental chemistry studies.

2025 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts
Article Tier 2

A review of methods for measuring microplastics in aquatic environments

This review critically evaluates methods used to measure microplastics in aquatic environments, covering sampling design, sample processing, and spectroscopic identification, and identifies the most significant sources of methodological variation. Standardizing these methods is essential for generating comparable data across studies and enabling robust environmental risk assessment.

2018 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 361 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined application of analytical techniques for microplastic determination to achieve comprehensive results for sewage sludge samples

Researchers combined multiple analytical techniques for comprehensive microplastic determination in sewage sludge samples, addressing the challenge that more than 90% of microplastics entering wastewater treatment plants are retained in sludge and require robust multi-method characterization.

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

Quantitative assessment of visual microscopy as a tool for microplastic research: Recommendations for improving methods and reporting

Researchers conducted a multi-laboratory study across six countries to assess how accurately visual microscopy identifies microplastics in water samples. They found significant variability between laboratories in particle counts, size measurements, and material identification, with accuracy declining for smaller and transparent particles. The study recommends improved standardization and quality control measures to make microscopy a more reliable tool in microplastic research.

2022 Chemosphere 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Analytical methods used in microplastics identification: A review

This review examines the range of analytical methods used to identify microplastics in environmental samples, evaluating the strengths and limitations of techniques including visual inspection, spectroscopy, and chromatography for accurate microplastic characterization.

2024 Journal of Hydro-meteorology
Article Tier 2

Analytical methods for the determination of microplastics in the environment

This review examines analytical methods used to identify and quantify microplastics in environmental samples, covering microscopy, spectroscopy, and chromatographic techniques as applied to water, soil, and biological matrices. The work evaluates the advantages and limitations of each method, discussing their real-world applicability for standardised microplastic monitoring across different sample types.

2024 Repository of Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering
Article Tier 2

New methodologies for the detection, identification, and quantification of microplastics and their environmental degradation by-products

This review covers new methodologies for sampling, detecting, identifying, and quantifying microplastics and their environmental degradation byproducts in natural water systems, highlighting advances in spectroscopic, mass spectrometric, and imaging-based approaches.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 84 citations