Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Chemical characterization of microplastics from biosolids: a comparison of FTIR and O-PTIR microspectroscopy

Researchers compared conventional FTIR microspectroscopy with the emerging Optical Photothermal Infrared (O-PTIR) technique for chemical characterization and polymer-type identification of microplastics extracted from biosolids, finding that O-PTIR's submicron resolution and artifact-free spectra offer advantages over traditional methods.

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

Effects of pre-treatment on characterization of microplastics in biosolids via optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy

Researchers compared three sample preparation protocols for characterizing microplastics in biosolids using optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy. Fenton oxidation combined with cellulase treatment gave the best results, and O-PTIR outperformed conventional Raman and FTIR for identifying particles in complex organic matrices.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A method for the extraction of microplastics from solid biowastes including biosolids, compost, and soil for analysis by µ-FTIR

Researchers developed and validated a method for extracting microplastics from solid organic materials including biosolids, compost, and soil for analysis by micro-FTIR spectroscopy. The approach combines wet peroxide oxidation with sequential density separations to isolate plastic particles from complex organic matrices. The method provides a reliable protocol for researchers studying how microplastics move through and accumulate in agricultural and waste management systems.

2024 MethodsX 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in tap water by optical photothermal infrared

Researchers used optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy to characterize microplastics in tap water, identifying particles as small as a few micrometers that conventional FTIR techniques cannot resolve. The higher detection sensitivity revealed that microplastic concentrations in drinking water are likely underestimated by standard methods.

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

Optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy with simultaneously acquired Raman spectroscopy for two-dimensional microplastic identification

Researchers demonstrated that optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy combined with simultaneous Raman acquisition enables more reliable two-dimensional microplastic identification, overcoming limitations of individual FTIR or Raman techniques alone.

2022 Scientific Reports 109 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

Comparison of ATR-FTIR and NIR spectroscopy for identification of microplastics in biosolids

Researchers compared two spectroscopic techniques, ATR-FTIR and NIR, for identifying the type of plastic in microparticles extracted from biosolid samples destined for agricultural use. They found that ATR-FTIR provided more reliable polymer identification, while NIR showed promise as a faster screening tool with some limitations in accuracy. The study highlights the importance of choosing the right analytical method for monitoring microplastic contamination in materials applied to farmland.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Novel integrated workflow for microplastics extraction, quantification, and characterization in organic fertilizing residuals using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR)

Researchers developed a reliable method for extracting and measuring microplastics in organic fertilizers like compost and biosolids that are spread on farm fields. The technique successfully detected 19 different plastic types down to very small sizes in fertilizer samples from Quebec, Canada. This is important because organic fertilizers are a major but often unmeasured source of microplastics entering agricultural soil, which can then reach crops and the food supply.

2025 Chemosphere 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in tap water by optical photothermal infrared

Researchers characterized microplastics in tap water using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy, a technique that can identify particles smaller than 10 micrometers with high chemical specificity. The method detected a broader range of particle sizes than conventional FTIR microscopy, revealing higher microplastic concentrations in tap water than previously reported.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

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

Identifying Microplastics in Laboratory and Atmospheric Aerosol Mixtures via Optical Photothermal Infrared and Raman Microspectroscopy

Researchers developed optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy methods to identify microplastics in both laboratory-prepared and real atmospheric aerosol samples, demonstrating the technique's ability to distinguish plastic particles from other aerosol components in complex air quality monitoring contexts.

2025 Analytical Chemistry
Article Tier 2

IdentifyingMicroplastics in Laboratory and AtmosphericAerosol Mixtures via Optical Photothermal Infrared and Raman Microspectroscopy

This study applied optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy to identify microplastics in atmospheric aerosol mixtures, demonstrating that the technique can distinguish plastic particles by polymer type in complex air samples relevant to understanding human inhalation exposure to airborne MPs.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in environment by thermal gravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Researchers developed a method combining thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify and quantify microplastics in environmental samples, demonstrating that the combined temperature profiles and absorption spectra provide greater discriminatory power than either technique alone.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 137 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastiche: classificazione, identificazione e rimozione all'interno degli impianti di trattamento delle acque reflue

This Italian-language paper reviews how microplastics are classified, identified using techniques like FTIR spectroscopy, and removed in wastewater treatment plants. Conventional treatment plants remove a substantial portion of microplastics but still allow many particles to pass through into the environment. The review calls for better treatment technologies and standardized methods to assess microplastic removal efficiency.

2021 1 citations
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

IR microspectroscopic identification of microplastics in municipal wastewater treatment plants

Researchers used infrared microspectroscopy to identify microplastics at three municipal wastewater treatment plants in Thailand employing different treatment processes, finding varied levels of microplastic contamination tied to urbanization level and treatment technology.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 102 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Research Repository UCD (University College Dublin)
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

Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Wastewater Using Focal Plane Array-Based Reflectance Micro-FT-IR Imaging

Researchers applied focal plane array FT-IR imaging to identify and quantify microplastics in wastewater samples, demonstrating that this method provides efficient and detailed polymer characterization across large sample areas.

2015 Analytical Chemistry 664 citations
Article Tier 2

Refined Analysis of Microplastics: Integrating Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy

This study optimized the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy for characterizing microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that integrating both techniques improves identification accuracy and physicochemical characterization.

2025 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
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

Optimising sample preparation for FTIR-based microplastic analysis in wastewater and sludge samples: multiple digestions

Researchers optimized sample digestion protocols for FTIR-based microplastic analysis in wastewater and sludge, finding that multiple sequential digestion steps improve removal of organic matter while minimizing polymer degradation.

2021 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 97 citations
Article Tier 2

Sequential quantification of number and mass of microplastics in municipal wastewater using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Researchers developed a sequential analytical method combining FTIR microscopy and pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify and quantify microplastics in municipal wastewater samples, with FTIR providing polymer type and physical dimensions and Pyr-GC/MS providing chemical composition. The combined approach improves accuracy compared to using either method alone.

2023 Environmental Pollution 21 citations