Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

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

Frequency domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy: A new method to directly identify microplastics in water.

Researchers evaluated frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FD-FLIM) as a method to identify ABS, PC, PET, PS, and PVC granulates directly in a 1 cm water layer without filtration or drying. The study found that all five polymer types could be unambiguously identified by their fluorescence lifetimes, establishing FD-FLIM as a promising rapid label-free technique for direct microplastic detection in aqueous samples.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Quantitative Detection of Microplastics in Water through Fluorescence Signal Analysis

Researchers developed an automatic, portable fluorescence-based system for quantitative detection of microplastics in water, using dye-stained particles flowing through a laser beam to enable fast and objective counting without manual microscopy.

2023 Photonics 14 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 microfluidic chip enables fast analysis of water microplastics by optical spectroscopy

Researchers integrated a microfluidic chip with Raman and infrared spectroscopy to rapidly identify and characterize microplastics in drinking water, reducing analysis time compared to conventional methods.

2021 Scientific Reports 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient and Scalable Detection of Microplastics in Drinking Water Using Fluorescence High‐Content Imaging

Researchers developed a rapid, high-throughput fluorescence imaging method using Nile Red staining and machine learning to detect microplastics in bottled drinking water. They found microplastic concentrations up to 152,000 particles per liter, with over 90% of detected particles in the 1-5 micrometer range that falls below current regulatory thresholds. The findings highlight that existing drinking water regulations focusing on particles larger than 20 micrometers may be missing the vast majority of microplastic contamination.

2025 Small Methods 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Real-time microplastic detection using polarization digital holographic microscope

Researchers developed a real-time microplastic detection system using a polarization digital holographic microscope, enabling identification and characterization of MP particles in water based on their optical properties without the need for chemical staining or extensive sample preparation.

2025
Article Tier 2

Size- and Concentration-Resolved Detection of PET Microplastics in Real Water via Excitation–Emission Matrix Fluorescence Quenching of Polyamide-Derived Carbon Quantum Dots

Scientists developed a new method to detect tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) in drinking water using special fluorescent dots that dim when they encounter plastic pollution. The technique works best at finding very small plastic pieces—smaller than the width of a human hair—which are hardest to detect but potentially most dangerous since they can get into our bodies more easily. This could help monitor plastic contamination in tap water and other water sources we use daily, giving us better information about our exposure to these harmful particles.

2026 Sensors
Article Tier 2

A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy

Researchers piloted fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy as a fast method for identifying microplastic particles in environmental samples. The study suggests this technique could simplify microplastic analysis by potentially eliminating the need for extensive extraction steps, enabling more direct identification of plastic particles in complex matrices.

2024 Heliyon 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Facile detection of microplastics from a variety of environmental samples with conjugated polymer nanoparticles

Researchers developed a quick and straightforward method for detecting microplastics in environmental samples using fluorescent conjugated polymer nanoparticles. The technique can identify microplastic particles across a range of sample types without requiring complex laboratory equipment. This approach could make microplastic monitoring more accessible and practical for routine environmental testing.

2024 Environmental Science Advances 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Selection of an appropriate fluorescent reference material to assess microplastic recovery in natural waters

Researchers developed a standardized fluorescent reference material for validating methods used to detect microplastics in drinking water samples. The material was designed to closely mimic the size, shape, and composition of real environmental microplastics, enabling more accurate spike-and-recovery testing. The work addresses a key gap in microplastic monitoring by providing a reliable benchmark for ensuring that sampling and analysis methods are capturing particles accurately.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Advances in analysis of microplastics in drinking water treatment plants. Fluorescence techniques using iDye Pink

Microplastics between 0.1 and 5 mm were detected at multiple stages of three drinking water treatment plants, with Nile Red fluorescence staining and spectroscopic techniques showing that while treatment reduces MP loads, particles persist into final treated water.

2023 Environmental Technology & Innovation 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastics in wastewater samples by means of polarized light optical microscopy

Scientists tested polarized light optical microscopy as a rapid method for identifying microplastics in wastewater samples, finding it could distinguish synthetic polymer particles from natural debris based on their optical properties without requiring expensive spectroscopy equipment.

2019 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 120 citations
Article Tier 2

Portable On-Site Optical Detection and Quantification of Microplastics

Researchers built a portable, on-site optical device to detect and quantify microplastics in water. The device addresses the challenge of detecting small, often translucent particles without a laboratory setting. Portable microplastic detection tools could enable real-time monitoring in the field, supporting faster environmental assessments.

2023 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

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

Researchers applied a multi-technique analytical approach combining several spectroscopic and microscopic methods to improve the reliability of microplastic quantification in environmental samples. The combined approach reduced false positives and improved polymer identification accuracy compared to any single method used alone.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Detection of microplastics in surface water using a DSLR lens-based UV imaging system

Researchers developed a low-cost UV imaging system using a standard DSLR camera lens for detecting microplastics in surface water samples. The system demonstrated the ability to identify and distinguish fluorescent microplastic particles from natural debris without requiring expensive laboratory equipment. The study offers an accessible detection method that could support microplastic monitoring in resource-limited settings like the Philippines.

2024 Journal of Physics Conference Series 2 citations
Article Tier 2

First-line detection of PET and PVC microplastics in water using a portable fluorescence lifetime platform

Researchers demonstrated that a portable fluorescence lifetime analysis (FLA) device can rapidly screen for PET and PVC microplastics in water suspensions at concentrations as low as 0.01 mg/mL. The label-free method is much cheaper than conventional detection approaches, enabling cost-effective tiered environmental monitoring.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances