Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Identification of Polymeric Nanoparticles Using Strategic Peptide Sensor Configurations and Machine Learning

Researchers created a sensor system using specially designed peptides combined with machine learning to identify different types of plastic nanoparticles dispersed in water. The peptide sensors produced distinct fluorescence patterns for each polymer type, and the AI algorithms could accurately distinguish between plastics with very similar chemical structures. This approach could help fill a critical gap in environmental monitoring, since detecting nanoplastics in water remains a major challenge with current technology.

2025 ACS Sensors 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The Development of Sensors for Microplastic Detection Using Artificial Intelligence

This review examined AI-enhanced sensors developed for microplastic detection and characterization in aquatic environments, covering machine learning, deep learning, and spectroscopic sensor approaches. The authors found that AI substantially reduces the labor intensity of microplastic identification and improves detection of small particles, though training dataset standardization and real-world validation remain priority challenges.

2025 International Journal of Artificial Intelligence
Article Tier 2

An Artificial Intelligence based Optical Sensor for Microplastic Detection in Seawater

Researchers developed an AI-based optical sensor system combining an optical detection subsystem and an image acquisition subsystem to detect and identify microplastic particles in seawater, distinguishing them from naturally occurring marine particles. The device applies AI algorithms to analyze consecutive image frames and classify particles as microplastic or non-microplastic, with the full system housed in two portable cases.

2023 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Artificial Intelligence-Based Microfluidic Platform for Detecting Contaminants in Water: A Review

This review explores how microfluidic devices combined with artificial intelligence can detect water pollutants including microplastics and nanoplastics in real-time, outside the laboratory. Traditional water testing requires large lab equipment, but these portable chip-based systems can identify contaminants quickly and accurately using machine learning. This technology could improve monitoring of microplastic contamination in drinking water and other water sources.

2024 Sensors 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Detecting Microplastics in Seawater with a Novel Optical Sensor Based on Artificial Intelligence Models

Detecting microplastics in seawater quickly and accurately is a major technical challenge, and this study developed a novel optical sensor that uses artificial intelligence to identify plastic particles from light-scattering data in real time. The AI-powered system was tested on seawater samples and showed promising accuracy for classifying microplastic types without the need for time-consuming laboratory processing. Automated in-situ sensors like this could enable continuous, large-scale ocean monitoring for microplastic pollution.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastics Based on a Liquid–Solid Triboelectric Nanogenerator and a Deep Learning Method

Scientists developed a new microplastic detection device based on a liquid-solid friction generator combined with deep learning AI to identify different types of plastic particles. The system can classify microplastics by material type with high accuracy using electrical signals generated when plastic particles contact a liquid surface. This technology could make it easier and cheaper to monitor microplastic contamination in water supplies.

2023 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent progress and technological advancements for detection of micro/nano-plastics in the environment

This review surveys the latest analytical tools for detecting micro- and nanoplastics across environmental samples, covering imaging, spectroscopy, electrochemical sensors, and artificial intelligence. It highlights how the very small size and chemical complexity of nanoplastics makes detection especially challenging, and discusses how AI integration is improving accuracy and throughput. Advancing detection methods is foundational to understanding the true scale of microplastic contamination and its risks to ecosystems and human health.

2026 Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
Article Tier 2

How AI methods enhance the design and performance of nanophotonic environmental sensors: a systematical review

Researchers reviewed how combining artificial intelligence with nanophotonic sensors — devices that use light at the nanoscale — dramatically improves the detection of environmental pollutants including microplastics, heavy metals, and organic chemicals. The pairing enables faster, more accurate, and portable real-time environmental monitoring.

2026 Discover Sensors
Article Tier 2

High-frequency ultrasound combined with deep learning enables identification and size estimation of microplastics

Scientists developed a new method using sound waves and artificial intelligence to quickly detect tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the environment with over 97% accuracy. This technology could help us better monitor microplastic pollution in water and food sources, which is important since these particles can end up in our bodies through what we eat and drink. The new method is much faster than current testing approaches, making it easier to track plastic pollution on a large scale.

2026 npj Emerging Contaminants
Article Tier 2

Zero-plastic: AI-assisted sensing for microplastic assessment

Scientists developed a new device that uses artificial intelligence and microscopy to detect tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) in water. The prototype can spot plastic pieces as small as 3 micrometers - much smaller than the width of a human hair - which could help us better monitor plastic pollution in our water sources. This matters because microplastics are everywhere in our environment and may pose health risks, but until now they've been very difficult to measure accurately.

2026 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

Harnessing Deep Learning for Real-Time Water Quality Assessment: A Sustainable Solution

Researchers developed a deep learning system that can predict water quality in real time based on measurements like pH, turbidity, and dissolved solids. While not directly about microplastics, this kind of AI-powered monitoring tool could eventually be adapted to detect microplastic contamination in water supplies more quickly and affordably than current lab-based methods.

2024 Water 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Deep Learning Approaches for Detection and Classification of Microplastics in Water for Clean Water Management

Researchers applied dual deep learning models (YOLOv8, YOLOv11, and several CNN architectures) to detect and classify microplastics in water, finding that these AI approaches could accurately identify plastic types across both aquatic and non-aquatic datasets.

2025
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics in Water: Artificial Intelligence-Assisted 4D Physicochemical Characterization and Rapid In Situ Detection

Researchers developed an artificial intelligence-powered holographic microscopy system that can detect and classify nanoplastics in water in real time, without any sample preparation. The technology identified particles as small as 135 nanometers and tracked their movement in three dimensions. This represents a significant advancement in environmental monitoring, as previous methods required extensive lab processing to detect plastic particles this small.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Real-Time Detection of Microplastics Using an AI Camera

Researchers developed a camera-based system using artificial intelligence to detect and measure microplastics in real time as they move through water. The system was tested with three different camera setups and could identify particles, measure their size, and track their speed. This technology could provide a faster and more practical alternative to the labor-intensive laboratory methods currently used to monitor microplastic pollution.

2024 Sensors 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Detecting Chemical Contaminants in Water Using AI

This review examines how artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are being applied to detect chemical contaminants in water, including microplastics, covering sensor technologies, data processing approaches, and the potential for real-time monitoring systems.

2025
Article Tier 2

Real-time detection of microplastics in aquatic environments using emerging technologies

Researchers proposed a real-time microplastic detection system combining AI-enhanced optical sensors and IoT devices, capable of automatically classifying microplastics in ocean water without the time-consuming manual steps required by spectroscopy or microscopy.

2025 International Journal of Aquatic Research and Environmental Studies
Article Tier 2

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Microplastic Pollution Studies and Management

This review explores how artificial intelligence is transforming microplastic research, from automating detection in microscopy images and spectral analysis to predicting how plastics interact with pollutants and living organisms. AI-powered sensors and real-time monitoring systems are also being integrated into wastewater treatment to reduce microplastic release, making the technology a powerful tool for both understanding and managing plastic pollution.

2025 Recent Progress in Science and Engineering 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastics using a convolutional neural network based on micro-Raman spectroscopy

Researchers combined micro-Raman spectroscopy with a neural network to identify microplastics, achieving over 99% accuracy across 10 different plastic types. The system was also tested on real environmental samples and performed well at classifying unknown particles. This AI-powered approach could make microplastic identification faster and more reliable for environmental monitoring.

2023 Talanta 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Identification Using Impedance Spectroscopy and Machine Learning Algorithms

Scientists developed a new method to detect and classify microplastics in water using electrical measurements and machine learning. The system can identify different sizes of PET microplastic particles with high accuracy, offering a potential tool for real-time water quality monitoring. Better detection methods like this are important for understanding how much microplastic contamination exists in drinking water and other water sources.

2024 International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks 10 citations
Article Tier 2

A Microwave-Based Sensing Platform for Microplastic Detection and Quantification: A Machine Learning-Assisted Approach

Researchers developed a low-cost microwave sensor combined with machine learning to detect and quantify microplastics in water and identify polymer types in unknown samples. The platform achieved the highest sensitivity reported among microwave-based approaches for microplastic detection, offering a promising low-cost alternative to spectroscopy-based methods.

2025
Article Tier 2

Advancements and challenges in microplastic detection and risk assessment: Integrating AI and standardized methods

This review examines current methods for detecting and measuring microplastics in water, soil, and biological samples, including microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The authors highlight how artificial intelligence could make detection faster and more accurate. Standardized testing methods and better health risk assessments are needed to understand and manage the dangers microplastics pose to human health.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 17 citations
Review Tier 2

A Critical Review on Artificial Intelligence—Based Microplastics Imaging Technology: Recent Advances, Hot-Spots and Challenges

Researchers reviewed the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques for detecting and identifying microplastics in environmental samples. The study found that AI-based imaging tools can significantly speed up analysis and improve accuracy compared to traditional manual methods. However, challenges remain around standardizing datasets and making these tools accessible for routine environmental monitoring.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Data Driven AI (artificial Intelligence) Detection Furnish Economic Pathways for Microplastics

Researchers reviewed how artificial intelligence is being applied to detect and track microplastics in water, arguing that AI-driven methods can make monitoring faster, cheaper, and more scalable than traditional approaches. Because microplastics are too small to be caught by standard water filters, smarter detection tools are critical for protecting drinking water and aquatic ecosystems.

2025
Article Tier 2

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Based Rapid Water Testing System

Researchers developed an AI-powered portable water testing system that combines five analytical techniques to detect contaminants including heavy metals, pathogens, and microplastics in real time. The device uses an embedded machine learning model trained on diverse water samples to recognize contamination patterns. The study demonstrates a cost-effective approach to rapid water quality monitoring that could help identify microplastic pollution in both industrial and domestic water supplies.

2026