Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Size-resolved identification and quantification of micro/nano-plastics in indoor air using pyrolysis gas chromatography-ion mobility mass spectrometry

A novel pyrolysis gas chromatographic cyclic ion mobility mass spectrometer method was developed to identify and quantify micro- and nanoplastics smaller than 1 micrometer in indoor air, finding four common plastic types in tested samples.

2023 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A Novel Strategy to Directly Quantify Polyethylene Microplastics in PM2.5 Based on Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a new method using pyrolysis gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to directly measure polyethylene microplastics in fine airborne particulate matter (PM2.5). This technique overcomes limitations of visual and spectroscopic methods that struggle to detect very small plastic particles in air samples. The study provides one of the first tools for accurately quantifying microplastics in PM2.5, helping researchers better understand the extent of airborne plastic pollution.

2023 Analytical Chemistry 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics analysis: can we carry out a polymeric characterisation of atmospheric aerosol using direct inlet Py-GC/MS?

Researchers tested pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for detecting polymer particles in atmospheric aerosol samples, proposing a novel method to calculate an organic baseline that accounts for interference from natural organic matter on filter samples.

2023 Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Into the Nanograms─Sensitive Detection of Microplastics in Passively Sampled Indoor Air Using F-Splitless Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a highly sensitive method for detecting airborne microplastics in indoor air at the nanogram level using advanced pyrolysis gas chromatography. The study suggests this technique can rapidly identify and quantify microplastics on air sampling filters with minimal preparation, making it easier for scientists to measure the scale of indoor microplastic exposure.

2024 ACS ES&T Air 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimization, performance, and application of a pyrolysis-GC/MS method for the identification of microplastics

Researchers optimized a pyrolysis-GC/MS method for identifying and quantifying microplastics in environmental samples, improving the reliability of polymer identification especially for small particles that are difficult to classify visually. The improved method is particularly valuable for analyzing the smallest microplastic size fractions that dominate by number in marine environments.

2018 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 329 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastics in the environment: Identification and quantification of trace levels of common types of plastic polymers using pyrolysis-GC/MS

Researchers developed analytical methods using pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for identifying and quantifying 12 common plastic polymers in environmental samples. The validated method achieved detection limits as low as 0.1 micrograms and was successfully applied to analyze microplastics collected from three Mediterranean beaches in northeastern Spain.

2023 MethodsX 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Detemination of Airborne Microplastics using LC-MS/MS

Researchers developed and validated an LC-MS/MS method for quantifying airborne microplastics, demonstrating that liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry can provide sensitive and specific identification of plastic polymers in atmospheric particulate samples.

2024
Article Tier 2

Quantification of microplastic targets in environmental matrices using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This study developed and validated a pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry protocol for quantifying common microplastic polymer types in complex environmental matrices, providing a reliable thermal analysis method for assessing microplastic pollution.

2024 Environmental Science Advances 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Identification by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (py-GCMS)

This paper reviews pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) as a method for identifying and quantifying microplastics in environmental samples. The technique can identify specific polymer types even in complex environmental matrices where visual identification is difficult.

2019
Article Tier 2

Raman Microscopy and Pyrolysis GC/MS for Comprehensive Analysis of PM10 Microplastics: Method Development and Urban-Rural Comparison

Researchers developed and validated a combined Raman microscopy and pyrolysis GC/MS method for comprehensive analysis of microplastics in PM10 airborne particulate matter, comparing urban and rural samples. Both methods detected microplastics in PM10 from all sites, with higher concentrations in urban air, and the combination provided complementary information on polymer composition and particle morphology.

2025
Article Tier 2

Microplastics analysis in environmental samples – recent pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method improvements to increase the reliability of mass-related data

This study improved pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) methods for measuring mass-related microplastic data in environmental samples, enhancing reliability and sensitivity for trace-level analysis. Better analytical methods are essential for accurately quantifying microplastic contamination across diverse environmental matrices.

2019 Analytical Methods 224 citations
Article Tier 2

Effectiveness of pyrolysis coupled with thermal desorption for the analysis of micro- and nanoplastics in Asian urban outdoor atmosphere using pyrolysis-GC/MS

Researchers compared single-shot pyrolysis and double-shot pyrolysis coupled with thermal desorption using pyrolysis-GC/MS for detecting and quantifying micro- and nanoplastics in urban outdoor air samples from Asian cities, finding that double-shot analysis provides improved characterisation of airborne plastic particles including sub-micrometre sizes.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Contaminants Research
Article Tier 2

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of synthetic polymers in ambient aerosols by Curie Point Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Researchers used pyrolysis-based gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to detect and quantify synthetic polymers and tire wear particles in ambient urban air. The study confirmed that multiple plastic types circulate as airborne particles in cities, contributing to human inhalation exposure on a daily basis.

2023
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

Previous successes and untapped potential of pyrolysis–GC/MS for the analysis of plastic pollution

This review highlights the potential of pyrolysis combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry as a powerful tool for analyzing plastic pollution. Unlike traditional spectroscopy methods, this technique can determine the mass and chemical composition of microplastics, including additives, which is important for understanding health risks. The authors argue this method is underutilized and could significantly advance microplastic research, particularly for very small particles that are difficult to analyze with other approaches.

2023 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Targeted and non-targeted analysis of microplastics exposure using pyrolysis gas chromatography ion mobility mass spectrometry

Researchers developed a sensitive method for detecting trace levels of polystyrene, polyethylene, and PVC microplastics in drinking water using pyrolysis gas chromatography. When they tested household water samples, they found measurable levels of polyethylene and PVC, corresponding to a daily intake of approximately 392 nanograms. A second part of the study identified halogenated compounds associated with airborne microplastics, suggesting a potential link between indoor PFAS contamination and textile sources.

2026 Memorial University Research Repository (Memorial University)
Article Tier 2

In situ chemical characterization of airborne nanoplastic particles by aerosol mass spectrometry

Researchers used aerosol mass spectrometry to chemically characterize airborne nanoplastic particles in real time in urban air. They detected multiple polymer types including polyethylene and polystyrene at concentrations that varied with location and weather conditions. This approach enables in situ monitoring of atmospheric nanoplastics without sample collection, advancing understanding of human inhalation exposure.

2023
Article Tier 2

Detection of trace sub-micron (nano) plastics in water samples using pyrolysis-gas chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (PY-GCToF).

Researchers evaluated pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry combined with thermal extraction-desorption for detecting sub-micron and nano-sized plastics in water samples, finding it could identify plastic polymers at low concentrations. The method addresses a key gap in detecting the smallest plastic particles in aqueous environments.

2020 Chemosphere 159 citations
Article Tier 2

Simultaneous Determination of Six Common Microplastics by a Domestic Py-GC/MS

Researchers optimized a domestic pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) system for simultaneously detecting six common types of microplastics without a particle size limit. The study found significant interactions between microplastic mixtures during co-pyrolysis and demonstrated that the domestic instrument performed comparably to established international systems, offering a reliable and accessible tool for microplastic analysis.

2025 Atmosphere 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of polyethylene microplastics in environmental samples, using a thermal decomposition method

Researchers developed a thermal analysis method using pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify and quantify polyethylene microplastics in environmental samples without relying on visual sorting or density separation. The approach provides a more objective and automatable way to measure microplastic mass in complex environmental matrices.

2015 Water Research 450 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the environment: Sampling, pretreatment, analysis and occurrence based on current and newly-exploited chromatographic approaches

This review comprehensively examined sampling, pretreatment, and chromatographic analysis methods for microplastics in environmental matrices, evaluating conventional and newly developed approaches and identifying liquid chromatography and pyrolysis-GC/MS as the most promising platforms for chemical characterization of complex microplastic mixtures.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of mass concentrations of airborne PET microplastics using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, this study measured airborne polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics in the inhalable fraction of ambient particulate matter. The ability to quantify specific polymer types in breathable air is a methodological advance that will help researchers assess how much plastic people inhale daily and what health risks that poses to the respiratory system.

2024 Environmental Science Atmospheres 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic and rubber polymers in urban PM10 by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Researchers developed a method to measure microplastic and rubber particles in urban air pollution (PM10) using pyrolysis and mass spectrometry. They found that plastics including polyethylene, polypropylene, and tire wear particles accounted for 1-3% of total airborne particulate matter sampled at a busy street in Helsinki. The findings confirm that people in urban areas are continuously inhaling microplastic and rubber particles from traffic and other sources.

2025 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel online method for the detection, analysis, and classification of airborne microplastics

Researchers developed an online method for real-time detection, analysis, and automated classification of airborne microplastics, enabling continuous monitoring of plastic particle concentrations and polymer types in ambient air without the time-consuming sample preparation required by conventional methods.

2023 3 citations