Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

A straightforward Py-GC/MS methodology for quantification of microplastics in tap water

Researchers developed a simpler, more affordable method for detecting and measuring microplastics in tap water using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry without needing expensive custom databases. The method successfully identified seven common polymer types in drinking water samples, making it easier for labs to monitor microplastic contamination in the water supply.

2025 MethodsX 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Routine method for the analysis of microplastics in natural and drinking water by pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Researchers developed a standardized method to measure microplastics in drinking water using a technique called pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. They tested the method on river water, reclaimed water, and tap water in Barcelona, finding microplastic concentrations ranging from 11 to 77 micrograms per liter. Reliable detection methods like this are essential for understanding how much microplastic people are actually consuming through their drinking water.

2024 Journal of Chromatography A 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of Microplastics in Drinking Water Using Pyrolysis-GC/MS

Researchers used pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify and quantify microplastics by polymer mass (rather than particle count) in drinking water samples. The method detected multiple polymer types and provided mass-based metrics that are more toxicologically relevant than particle counts commonly reported in water quality studies.

2025 TSpace
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

Identification and Quantification of Nanoplastics in Surface Water and Groundwater by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a method combining ultrafiltration and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and quantify nanoplastics in surface water and groundwater. The study successfully detected six types of plastic polymers at the nanoscale in environmental water samples, providing much-needed quantitative data on nanoplastic pollution in real-world water sources.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 210 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative analysis of nanoplastics in environmental and potable waters by pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Scientists developed and validated a new method to detect and measure nine types of nanoplastics in drinking and environmental water at very low concentrations. They found nanoplastics in every water sample tested, with polyethylene, PET, polypropylene, and polystyrene being the most common at levels up to 1.17 micrograms per liter. This is one of the first studies to quantify nanoplastics in drinking water, confirming that people are regularly exposed through their tap water.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 154 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

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

Standard Test Method for Identification of Polymer Type and Quantity of Microplastic Particles and Fibers in Waters with High to Low Suspended Solids Using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed and standardized a pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) test method for identifying and quantifying microplastic polymer types and quantities across waters with varying suspended solids levels. The standard addresses the growing recognition of polymeric organic compounds as contaminants in drinking water, wastewater, surface water, groundwater, and marine waters.

2024
Article Tier 2

Standard Test Method for Identification of Polymer Type and Quantity of Microplastic Particles and Fibers in Waters with High to Low Suspended Solids Using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

This paper describes the development of an ASTM standard test method using pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to identify and quantify specific polymer types in microplastic particles and fibers across a wide range of water types, from drinking water to marine water. Standardizing how microplastics are measured is a critical step toward producing comparable data across studies and enabling consistent regulatory monitoring. A validated, accepted method like this helps close the large gaps in microplastic data that currently hinder risk assessment and policy-making.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in drinking water: quantitative analysis of microplastics from source to tap by pyrolysis–gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Researchers used pyrolysis–GC-MS to quantify microplastics by mass concentration at each stage of Amsterdam's drinking water supply—from raw surface water through two treatment plants to household tap water—providing rare mass-based data on MP fate during treatment.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Article Tier 2

[Method for Simultaneous Quantifying Five Types of Microplastics by Tubular Furnace Pyrolysis-thermal Desorption-gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry].

Researchers developed a pyrolysis-thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method capable of simultaneously quantifying five types of microplastics — PE, PP, PS, PVC, and PET — larger than 0.22 micrometers across diverse environmental matrices.

2025 PubMed
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

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

Microplastics in the drinking water supply system: analysis of water from the source to the tap by pyrolysis-GC-MS

Researchers analyzed microplastic concentrations in raw, treated, and tap water from the Amsterdam drinking water supply system over six months using pyrolysis-GC-MS, targeting six common polymers including PE, PP, PS, PET, PVC, and PMMA. PE and PVC were frequently detected in tap water, contributing new data on MP levels throughout the full drinking water supply chain and their implications for human exposure estimation.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

QuantifyingNanoplastics and Microplastics in Foodand Beverages Using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry:Challenges and Implications

Researchers evaluated pyrolysis-GC/MS for quantifying nanoplastics and microplastics in common foods and beverages, assessing sensitivity and detection limits across polymer types. The method successfully detected multiple polymer types in food samples but showed limitations for nanoplastics at very low concentrations, highlighting gaps in current dietary exposure assessment.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Implementation plan to monitor microplastics in surface and drinking water using Py-GC-MS according to Decision (EU) 2024/1441

Researchers developed and applied a monitoring method for detecting six common plastic polymers in surface water and drinking water from Barcelona's main water supply, the Llobregat River basin. Using pyrolysis-gas chromatography mass spectrometry, they detected microplastics in both river water and the city's drinking water distribution network. The study provides a practical implementation plan aligned with new EU regulations for routine microplastic monitoring in drinking water.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 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

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

Rapid and Sensitive Quantification of Nano- and Microplastics in Water, Sediment, and Biological Tissue by Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry with Dynamic Reaction Monitoring

Researchers developed a highly sensitive pyrolysis gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (Py-GC-qQq-MS) method using dynamic multiple reaction monitoring to quantify 12 common plastic polymers in water, sediments, and biological tissues at nanogram levels. The method achieved quantification of nano- and microplastics across diverse matrices with high specificity, using matrix-specific sample preparation including enzymatic digestion and pressurized liquid extraction.

2025 Analytical Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Enrichment of Nanoplastics in Waters Using Magnetic Solid Phase Extraction With Magnetic Biochar Adsorbents and Their Determination by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a method combining magnetic biochar with pyrolysis gas chromatography to detect and measure nanoplastics in water at very low concentrations. The magnetic biochar efficiently captured polystyrene nanoplastics from both tap and river water, achieving detection limits below 1 microgram per liter. The approach offers a practical and sensitive tool for monitoring nanoplastic contamination in drinking water sources.

2024 Journal of Separation Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of GCMS-pyrolysis to estimate the levels of microplastics in a drinking water supply system

Researchers developed a filtering device to test for microplastics at different stages of a Norwegian city's drinking water supply and found plastic particles present throughout the system. Raw water sources contained the highest levels, but water treatment processes reduced microplastic concentrations by 43% to 100% depending on the polymer type. Polyethylene, polyamide, and polyester were the most commonly detected plastics, highlighting that drinking water is a measurable route of human microplastic exposure.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 121 citations
Article Tier 2

Cloud-Point Extraction Combined with Thermal Degradation for Nanoplastic Analysis Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a cloud-point extraction method combined with pyrolysis GC-MS to detect and quantify nanoplastics in aqueous samples, achieving detection of particles smaller than those typically measurable with conventional microplastic methods. The technique addresses a critical analytical gap in understanding nanoplastic contamination in water environments.

2018 Analytical Chemistry 202 citations
Article Tier 2

Monitoring Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Polyvinyl Dichloride Micro/Nanoplastics in Water by Direct Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a novel method for detecting and quantifying micro- and nanoplastics in water using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The technique successfully identified poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyvinyl dichloride particles at low concentrations without requiring extensive sample preparation. The study offers a simpler, more sustainable, and more sensitive approach for monitoring plastic particle contamination in aqueous environments.

2024 Analytical Chemistry 16 citations