Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Detection and Characterisation of Micro- and Nano-plastics in Water using Optical Spectroscopy

This thesis explored photoluminescence spectroscopy as an alternative technique for detecting and characterizing micro- and nanoplastics in water, optimizing fluorescence excitation-emission features and comparing performance against conventional spectroscopic approaches.

2025 Aston Publications Explorer (Aston University)
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

Outlook on optical identification of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments

Researchers studied the optical properties of micro- and nanoplastics and evaluated near-infrared spectroscopy as a detection method for plastic particles in water, finding that optical techniques show promise for rapid, non-destructive identification. Improved optical detection methods could enable faster and more cost-effective monitoring of plastic pollution in aquatic environments.

2018 Chemosphere 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastics through an optical sensor array using nano-graphene oxide and fluorophore conjugates

An optical sensor array using fluorescence signals was developed to detect and identify microplastics by polymer type in water samples. The sensor offers a rapid, low-cost alternative to traditional spectroscopy for field monitoring of microplastic pollution.

2025 Nanoscale 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A Portable Optical Sensor for Microplastic Detection: Development and Calibration

Researchers built a portable, low-cost optical sensor prototype designed to detect microplastics by shining multiple wavelengths of light through water samples. The device measures how different plastic particles absorb and scatter light, producing color spectra that can help identify microplastics. The sensor offers an affordable field-deployable option for environmental monitoring, with potential future improvements using machine learning for automated identification.

2025 Applied Sciences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The Detection of Plastic and Petroleum Hydrocarbon Pollution at Sea with Laser-Induced Fluorescence

Researchers evaluated a compact laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) apparatus using a 405 nm laser for detecting and classifying plastic and petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants in water. Fluorescence spectra were successfully recorded for polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PMMA, and several petroleum substances, with a novel identification indicator proposed for classifying pollutant types under realistic environmental conditions.

2023 3 citations
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

A non-contact in situ approach for detecting fluorescent microplastic particles in flowing water using fluorescence spectroscopy

Researchers developed a non-contact in situ method combining fluorescence spectroscopy and interferometric particle imaging to detect, characterise, and classify fluorescent polypropylene microplastic particles in flowing water.

2025 Environmental Science Advances
Article Tier 2

Optical System for In-situ Detection of Microplastics

Researchers developed a portable optical system capable of detecting, identifying, continuously monitoring, and quantifying microplastics in situ at natural water bodies. The system uses optical techniques to observe the temporal behavior of microplastic concentrations at fixed locations, enabling real-time environmental monitoring without sample collection and laboratory processing.

2024
Article Tier 2

Towards the Development of Portable and In Situ Optical Devices for Detection of Micro-and Nanoplastics in Water: A Review on the Current Status

This review surveys the development of portable and in-situ optical devices for detecting micro- and nanoplastics in water, as most current detection methods are laboratory-based. Researchers evaluated emerging technologies including portable Raman and infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence-based sensors, and smartphone-integrated detection systems. The study identifies key technical challenges that must be overcome to enable real-time, field-based monitoring of plastic pollution in water.

2021 Polymers 89 citations
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

A prototype of a portable optical sensor for the detection of transparent and translucent microplastics in freshwater

Researchers developed a portable prototype optical sensor capable of detecting transparent and translucent microplastics in freshwater by simultaneously measuring specular laser light reflection and transmission, offering a feasibility pathway for field-deployable microplastic monitoring.

2019 Chemosphere 88 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

A fluorescence indicator for source discrimination between microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter and aquatic natural organic matter

Fluorescence analysis of dissolved organic matter leached from expanded polystyrene, PVC, and PET microplastics was used to identify a unique optical signature that could distinguish microplastic-derived DOM from natural organic matter in aquatic environments.

2021 Water Research 94 citations
Article Tier 2

Measurements of the inherent optical properties of aqueous suspensions of microplastics

Researchers measured the inherent optical properties — including absorption and scattering coefficients — of aqueous microplastic suspensions at environmentally relevant concentrations, comparing different polymer types and particle sizes. The optical signatures varied substantially across polymers and sizes, providing reference data for developing optical remote sensing approaches to detect microplastics in surface waters.

2024 Limnology and Oceanography Letters 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Rapid and reliable detection of microplastics in drinking water using fluorescence microscopy

Researchers developed a fluorescence-based method for rapid detection and quantification of microplastics in drinking water, addressing the need for faster and more practical monitoring tools. The method achieved high sensitivity and allowed polymer discrimination without requiring expensive spectroscopic instrumentation.

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

Detection of Microplastics in Water and Ice

Researchers explored optical detection methods for identifying microplastics floating on water surfaces or trapped in ice, taking advantage of the unique light-reflecting properties of different plastic types. Advances in optical detection are important for developing faster, non-destructive tools for monitoring microplastic pollution.

2021 Remote Sensing 6 citations
Article Tier 2

On the Potential for Optical Detection of Microplastics in the Ocean

This study examines the potential for optical methods to detect microplastics in ocean water at large spatial scales, noting that while optical detection is promising for overcoming the limitations of discrete water sampling, methods remain in early development and reference libraries of microplastic optical properties are sparse.

2023 Oceanography 13 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
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

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

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

Low-Cost Optical Detection of Microplastics in Water Using UV-Induced Fluorescence and Photodiode Sensing

Researchers built a low-cost microplastic detection system pairing UV light with a photodiode sensor and Arduino-driven LCD readout, demonstrating that fluorescence and light-scattering differences between clean and contaminated water samples are sufficient to detect microplastics in the field without laboratory equipment.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Low-Cost Optical Detection of Microplastics in Water Using UV-Induced Fluorescence and Photodiode Sensing

Researchers built a low-cost microplastic detection system pairing UV light with a photodiode sensor and Arduino-driven LCD readout, demonstrating that fluorescence and light-scattering differences between clean and contaminated water samples are sufficient to detect microplastics in the field without laboratory equipment.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)