Papers

61,005 results
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Review Tier 2

Finding Microplastics in Soils: A Review of Analytical Methods

This review critically evaluates published methods for finding microplastics in soil — including density separation, chemical digestion, and spectroscopic identification — and proposes a standardized analytical framework suitable for the complex soil matrix.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 521 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in soils: A comparative review on extraction, identification and quantification methods

This review compares the various methods scientists use to extract, identify, and measure microplastics in soil, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Soil is a particularly challenging material to work with because its organic matter and complex structure can interfere with accurate microplastic detection. The authors recommend combining multiple techniques and minimizing harsh chemical steps that could accidentally destroy the very plastic particles being measured.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Developing a systematic method for extraction of microplastics in soils

A systematic comparison of microplastic extraction methods for soils tested hydrogen peroxide, potassium hydroxide, and Fenton's reagent for organic matter removal alongside density separation, finding that method performance varied strongly with soil organic matter content and particle size distribution.

2021 Analytical Methods 183 citations
Article Tier 2

Eco-friendly microplastic removal through physical and chemical techniques: a review

This review covers physical and chemical methods for removing microplastics from soil and water with low environmental impact, evaluating techniques such as filtration, coagulation, bioremediation, and photocatalysis for their effectiveness and ecological safety.

2023 Annals of Advances in Chemistry 21 citations
Article Tier 2

A modified methodology for extraction and quantification of microplastics in soil

Researchers developed and validated an improved methodology for extracting and quantifying microplastics from soil samples using optimized density separation with different salt solutions. The method achieved high recovery rates for various polymer types and particle sizes while minimizing organic matter interference. The study provides a standardized and reproducible analytical approach that could help address inconsistencies in how microplastics are measured across different soil studies.

2024 NanoImpact 17 citations
Review Tier 2

Extraction and identification methods of microplastics and nanoplastics in agricultural soil: A review

This review assessed extraction and identification methods for microplastics and nanoplastics in agricultural soils, comparing density separation, chemical digestion, and spectroscopic identification approaches, and recommending method standardization to enable cross-study comparisons of soil MP contamination.

2021 Journal of Environmental Management 164 citations
Article Tier 2

An effective method for the rapid detection of microplastics in soil

A rapid and practical method was developed for detecting and identifying microplastics in soil, addressing the need for faster alternatives to existing time-consuming techniques. The method uses a combination of sieving and staining approaches to accelerate microplastic extraction and identification from soil samples.

2020 Chemosphere 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Advances in the analysis of relevant microplastic types in agricultural soils

Researchers developed an optimized soil purification protocol for extracting and identifying microplastic particles from agricultural soils, systematically testing and combining multiple extraction and purification steps to improve the accuracy of polymer identification across different soil types.

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

Extraction and Identification of a Wide Range of Microplastic Polymers in Soil and Compost

Researchers compared and optimized two microplastic extraction methods for soil and compost, finding that density separation combined with chemical digestion was effective across a wide range of polymer types, providing a more reliable protocol for terrestrial microplastic analysis.

2021 Polymers 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Methods for separating microplastics from complex solid matrices: Comparative analysis

Separation methods for extracting microplastics from complex solid matrices including soil, sediment, and sludge were systematically compared, evaluating density separation, oil extraction, electrostatic separation, and other approaches. The review provides guidance for choosing appropriate separation methods depending on matrix composition and target microplastic characteristics.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 134 citations
Article Tier 2

Extraction and Characterization of Microplastics in Soil: A Case Study from the Hetao Irrigation District

Researchers developed a refined extraction method combining two-step density separation with NaCl solution, hydrogen peroxide digestion, and a fractionated filtration method to accurately isolate and characterize microplastics across multiple size ranges from agricultural soils in the Hetao Irrigation District, China.

2025 Water
Article Tier 2

Research Progress on Separation and Detection Methods of Microplastics in Soil Environment

This review summarizes methods for separating and detecting microplastics in soil environments, identifying the most effective analytical approaches and highlighting the need for standardization to improve comparability across studies.

2022 Academic Journal of Science and Technology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Upgraded Protocol for Microplastics’ Extraction from the Soil Matrix by Sucrose Density Gradient Centrifugation

Extracting microplastics from soil is technically difficult because soil contains dense organic matter and particles that look similar to plastic under analysis. This study refined a sucrose density gradient centrifugation method to more cleanly separate microplastics from soil, improving recovery rates while reducing contamination from non-plastic material. A reliable soil extraction protocol is essential for accurately measuring how much microplastic pollution has accumulated in agricultural and urban land.

2025 Soil Systems 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Advances in the analysis of relevant microplastic types in agricultural soils

Researchers developed and validated an improved soil purification protocol for extracting microplastics from agricultural soils, based on systematic testing across different soil types to efficiently isolate plastic particles for polymer identification. The method built on prior work by Moller et al. (2022) and addressed the challenge that soil remains one of the most difficult matrices for microplastic analysis.

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

Microplastic analysis in soils: A comparative assessment

Researchers compared six different analytical methods for detecting and measuring microplastics in soil, testing them across different soil types and plastic materials. Fluorescence microscopy achieved the highest recovery rates for larger particles, while mass-based techniques like pyrolysis gas chromatography were better suited for detecting very small microplastics. The study highlights that no single method works best for all situations, and combining techniques may be necessary for accurate microplastic assessment in soil.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 20 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review of Materials for the Removal of Micro- and Nanoplastics from Different Environments

This review evaluates methods for removing microplastics and nanoplastics from water, soil, and air, finding that traditional approaches like filtration work for larger particles but struggle with nanoscale plastics. Newer technologies like magnetic nanoparticles and photocatalysis show promise, but challenges remain in making these solutions affordable and scalable for real-world cleanup.

2025 Micro 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil Microplastic Pollution and its Remediation: An Overview

This overview reviews the scope of microplastic pollution in soils globally, summarizing contamination sources, effects on soil ecosystems, and available remediation strategies including physical, chemical, and biological approaches to address this emerging environmental problem.

2025 Egyptian Journal of Soil Science
Article Tier 2

Extraction of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Microplastic from Agriculture Soil

Researchers examined methods for extracting polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics from agricultural soil, investigating how microplastic concentrations affect soil properties and crop productivity while evaluating density separation and other extraction protocols to improve detection and quantification of plastic pollution in agroecosystems.

2024 International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology
Article Tier 2

Physical, thermal, chemical and biological approaches for plastics degradation–A review

Researchers reviewed physical, chemical, and biological methods for breaking down and removing microplastics from soil and water, covering everything from filtration and membranes to bacteria and fungi that digest plastic. Each method has trade-offs in effectiveness and cost, and the review concludes that combined, integrated approaches will likely be necessary for real-world cleanup.

2025 Cleaner Chemical Engineering 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Innovative Solutions for Soil Remediation from Microplastics Pollution

This book chapter surveys innovative remediation approaches for removing microplastics from contaminated soils, covering physical, chemical, and biological methods as well as novel technologies including nanomaterial-based adsorbents and electrochemical systems.

2025
Article Tier 2

An optimized density-based approach for extracting microplastics from soil and sediment samples

Researchers optimized a density-based extraction method for isolating microplastics from soil and sediment samples, testing different density solutions and separation steps to maximize recovery efficiency. The improved protocol reduces contamination risks and particle loss, enabling more accurate quantification of microplastics in terrestrial and freshwater sediment matrices.

2019 Environmental Pollution 215 citations
Article Tier 2

Improving analytical methods for the extraction and analysis of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics in the soil environment.

Researchers worked to improve analytical extraction and detection methods for both biodegradable and conventional microplastics in soil environments, addressing a critical methodological gap given that terrestrial soils are major sinks for microplastic pollution entering through agricultural and waste management pathways.

2022
Article Tier 2

Optimized microplastic analysis based on size fractionation, density separation and μ-FTIR

Researchers optimized a multi-step method for extracting and identifying microplastics from soil and sediment, combining grain size separation, density flotation, and infrared microscopy. The validated method achieved high recovery rates for eight common plastic polymers, contributing to more reliable monitoring of soil microplastic contamination.

2020 Water Science & Technology 59 citations
Article Tier 2

An efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly protocol for extracting microplastics from soil samples

Researchers developed an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly protocol for extracting microplastics from soil samples, addressing the lack of standardized methods and evaluating extraction performance across different soil matrices.

2025 Omorika - Repository of the Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade