Papers

61,005 results
|
Systematic Review Tier 1

Raman spectroscopy for microplastic detection in water sources: a systematic review

This systematic review summarizes how Raman spectroscopy, a type of light-based analysis, is used to identify microplastics in drinking water, oceans, and wastewater. Polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene were among the most commonly detected plastics across all water sources. Better detection methods like this are essential for understanding the extent of microplastic contamination in the water we drink.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 136 citations
Article Tier 2

Do drinking water plants retain microplastics? An exploratory study using Raman micro-spectroscopy

Researchers quantified microplastic retention at a Danish groundwater-fed drinking water treatment plant using Raman spectroscopy, finding that the plant reduced but did not eliminate microplastic particles down to 1 micron in size, with some microplastics present in the treated drinking water output.

2023 Heliyon 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Detection in Streaming Tap Water with Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy can detect and identify microplastic particles in streaming tap water in real time, offering a rapid non-destructive method for monitoring plastic contamination in drinking water.

2019 Sensors 156 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and nanoplastic analysis in drinking water and indoor air with Raman micro-spectroscopy

Raman micro-spectroscopy was used to detect and characterize micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water and indoor air, demonstrating the technique's value for assessing human exposure to plastic particles across multiple environments.

2023
Article Tier 2

Identifying microplastic contamination in drinking water: analysis and evaluation using spectroscopic methods

This review examines spectroscopic methods for identifying microplastics in drinking water, exploring how factors like particle size, shape, and environmental exposure affect detection accuracy using techniques such as FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.

2025 Interdisciplinary Environmental Review
Article Tier 2

Microplastic analysis in drinking water based on fractionated filtration sampling and Raman microspectroscopy

A validated analytical workflow for detecting microplastics down to 5 µm in drinking water was developed using a portable filter cascade unit followed by two-step semi-automated Raman microspectroscopy, and was applied successfully to processed drinking water, tap water, and groundwater.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 102 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

Characterization of microplastics in water bottled in different packaging by Raman spectroscopy

Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in bottled water from different packaging types using Raman spectroscopy, confirming that plastic contamination occurs across various commercial water bottle materials.

2023 Environmental Science Water Research & Technology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative Assessment of Full Size Microplastics in Bottled and Tap Water Samples in Hong Kong

Researchers conducted a quantitative assessment of the full size range of microplastics (1 micrometer to 5 mm) in bottled and tap water samples in Hong Kong using advanced Raman spectroscopy techniques. The study found microplastics present in both bottled and tap water, with the majority of particles being smaller than 10 micrometers, a size range that previous studies have largely underestimated due to methodological limitations.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastics in drinking water and other clean water samples with micro-Raman and micro-infrared spectroscopy: minimum requirements and best practice guidelines

Researchers compiled best-practice guidelines for detecting and quantifying microplastics in drinking water using micro-Raman and micro-infrared spectroscopy, establishing minimum requirements for sample preparation, measurement parameters, and data reporting to improve comparability across studies.

2021 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 229 citations
Article Tier 2

Flow Raman Spectroscopy for the Detection and Identification of Small Microplastics

Researchers developed a new method using flow Raman spectroscopy to detect and identify individual microplastic particles as small as 4 micrometers while they move through water. Unlike current methods that require complex sample preparation, this technique could work in real time for monitoring food and drinking water quality. The method can distinguish between different plastic types even after they have been weathered by the environment.

2025 Sensors 6 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical analysis on the limits and possibilities of the μ-Raman as a routine method for microplastics determination in drinking water

This critical analysis examined the limits and practical possibilities of micro-Raman spectroscopy as a routine tool for microplastic identification, assessing throughput, detection limits, and the conditions under which it provides reliable polymer characterization.

2024 Journal of Water Process Engineering 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative Raman analysis of microplastics in water using peak area ratios for concentration determination

Researchers developed a new method using Raman spectroscopy to measure microplastic concentrations in water. By analyzing the ratio of plastic-specific signals to the water signal, they created a reliable calibration model for detecting polyethylene and PVC microplastics, even when multiple plastic types are mixed together. This approach could make it faster and easier to monitor microplastic contamination in real-world water sources.

2024 npj Clean Water 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastics in water by micro-Raman spectroscopy: Release of plastic particles from different packaging into mineral water

This study analyzed microplastics in water samples using micro-Raman spectroscopy and also investigated the release of plastic additives, finding that both microplastics and their leached chemicals are present in aquatic environments.

2017 Water Research 1299 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative analysis of microplastics in water by Raman spectroscopy: influence of microplastic concentration on Raman scattering intensities

Researchers investigated quantitative Raman spectroscopy for detecting microplastics directly in water, finding that Raman scattering intensities varied with concentration for both PVC spheres (40-100 um) and PE spheres (40-48 um) dispersed in de-ionized water at 0.1-1.0 wt%.

2024
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in bottled water from Croatia: a Raman spectroscopy approach

Researchers analyzed six brands of bottled water sold in Croatia and found microplastics in all of them, with particles as small as 1 micrometer detected using Raman spectroscopy. The most commonly found plastics were PET and polyethylene, and interestingly, bottles made from virgin PET contained more microplastics than those made from recycled PET. The study adds to growing evidence that bottled water is a significant source of human microplastic exposure.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Raman microspectroscopic analysis of fibers in beverages

Researchers demonstrated that Raman microspectroscopy can reliably distinguish between synthetic and natural fibers in beverage samples, providing a rapid method for detecting microplastic fiber contamination in drinks.

2016 Analytical Methods 145 citations
Article Tier 2

How to Identify and Quantify Microplastics and Nanoplastics Using Raman Imaging?

This paper reviews advances in Raman imaging as a method for identifying and quantifying microplastics and nanoplastics in environmental samples, discussing current protocols, analytical challenges, and the need for standardization.

2024 Analytical Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Visualization and characterisation of microplastics in aquatic environment using a home-built micro-Raman spectroscopic set up

Researchers built an affordable micro-Raman spectroscopy system capable of identifying microplastics in water samples, offering a low-cost alternative to expensive commercial equipment. The system could visualize, measure, and chemically identify different types of microplastic particles. This kind of accessible detection technology is important, especially for developing countries, because widespread monitoring of microplastic pollution in water sources is essential for protecting public health.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic identification using Raman microsocpy

Researchers developed and implemented a Raman spectroscopy system for rapid detection and identification of microplastic particles on substrates. The system enables efficient chemical characterization of microplastics found across diverse environmental matrices including ocean, lakes, soil, beach sediment, and human blood.

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

Analysis of Microplastic Content in Surface Water of the Gajah Mungkur Reservoir in Indonesia

Researchers analyzed surface water from Indonesia's Gajah Mungkur Reservoir, a drinking water source, and found microplastics at every sampling location, with concentrations ranging from 340 to 820 particles per cubic meter. The dominant shapes were filaments and fibers, and the plastics identified included polypropylene and polystyrene. The highest contamination was found at an upstream river inlet, suggesting that rivers are a key delivery route for microplastics into the reservoir. The findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure through drinking water drawn from Indonesian surface water sources.

2025 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on Rapid Recognition of Marine Microplastics Based on Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers developed a rapid identification system for marine microplastics using Raman spectroscopy, enabling quick determination of plastic type and size. Fast, accurate identification tools are critical for monitoring the growing problem of microplastic pollution in ocean environments.

2021 Knowledge Repository of Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS (Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research) 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Drinking Water Treatment on Removal of Microplastics

Microplastics were measured throughout six drinking water treatment facilities using Raman spectroscopy and found at concentrations ranging widely in source water, with treatment processes achieving substantial but incomplete removal.

2024 TSpace
Article Tier 2

A beaker method for determination of microplastic concentration by micro-Raman spectroscopy

This study developed a faster way to measure microplastic concentrations in water by analysing Raman spectral signals directly in solution, skipping the laborious pre-treatment steps required by traditional methods. The concentration of polyethylene particles was found to correlate predictably with Raman signal intensity using a Langmuir model, enabling a simpler field-ready monitoring approach. Rapid detection tools like this are important for tracking microplastic contamination in drinking water and marine environments.

2023 MethodsX 8 citations