Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

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

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

Pyrolysis Process of Mixed Microplastics Using TG-FTIR and TED-GC-MS

Researchers examined the pyrolysis behavior of mixed microplastic samples using TG-FTIR and TED-GC-MS, demonstrating these combined analytical methods can effectively identify and characterize individual polymers within complex plastic mixtures.

2023 Polymers 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Promising techniques and open challenges for microplastic identification and quantification in environmental matrices

This review assessed current and emerging techniques for microplastic identification and quantification in environmental matrices, highlighting advantages and limitations of methods including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-GC/MS.

2019 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 232 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards quantitative microplastic analysis using pyrolysis-gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

Researchers worked to improve a lab technique called pyrolysis-GC/MS — which identifies plastics by heating them until they break apart into detectable chemical fragments — and found that mixing certain plastics together (especially PVC with others) produces unexpected reactions that can throw off measurements. Their findings highlight the urgent need for standardized international methods so that microplastic data from different labs can be reliably compared.

2024 Polymer Testing 8 citations
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 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

Development of an analytical method for the analysis of microplastics by Pyrolysis-GC/MS : application on Seine River sediments

Researchers developed and validated an analytical method using pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) for quantifying microplastics in complex environmental matrices, applying it to Seine River sediment samples rich in mineral and organic matter. They found that Py-GC/MS effectively determined mass concentrations of target polymers and proved complementary to micro-FTIR, though interfering compounds from organic-rich matrices required careful method optimization.

2024 theses.fr (ABES)
Article Tier 2

Latest Trends in Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography for Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis of Plastics

Researchers review advances in pyrolysis-gas chromatography (Py-GC), a technique that thermally breaks down polymers for rapid chemical analysis, covering its applications in identifying microplastics in environmental samples, characterizing polymer microstructure, and screening conditions for converting plastic waste back into chemical feedstocks.

2020 Analytical Sciences 42 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

Analytical tools in advancing microplastics research for identification and quantification across environmental media: from sample to insight

This review surveys analytical techniques used in microplastic research, covering sampling, extraction, and identification methods including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-GC/MS, highlighting trade-offs between throughput, sensitivity, and particle size detection limits.

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

A practical method for mass quantification of microplastics in soil media using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Researchers developed and validated a pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) method for quantifying polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene microplastics in soil, achieving low detection limits (0.02-0.44 microgram), strong linearity, and recovery rates of 86-100% across three soil types. Cryomilling improved homogeneity and accuracy by 3.2%, and FTIR confirmed polymer identities with over 85% spectral match.

2025 MethodsX
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and Nanoplastic Analysis: From Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry to Pyrolysis Two‐dimensional Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry—A Critical Review

This review traces the evolution of pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for identifying micro- and nanoplastics, and evaluates the newer two-dimensional version that can better separate overlapping chemical signals. Researchers found that while the advanced technique improves detection accuracy, major challenges remain around the lack of standardized methods for sample preparation and calibration. The study calls for unified protocols and better internal standards so that results across different labs can be meaningfully compared.

2025 Journal of Separation Science 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive analysis of common polymers using hyphenated TGA-FTIR-GC/MS and Raman spectroscopy towards a database for micro- and nanoplastics identification, characterization, and quantitation

Researchers developed a comprehensive analytical method combining multiple spectroscopy techniques to identify and quantify 35 common plastic types found as micro and nanoplastics in the environment. The resulting database serves as a reference standard for consistently detecting plastic pollution across different studies and sample types. This work addresses a critical gap in standardizing how microplastic contamination is measured worldwide.

2023 NanoImpact 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of the microplastic content in Mediterranean benthic macrofauna by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Researchers developed an analytical method combining pyrolysis with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS/MS) for quantifying six common plastic polymers in Mediterranean benthic macrofauna with minimal sample preparation. The method achieved lower detection limits than conventional Py-GC/MS for six polymers including polyethylene and polypropylene, enabling more sensitive monitoring of MP contamination in seafloor organisms.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 41 citations
Article Tier 2

An overview of microplastics characterization by thermal analysis

This review explores the potential of thermal analytical techniques - including thermogravimetry and pyrolysis-GC/MS - for identifying and characterizing microplastics in environmental samples, covering both manufactured primary microplastics and degradation-derived secondary ones. Thermal methods offer advantages for bulk quantification and polymer identification that complement spectroscopic approaches.

2019 Chemosphere 213 citations
Article Tier 2

Pyrolysis-GC/MS Reference Data for Polymeric and Refractory Materials to Evaluate C-PVC Indicator Specificity

This paper provides a reference dataset of chemical fingerprints — generated by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry — to help researchers accurately identify chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (C-PVC) microplastics in environmental samples without confusing them with other materials. Environmental samples often contain complex mixtures of polymers, charcoal, soot, and natural materials that can produce overlapping signals, so having validated reference data is essential for reliable microplastic identification. Better analytical tools for distinguishing plastic types will improve the accuracy of microplastic contamination assessments.

2025 Publishing Network for Geoscientific and Environmental Data (PANGAEA) (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Current techniques for identifying, quantifying, and characterizing micro and nanoplastics with emphasis on strengths, limitations, and challenges

Researchers reviewed current analytical techniques for identifying, quantifying, and characterizing micro- and nanoplastics across environmental matrices. The review highlights the strengths and limitations of methods including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-GC/MS, and calls for standardization to improve comparability across studies.

2025 Discover Environment
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

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

Microwave-Assisted Extraction for Quantification of Microplastics Using Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a microwave-assisted extraction method combined with pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) for quantifying microplastics in environmental matrices, improving extraction efficiency and analytical accuracy.

2021 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 42 citations