Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Micro-flow imaging for in-situ and real-time enumeration and identification of microplastics in water

Researchers tested micro-flow imaging (MFI) — a technology that uses high-speed cameras to photograph particles flowing through liquid — as a faster, more consistent way to count and characterise microplastics in water samples. The method automatically captures size, shape, colour, and transparency in real time with minimal sample preparation, making it a promising tool for field monitoring of waterways where current techniques are slow and labour-intensive.

2023 Frontiers in Water 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Flow Cytometry as a Rapid Alternative to Quantify Small Microplastics in Environmental Water Samples

Researchers developed a flow cytometry method using fluorescent staining to rapidly detect and quantify small microplastics (1-50 micrometers) in environmental water samples, achieving over 80% recovery rates and significantly reducing analysis time compared to traditional microscopy.

2022 Water 38 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel method for organic matter removal from samples containing microplastics

Researchers developed a novel organic matter removal method for wastewater treatment plant sludge samples containing microplastics, demonstrating that the approach is more time- and cost-effective than existing techniques while preserving microplastic integrity for accurate quantification and identification.

2021 Environmental Pollution 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and fate of microplastics from wastewater treatment plants assessed by a fluorescence-based protocol

A fluorescence-based protocol was developed to identify and quantify microplastics smaller than 500 micrometers in wastewater treatment plant effluent, improving on traditional methods that miss these smaller particles.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 5 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

Preliminary Results From Detection of Microplastics in Liquid Samples Using Flow Cytometry

Researchers developed a novel flow cytometry approach for in-situ detection and quantification of microplastics in liquid samples using fluorescent staining, testing nine polymer types under controlled laboratory conditions. The method offers a high-throughput alternative to traditional time-consuming microplastic detection protocols that risk sample contamination.

2020 Frontiers in Marine Science 93 citations
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

Differentiating Microplastics from Natural Particles in Aqueous Suspensions Using Flow Cytometry with Machine Learning

Researchers developed a stain-free flow cytometry method combined with machine learning to rapidly distinguish microplastics from natural particles like algae and sediment in water samples. The approach achieved identification accuracies over 93% and was validated in freshwater environmental samples, offering a time-efficient screening tool for microplastic monitoring.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Using optimized particle imaging of micro-Raman to characterize microplastics in water samples

Researchers developed a micro-Raman automatic particle identification technique that can characterize microplastics in water samples up to 100 times faster than traditional point-by-point detection methods, while maintaining high precision for identifying polymer types, sizes, and morphologies.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy

Researchers piloted fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy as a fast method for identifying microplastic particles in environmental samples. The study suggests this technique could simplify microplastic analysis by potentially eliminating the need for extensive extraction steps, enabling more direct identification of plastic particles in complex matrices.

2024 Heliyon 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments Using Oxidative Treatment and Automated Image Analysis

Researchers developed a cost-effective and replicable method for detecting microplastics in freshwater environments using oxidative treatment to digest organic matter from water samples, enabling cleaner isolation and more accurate identification of MP particles without requiring expensive instrumentation.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Compact holographic microscope for imaging flowing microplastics

Researchers developed a compact holographic microscope capable of imaging flowing microplastics in aquatic environments, providing a fast, quantitative method for real-time characterization of plastic particle size and shape distributions.

2021 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Wastewater treatment plants as a pathway for microplastics: Development of a new approach to sample wastewater-based microplastics

Researchers developed a new sampling and monitoring protocol for microplastics at wastewater treatment plants, enabling more consistent tracking of microplastic loads through treatment stages and discharged effluent.

2017 Water Research 1317 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics quantification in sewage sludge: A rapid and cost-effective approach

Researchers developed a rapid and cost-effective image-based method for quantifying microplastics in sewage sludge, using digital image analysis to count and size MP particles without requiring expensive spectroscopic equipment, offering a practical tool for routine sludge monitoring.

2025 Journal of environmental chemical engineering 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Improved methodology to determine the fate and transport of microplastics in a secondary wastewater treatment plant

An improved methodology was applied to track the fate and transport of microplastics through a wastewater treatment plant, measuring particle size, shape, and polymer type at multiple treatment stages. The study found that while most microplastics are removed during primary and secondary treatment, smaller particles persist into the effluent and sludge.

2020 Water Research 277 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating theEfficiency of Enhanced Coagulationfor Nanoplastics Removal Using Flow Cytometry

Researchers evaluated the efficiency of enhanced coagulation for removing nanoplastics from water using flow cytometry as a quantification tool, addressing the interconnected challenges of nanoplastic removal and detection in conventional water treatment systems.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of the Presence of Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Development and Verification of Strategies for Their Quantification and Removal in Aqueous Streams

Researchers evaluated microplastic presence in wastewater treatment plants and developed a pilot capture system capable of detecting, quantifying, and removing microplastic particles from water. The study found that conventional treatment processes are insufficient for complete microplastic removal, highlighting the need for dedicated technologies to address this gap in water treatment infrastructure.

2025 Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel high-throughput analytical method to quantify microplastics in water by flow cytometry

Researchers developed a faster, high-throughput method using flow cytometry — a technology that rapidly counts and characterizes particles in liquid — to measure microplastics in water, achieving about 97% accuracy across multiple plastic types and sizes and offering a practical alternative to slow, labor-intensive microscopy-based counting.

2023 Green Analytical Chemistry 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic removal in coagulation-flocculation: Optimization through chemometric and morphological insights

Researchers optimized the coagulation-flocculation process — a standard water treatment step where chemicals cause particles to clump and settle — for removing three types of microplastics: polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene. Polystyrene was removed most efficiently, and adjusting pH, coagulant type, and dosage significantly improved removal rates, providing practical guidance for upgrading existing water treatment plants to better capture microplastics.

2026 Journal of Ecological Engineering
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Monitoring at Different Stages in a Wastewater Treatment Plant Using Reflectance Micro-FTIR Imaging

Researchers used reflectance micro-FTIR imaging to monitor microplastic presence at multiple treatment stages within a wastewater treatment plant, addressing the challenge of analyzing MPs in biogenic organic matter-rich matrices. The study mapped how microplastic identity, abundance, and size distribution changed through primary and secondary treatment, providing insight into WWTP contributions to aquatic microplastic pollution.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 82 citations