Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

A smartphone-assisted photoelectrochemical POCT method via Z-scheme CuCo2S4/Fe3O4 for simultaneously detecting co-contamination with microplastics in food and the environment

Researchers developed a smartphone-based portable testing method that can simultaneously detect two harmful chemicals commonly associated with microplastic contamination in food and the environment. The system achieved extremely sensitive detection limits and showed reliable results when tested on real food and environmental samples. This portable approach could make it easier and more affordable to monitor microplastic-related chemical contamination outside of traditional laboratory settings.

2024 Food Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Portable Microplastics Electrochemical Sensor: Combining Experiment and Density Functional Theory

Researchers developed a portable electrochemical sensor for on-site microplastic detection in water, integrating density functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate electron transfer mechanisms at the sensor interface. The device, controlled via smartphone, demonstrated a sensitive electrochemical response to microplastics in environmental water samples, offering a new paradigm for in-situ pollution monitoring.

2025
Article Tier 2

Advances in Portable Heavy Metal Ion Sensors

This review covers advances in portable sensors for detecting heavy metal ions in the environment, including electrochemical, optical, and smartphone-based devices. While focused on heavy metals rather than microplastics directly, the technology is relevant because microplastics often carry heavy metals that can leach into water and food. Better field-testing tools could help track how microplastics transport toxic metals into the environment and human food sources.

2023 Sensors 83 citations
Article Tier 2

Self-powered portable photoelectrochemical sensor based on dual-photoelectrode for microplastics detection

Researchers developed a portable, self-powered sensor that can detect polystyrene microplastics in water at concentrations as low as 1 part per billion. The sensor works without batteries by using light energy and maintains over 97% accuracy even when other pollutants are present. Better detection tools like this could help monitor microplastic contamination in drinking water and food systems, which is a key step toward understanding and reducing human exposure.

2025 Environmental Research 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Graphene and gold nanoparticle-based bionanocomposite for the voltammetric determination of bisphenol A in (micro)plastics

Researchers developed a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor using graphene and gold nanoparticles to detect bisphenol A leaching from plastics and microplastics in water. The sensor achieved very low detection limits and worked reliably in real water samples. This tool could help environmental scientists and regulators better monitor harmful chemical release from plastic pollution in freshwater and marine environments.

2023 Chemosphere 34 citations
Article Tier 2

A sensitive electrochemical sensor for environmental toxicity monitoring based on tungsten disulfide nanosheets/hydroxylated carbon nanotubes nanocomposite

Researchers developed a cell-based electrochemical sensor using tungsten disulfide nanosheet and carbon nanotube composites on a screen-printed electrode to detect aquatic pollutant toxicity, finding it more sensitive than conventional cell viability assays when tested against trichlorophenol, bisphenol AF, and polystyrene nanoplastics.

2021 Chemosphere 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Electrochemical and Colorimetric Nanosensors for Detection of Heavy Metal Ions: A Review

This review covers nanosensor technologies being developed to detect heavy metal contamination in environmental and food samples, which is important because heavy metals are linked to cancer, neurological disorders, and developmental problems. While focused on metal detection rather than plastics directly, these affordable and portable sensor technologies could be adapted for detecting microplastic-associated contaminants in water and food.

2023 Sensors 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Dibutyl Phthalate in Surface Water by Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay

Researchers developed a fluorescence polarization immunoassay for detecting dibutyl phthalate, a common plasticizer, in surface water samples. The study demonstrates that this method provides a rapid and sensitive way to monitor phthalate contamination in water, which is relevant given concerns about the health effects of plasticizer exposure.

2023 Biosensors 10 citations
Article Tier 2

An All-in-One Sustainable Smartphone Paper Biosensor for Water Toxicity Monitoring Combining Bioluminescence Detection with Artificial Intelligence

Researchers created a paper-based smartphone biosensor that uses bioluminescent bacteria and artificial intelligence to monitor water toxicity in real time. The device integrates all the steps normally required in a laboratory, including a built-in calibration curve and an AI app that converts phone images into quantitative toxicity readings. The tool offers a portable, sustainable alternative for detecting harmful contaminants like microplastics and heavy metals in drinking water.

2025 Analytical Chemistry 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Dibutyl phthalate release from polyvinyl chloride microplastics: Influence of plastic properties and environmental factors

Researchers investigated how dibutyl phthalate leaches from PVC microplastics into surrounding environments, finding that particle size, temperature, pH, and salinity all significantly influenced the release rate of this plasticizer additive.

2021 Water Research 244 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Di-Butyl Phthalate in Surface Water by Fluorescence Polarization Assay and Gas Chromatography -Mass Spectrometry

This study developed a fast fluorescence-based immunoassay for detecting dibutyl phthalate (DBP) — a common plasticizer with known reproductive and developmental toxicity — in surface water. The method is 35 times more sensitive than previous approaches and was successfully validated on real water samples, offering a practical tool for monitoring this plastic-derived contaminant in the environment.

2023 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Switch-type photoelectrochemical aptasensor for microplastics and nanoplastics detection based on two-dimensional organic−inorganic heterojunction

Researchers developed a new photoelectrochemical sensor for detecting microplastics and nanoplastics at very low concentrations. The aptamer-based system uses a two-dimensional organic-inorganic heterojunction to achieve highly sensitive detection of PVC and polystyrene particles, with potential applications for monitoring micro- and nanoplastic contamination in complex environmental samples.

2026 Talanta
Article Tier 2

Design and Development of an Advanced Sensor Prototype for the Detection of Microplastics

Researchers designed and developed an advanced sensor prototype for detecting microplastics in water, combining spectroscopic and signal processing technologies into a portable device. The prototype demonstrated accurate microplastic identification across multiple polymer types in field conditions.

2024 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Smartphone-enabled rapid quantification of microplastics

A smartphone-based system was developed to rapidly quantify microplastics from environmental samples, reducing analysis time from hours or days to a much faster workflow without requiring expensive lab equipment. The method was validated against standard techniques and shown to be suitable for field-deployable microplastic monitoring.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics emerge as a hotspot for dibutyl phthalate sources in rivers and oceans: Leaching behavior and potential risks

Researchers investigated how the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate leaches from PVC microplastics in both freshwater and seawater environments. They found that UV irradiation and water chemistry significantly influenced leaching rates, with higher release observed under simulated environmental conditions. The findings suggest that microplastics in rivers and oceans act as ongoing sources of potentially harmful chemical additives.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Design, fabrication, and application of electrochemical sensors for microplastic detection: a state-of-the-art review and future perspectives

This review covers recent advances in electrochemical sensors for detecting microplastics in environmental samples, which offer advantages in sensitivity and portability over conventional laboratory methods. Researchers highlight strategies using nanomaterials, molecular imprinting, and surface-enhanced techniques to improve detection capabilities. The study suggests that electrochemical sensors represent a promising path toward affordable, rapid, on-site monitoring of microplastic pollution.

2025 Environmental Sciences Europe 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Embedded Optical Sensor System for Bisphenol A Detection

Researchers developed a portable optical sensor system for detecting both microplastics and bisphenol A (BPA) in water using spectroscopy and fluorescence principles. Early testing showed the sensor can detect BPA at nanomolar concentrations and identify microplastics as small as a few micrometers, with results comparable to established laboratory methods like HPLC and FTIR spectroscopy.

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

Embedded Optical Sensor System for Bisphenol A Detection

Researchers developed a portable optical sensor system for detecting both microplastics and bisphenol A (BPA) in water using spectroscopy and fluorescence principles. Early testing showed the sensor can detect BPA at nanomolar concentrations and identify microplastics as small as a few micrometers, with results comparable to established laboratory methods like HPLC and FTIR spectroscopy.

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

Cost-Effective and Wireless Portable Device for Rapid and Sensitive Quantification of Micro/Nanoplastics

Researchers developed a wireless portable device for rapid quantification of micro- and nanoplastics in water samples, offering a field-deployable alternative to laboratory-based analysis for environmental monitoring.

2024 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Cost-Effective and Wireless Portable Device for Rapid and Sensitive Quantification of Micro/Nanoplastics

Researchers designed a low-cost, wireless portable device that can rapidly detect and quantify micro- and nanoplastics using fluorescent labeling and smartphone-based imaging. The device achieved sensitive detection across particle sizes from 50 nanometers to 10 micrometers and could transmit results wirelessly for analysis using machine learning algorithms. The technology could make field-based microplastic monitoring far more accessible and affordable than current laboratory methods.

2024 ACS Sensors 28 citations