Papers

61,005 results
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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

Identification of polymer types and additives in marine microplastic particles using pyrolysis-GC/MS and scanning electron microscopy

Researchers used pyrolysis and thermal analysis to identify polymer types and plastic additives in marine microplastic particles, finding a diverse range of polymers and additive chemicals in samples from multiple ocean environments.

2013 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 888 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

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

Pyr-GC/MS analysis of microplastics extracted from the stomach content of benthivore fish from the Texas Gulf Coast

Researchers applied pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify polymer types in microplastics extracted from the stomachs of benthivore fish from the Texas Gulf Coast, demonstrating the method's applicability for polymer characterization in biological samples where traditional spectroscopic methods face matrix interferences.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 99 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

Analysis of polyethylene microplastics in environmental samples, using a thermal decomposition method

Researchers developed a thermal analysis method using pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify and quantify polyethylene microplastics in environmental samples without relying on visual sorting or density separation. The approach provides a more objective and automatable way to measure microplastic mass in complex environmental matrices.

2015 Water Research 450 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

The characterization of pyroplastics on the Sea of Japan coastline

Researchers characterized pyroplastics, a novel form of plastic waste originating from the burning and melting of plastics, collected from beaches along the Sea of Japan coastline. The study found these pyroplastics were ubiquitous across sampling sites, composed of mixed polymer types including polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, with the highest concentrations found at an enclosed bay site.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Thermogravimetric analysis and kinetic study of marine plastic litter

This study characterized the composition and thermal degradation behavior of collected marine plastic debris, exploring pyrolysis as a method for recovering energy from plastic waste that cannot be recycled. Managing the large volumes of plastic debris in the ocean requires both prevention and end-of-life treatment solutions.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 17 citations
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

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

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

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

First record of characterization, concentration and distribution of microplastics in coastal sediments of an urban fjord in south west Norway using a thermal degradation method

This study provided the first characterization of microplastic composition and distribution in coastal sediments of an urban fjord in southwest Norway using thermal degradation analysis, identifying polyethylene and polypropylene as dominant polymer types.

2019 Chemosphere 141 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Mass Concentrations and Distribution in German Bight Waters by Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry/Thermochemolysis Reveal Potential Impact of Marine Coatings: Do Ships Leave Skid Marks?

A mass-based Py-GC/MS survey of microplastics in the German Bight (North Sea) found highly variable concentrations (2–1396 µg/m³) influenced by oceanographic conditions, with coastal samples showing packaging waste signatures and central areas revealing an unexpected signal consistent with marine antifouling paint.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 135 citations
Article Tier 2

The distribution of sediment microplastics assemblages is driven by location and hydrodynamics, not sediment characteristics, in the Gulf of Maine, USA

Microplastics were extracted and characterized from 20 sediment samples across the Gulf of Maine and 27 polymer types were identified, with spatial distribution driven more by location and hydrodynamics than by local sediment grain size or composition.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of Plastics in Mixtures and Blends through Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS) can reliably identify and quantify multiple plastic types in complex mixtures — even at low concentrations — where conventional methods like FTIR and Raman spectroscopy struggle. The technique correctly identified all five tested polymers in 15 different mixture combinations and produced linear quantitative results. This analytical advance is directly relevant to identifying the polymer composition of environmental microplastic samples with greater accuracy.

2023 Polymers 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Systematic Development of a Simultaneous Determination of Plastic Particle Identity and Adsorbed Organic Compounds by Thermodesorption–Pyrolysis GC/MS (TD-Pyr-GC/MS)

Researchers developed a new pyrolysis-based analytical method that can simultaneously identify the polymer type and measure adsorbed organic pollutants on plastic particles in a single step. This combined approach removes the need for complex extraction steps and could simplify the detection of plastic-associated chemical contaminants in environmental samples.

2020 Molecules 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Type and Distribution of Microplastics in Beach Sediment along the Coast of the Eastern Gulf of Thailand

Researchers examined microplastic distribution in beach sediments along the eastern Gulf of Thailand across two monsoon seasons, finding up to 1,698 pieces/m2 at the most contaminated site with PET (39.6%) and polyamide (22.8%) as the dominant polymer types among 17 identified.

2021 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 31 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

Which Polyester Is It? Applying pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify commercial polyesters and standardize microplastics reporting

Researchers applied pyrolysis-GC/MS to distinguish between different commercial polyester types present in microplastic fibers, addressing the limitation that standard spectroscopy often cannot differentiate among polyesters labeled generically on consumer products. The study aimed to standardize microplastics reporting by enabling more precise polymer-level identification of synthetic fiber pollution.

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

Microplastic fragment and fiber contamination of beach sediments from selected sites in Virginia and North Carolina, USA

This study examined microplastic contamination in estuarine and barrier island beach sediments in Virginia and North Carolina, USA, finding microplastics present at all 17 sites sampled. Fragment and fiber morphologies dominated, with polymer identification by pyrolysis-GC-MS and FTIR confirming a mix of common plastic types.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 154 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