Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Optical System for In-situ Detection of Microplastics

Researchers developed a portable optical system capable of detecting, identifying, continuously monitoring, and quantifying microplastics in situ at natural water bodies. The system uses optical techniques to observe the temporal behavior of microplastic concentrations at fixed locations, enabling real-time environmental monitoring without sample collection and laboratory processing.

2024
Article Tier 2

A prototype of a portable optical sensor for the detection of transparent and translucent microplastics in freshwater

Researchers developed a portable prototype optical sensor capable of detecting transparent and translucent microplastics in freshwater by simultaneously measuring specular laser light reflection and transmission, offering a feasibility pathway for field-deployable microplastic monitoring.

2019 Chemosphere 88 citations
Article Tier 2

A Portable Optical Sensor for Microplastic Detection: Development and Calibration

Researchers built a portable, low-cost optical sensor prototype designed to detect microplastics by shining multiple wavelengths of light through water samples. The device measures how different plastic particles absorb and scatter light, producing color spectra that can help identify microplastics. The sensor offers an affordable field-deployable option for environmental monitoring, with potential future improvements using machine learning for automated identification.

2025 Applied Sciences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A field deployable imaging system for detecting microplastics in the aquatic environment

Researchers built a portable imaging system for detecting microplastics in water that can be deployed directly in the field rather than requiring laboratory analysis. The system uses a de-scattering algorithm to produce clear images even in turbid water conditions and can identify particles as small as 50 micrometers. This low-cost tool could make routine microplastic monitoring of rivers, lakes, and coastal waters much more practical and accessible.

2024 4 citations
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

Portable Pyrolysis-Microplasma Carbon Optical Emission Spectrometric Device for Detection of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Water

Scientists developed a portable, low-cost device that can detect micro- and nanoplastics in water samples on-site, rather than requiring expensive lab equipment. The device uses a miniature pyrolyzer combined with an optical emission spectrometer to measure total plastic content in water, achieving detection limits as low as 0.43 micrograms of carbon per liter. This tool could make it much easier to monitor microplastic contamination in tap water, rivers, and wastewater in real time.

2025 Analytical Chemistry 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards the Development of Portable and In Situ Optical Devices for Detection of Micro-and Nanoplastics in Water: A Review on the Current Status

This review surveys the development of portable and in-situ optical devices for detecting micro- and nanoplastics in water, as most current detection methods are laboratory-based. Researchers evaluated emerging technologies including portable Raman and infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence-based sensors, and smartphone-integrated detection systems. The study identifies key technical challenges that must be overcome to enable real-time, field-based monitoring of plastic pollution in water.

2021 Polymers 89 citations
Article Tier 2

High-throughput microplastic assessment using polarization holographic imaging

Researchers built a portable, low-cost system that uses holographic imaging and polarized light combined with deep learning to automatically detect, count, and classify microplastics in water in real time — without lengthy sample preparation. This tool significantly speeds up microplastic monitoring and could be widely deployed for environmental surveillance.

2024 Scientific Reports 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Field-Portable Microplastic Sensing in Aqueous Environments: A Perspective on Emerging Techniques

This review examines emerging field-portable technologies for detecting and quantifying microplastics in aqueous environments, discussing optical, spectroscopic, and electrochemical sensing approaches. Researchers identify the lack of a standardized, rapid on-site method as the primary bottleneck limiting accurate real-world microplastic monitoring.

2021 Sensors 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Droplet-based Opto-microfluidic Device for Microplastic Sensing in Aqueous Solutions

Researchers developed a microfluidic device using light to detect plastic microspheres in water droplets, offering a new tool for identifying microplastic contamination in aquatic environments.

2023
Article Tier 2

Optofluidic light-droplet interaction for rapidly assessing the presence of plastic microspheres within aqueous suspensions

Scientists developed a new device that can quickly detect tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) in water by shining light through water droplets and measuring how much light gets blocked. The device can spot extremely small amounts of plastic pollution - even particles smaller than the width of a human hair. This technology could help us better monitor plastic contamination in drinking water and the environment, which is important since these tiny plastics can harm both ecosystems and human health.

2026 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Optofluidic light-droplet interaction for rapidly assessing the presence of plastic microspheres within aqueous suspensions

Scientists created a new device that can quickly detect tiny plastic particles (called microplastics) in water by shining light through water droplets and measuring changes in brightness. The device can spot extremely small amounts of plastic pollution - as little as 0.13 milligrams per gram of water. This technology could help us better monitor plastic contamination in our drinking water and environment, which is important since these tiny plastics can harm both ecosystems and human health.

2026 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Optical detection of microplastics in water

Researchers developed a low-cost portable Raman spectrometer prototype costing less than $370 for detecting microplastics in water. The device successfully detected microplastics at concentrations below 0.015% w/v, suggesting it could serve as an accessible monitoring tool for microplastic contamination in drinking water and environmental samples worldwide.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 63 citations
Article Tier 2

A New Optical Method for Quantitative Detection of Microplastics in Water Based on Real-Time Fluorescence Analysis

Researchers developed a new fluorescence-based particle counter for real-time quantitative detection of microplastics in water, validating the method against FTIR analysis on wastewater treatment plant samples containing polyethylene and PVC particles.

2022 Water 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Probing Individual Particles in Aquatic Suspensions by Simultaneously Measuring Polarized Light Scattering and Fluorescence

Researchers developed a portable optical sensor that simultaneously measures polarized light scattering and fluorescence from individual particles in water, enabling classification of microplastics versus microalgae in situ. This dual-measurement approach improves particle identification accuracy compared to single-measurement methods.

2021 Biosensors 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative Detection of Microplastics in Water through Fluorescence Signal Analysis

Researchers developed an automatic, portable fluorescence-based system for quantitative detection of microplastics in water, using dye-stained particles flowing through a laser beam to enable fast and objective counting without manual microscopy.

2023 Photonics 14 citations
Article Tier 2

In-situ Detection Method for Microplastics in Water by Polarized Light Scattering

Researchers developed an in-situ detection method for microplastics in water using polarized light scattering at 120 degrees, enabling real-time measurement of individual particles without sample collection or laboratory processing.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic identification in marine environments: A low-cost and effective approach based on transmitted light measurements

Researchers designed a low-cost microplastic detection system using a standard LCD panel and a digital USB microscope to measure transmitted light through seawater samples. The compact system demonstrated effective detection and quantification of microplastics without the need for expensive laboratory instrumentation.

2024 ACTA IMEKO 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Outlook on optical identification of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments

Researchers studied the optical properties of micro- and nanoplastics and evaluated near-infrared spectroscopy as a detection method for plastic particles in water, finding that optical techniques show promise for rapid, non-destructive identification. Improved optical detection methods could enable faster and more cost-effective monitoring of plastic pollution in aquatic environments.

2018 Chemosphere 66 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

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

Fast and portable fluorescence lifetime analysis for early warning detection of micro- and nanoplastics in water

Researchers developed a portable fluorescence-based system that can detect micro- and nanoplastics in water without any sample preparation or labeling. The method works by measuring the natural fluorescence lifetime of plastic particles using a pulsed laser, achieving detection limits as low as 0.01 mg/mL. The study presents a promising early-warning tool for rapid, on-site monitoring of plastic contamination in water sources.

2023 Environmental Research 15 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