Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Validation of an FT-IR microscopy method for the determination of microplastic particles in surface waters

Researchers validated an FT-IR microscopy method for reliably detecting and quantifying microplastic particles in aquatic and solid samples. Validated, standardized analytical methods are essential for producing comparable data across laboratories and building a reliable global picture of microplastic contamination.

2020 MethodsX 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Standardization of micro-FTIR methods and applicability for the detection and identification of microplastics in environmental matrices

Researchers worked to standardize micro-FTIR spectroscopy methods for detecting and identifying microplastics as small as 20 micrometers across different environmental samples. They tested reflection and transmission modes against known polymer standards and validated the approach on real-world water, sediment, and biological samples. The study provides a reproducible methodology that could help make microplastic measurements more consistent and comparable across laboratories.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 131 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastiche: classificazione, identificazione e rimozione all'interno degli impianti di trattamento delle acque reflue

This Italian-language paper reviews how microplastics are classified, identified using techniques like FTIR spectroscopy, and removed in wastewater treatment plants. Conventional treatment plants remove a substantial portion of microplastics but still allow many particles to pass through into the environment. The review calls for better treatment technologies and standardized methods to assess microplastic removal efficiency.

2021 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Microplastics and Small Microplastics (<100 ??????m) in Natural Waters via Micro-FTIR

This book chapter discussed using micro-FTIR spectroscopy to detect and quantify microplastics smaller than 100 µm in natural (marine and freshwater) water samples. The authors emphasized the importance of this size class for ecological risk and described practical considerations for accurate quantification.

2025
Article Tier 2

A novel method for purification, quantitative analysis and characterization of microplastic fibers using Micro-FTIR

Researchers developed an improved method for purifying, quantifying, and characterizing microplastic fibers using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, addressing the challenge that fibers are harder to process and identify than other microplastic shapes. The method improvements enable more accurate characterization of this common but technically challenging category of environmental microplastics.

2019 Chemosphere 191 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis, Occurrence, and Degradation of Microplastics in the Aqueous Environment

This book chapter reviews the major analytical techniques used to detect and quantify microplastics in freshwater environments, covering sampling strategies, sample preparation, and identification methods such as FT-IR spectroscopy. It also discusses the wide diversity of polymer types found in aquatic systems and how they influence degradation and environmental risk.

2017 ˜The œhandbook of environmental chemistry 293 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics monitoring in different environments: separation, physicochemical characterization, and quantification

Researchers systematically monitored microplastic contamination across multiple environments including a wastewater treatment plant, surrounding water bodies, and soils near plastic factories, characterizing shape, size, color, and polymer composition via microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. They found fragments and fibers to be the most common microplastic shapes in water environments and documented simultaneous contamination across all sampled matrices.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

Insights Into Microplastics Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystem: a Short Review of Sampling and Analysis Methods

This review summarizes current methods for sampling and analyzing microplastics in rivers and estuaries, including techniques like FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for polymer identification. The authors highlight the need for standardized sampling and analysis methods to ensure that microplastic data across different studies are reliable and comparable.

2024 Jurnal Teknologi 3 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Standardization of FTIR-Based Methodologies for Microplastics Detection in Drinking Water: A Meta-Analysis Indeed and Practical Approach

This meta-analysis works toward standardizing the methods scientists use to detect microplastics in drinking water using infrared spectroscopy. Consistent detection methods are essential because without them, we cannot accurately compare contamination levels across studies or reliably assess how much microplastic people are actually consuming in their tap and bottled water.

2024 Water 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in tap water by optical photothermal infrared

Researchers characterized microplastics in tap water using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy, a technique that can identify particles smaller than 10 micrometers with high chemical specificity. The method detected a broader range of particle sizes than conventional FTIR microscopy, revealing higher microplastic concentrations in tap water than previously reported.

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

Microplastics in the effluent of a German wastewater treatment plant ‒ analysis with μ-FTIR spectroscopy

A German wastewater treatment plant was found to release microplastics in its treated effluent, with fibers as the dominant type. The study used detailed chemical characterization and identified wastewater plants as ongoing point sources of microplastic pollution entering aquatic environments.

2020 Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut)
Article Tier 2

Detecting small microplastics down to 1.3 μm using large area ATR-FTIR

Researchers introduced large-area ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as a new technique capable of detecting microplastics as small as 1.3 micrometers, outperforming conventional micro-FTIR for small particle detection in marine water samples.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Probenaufbereitung für die Analyse auf Mikroplastik mit µFTIR-Spektroskopie: Untersuchung des enzymatischen Verdaus von Plankton mit FlowCam und µFTIR

This German-language study tested sample preparation methods for microplastic analysis using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, comparing different approaches for extracting particles from complex environmental matrices. Optimizing sample preparation is essential for generating reliable, reproducible data on microplastic types and concentrations in environmental samples.

2016 Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut)
Article Tier 2

Rapid analytical method for characterization and quantification of microplastics in tap water using a Fourier-transform infrared microscope

Researchers developed a faster FTIR microscope method for analyzing microplastics across the whole filtration area and applied it to 42 tap water samples from five countries, finding mean concentrations of 39 particles per liter with polyester fibers and PVC fragments among the most common types.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 99 citations
Article Tier 2

The development of an analytical procedure for the determination of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers developed an improved analytical procedure for detecting and identifying microplastics in freshwater environments. The method combines careful sample preparation with advanced instrumental techniques like infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The study highlights the importance of standardized methods to ensure that microplastic measurements across different studies are reliable and comparable.

2024 Analytical Methods 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastics in food, mineral water and in mineral water process lines by FTIR and Raman microspectroscopy

Researchers developed validated FTIR and Raman microspectroscopy methods for detecting microplastic particles below 10 micrometers in food, mineral water, and along mineral water production lines, creating standardized sampling protocols to identify contamination sources and entry points during food processing.

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

Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Wastewater Using Focal Plane Array-Based Reflectance Micro-FT-IR Imaging

Researchers applied focal plane array FT-IR imaging to identify and quantify microplastics in wastewater samples, demonstrating that this method provides efficient and detailed polymer characterization across large sample areas.

2015 Analytical Chemistry 664 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastic traces in four different types of municipal wastewater treatment plants through FT-IR and TED-GC-MS

Researchers detected microplastic traces in four different types of municipal wastewater treatment plants using FT-IR and TED-GC-MS, finding that while treatment processes removed most microplastics, some were still released into receiving water bodies.

2023 Environmental Pollution 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastic particles in Danish drinking water

Researchers investigated microplastic presence in drinking water from 17 sites across Denmark, using stainless steel filters and advanced µFT-IR spectroscopy on 50-litre samples to identify and chemically characterise particles larger than 100 µm.

2018 Research Portal (King's College London) 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of Microplastics in Treated Drinking Water Using µ-FT-IR Spectroscopy: A Case Study from Northeast Italy

Researchers quantified microplastics in treated drinking water from a treatment plant in northeast Italy using micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The study found that microplastics persist through the water treatment process and end up in drinking water, though the full health implications of ingesting these particles remain not yet fully understood.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

The applicability of reflectance micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy for the detection of synthetic microplastics in marine sediments

Researchers developed and validated an optimized micro-FT-IR spectroscopy protocol for detecting microplastics in coastal marine sediments, providing a detailed operating procedure. The standardized method improves detection reliability and enables comparison of results across laboratories studying sediment microplastic contamination.

2012 The Science of The Total Environment 375 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in tap water by optical photothermal infrared

Researchers used optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy to characterize microplastics in tap water, identifying particles as small as a few micrometers that conventional FTIR techniques cannot resolve. The higher detection sensitivity revealed that microplastic concentrations in drinking water are likely underestimated by standard methods.

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

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

Researchers reviewed the analytical tools most commonly used for identifying and quantifying microplastics, focusing on FTIR and Raman spectroscopy as the two primary methods. The review compared their strengths and limitations and provided guidance for choosing between them based on particle size, sample matrix, and research objectives.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Standardization of FTIR-Based Methodologies for Microplastics Detection in Drinking Water: A Meta-Analysis Indeed and Practical Approach

This meta-analysis pooled data from multiple studies to develop standardized methods for detecting microplastics in drinking water using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The research found that inconsistent testing methods across studies have made it difficult to accurately compare microplastic levels in tap water. Standardizing detection is an important step toward understanding how much microplastic people may be consuming through their drinking water.

2024 Preprints.org 2 citations