Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Unlocking the potential of NMR spectroscopy for precise and efficient quantification of microplastics

Researchers demonstrated that nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can precisely identify and quantify six common plastic polymer types — including polystyrene and PVC — at concentrations as low as 0.2 micrograms per milliliter, outperforming traditional methods. This advance offers a faster, more accurate tool for measuring microplastic contamination in environmental samples.

2024 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The first application of quantitative 1H NMR spectroscopy as a simple and fast method of identification and quantification of microplastic particles (PE, PET, and PS)

Researchers demonstrated that quantitative ¹H NMR spectroscopy (qNMR) can identify and quantify polyethylene, PET, and polystyrene microplastic particles in solution with linearity above R²=0.994 and detection limits in the environmentally relevant range (~19–21 μg/mL), offering a faster size-independent alternative to conventional FTIR and Raman particle counting.

2018 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic quantification in environmental samples with complex organic matrices by diffusion NMR

Researchers applied diffusion NMR spectroscopy to quantify microplastics in environmental samples with complex organic matrices, demonstrating the technique's capacity to characterize polymer types in difficult real-world sample conditions where existing methods fall short.

2025 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

Applicable and cost‐efficient microplastic analysis by quantitative 1 H‐NMR spectroscopy using benchtop NMR and NoD methods

Researchers demonstrated that low-cost benchtop NMR spectrometers can be used to quantify microplastics in solution, making the technique more accessible and affordable for routine environmental monitoring. This advance could help expand microplastic testing beyond well-funded research labs.

2021 Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Applicability of NMR spectroscopy to quantify microplastics across varying concentrations in polymer mixtures

Quantitative NMR spectroscopy was evaluated as a method for measuring synthetic polymers in mixed microplastic samples at low concentrations, finding it feasible but constrained by overlapping signals and solvent limitations, offering a cost-efficient alternative to spectroscopic methods for certain polymer mixture analyses.

2025 RSC Advances 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative 1H-NMR spectroscopy as an efficient method for identification and quantification of PVC, ABS and PA microparticles

Quantitative proton NMR spectroscopy was validated as a fast, size-independent method for measuring the mass of PVC, ABS, and polyamide microplastics in solution. This analytical technique complements visual and spectral methods, offering an efficient way to quantify plastic contamination in environmental or food samples.

2020 The Analyst 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Highly selective solid–liquid extraction of microplastic mixtures as a pre-preparation tool for quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies

Researchers developed a solid-liquid extraction procedure using common laboratory equipment to selectively separate microplastic mixtures from inorganic matrix substances as sample preparation for quantitative NMR spectroscopy. The protocol addresses a key gap preventing qNMR from being applied to real environmental microplastic samples containing diverse polymer mixtures.

2024 The Analyst 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Overcoming the challenge of quantifying aged microplastic by qNMR spectroscopy

Researchers evaluated quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for analyzing environmentally aged microplastics made of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate. The study found that UV exposure and elevated temperatures during aging altered the spectral properties of these polymers, and developed approaches to overcome the quantification challenges posed by environmental weathering.

2025 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 1 citations
Article Tier 2

High-resolution NMR spectroscopic approaches to quantify PET microplastics pollution in environmental freshwater samples

Researchers developed a workflow using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to detect and quantify polyethylene terephthalate microplastic contamination in environmental water samples. The NMR-based approach enables unambiguous identification and precise measurement of PET particles in surface waters. The study offers a promising new analytical tool for monitoring microplastic pollution that complements existing detection methods.

2024 Chemosphere 14 citations
Article Tier 2

M. Sc

Researchers developed a workflow using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to identify and quantify microplastics in environmental surface water samples, enabling unambiguous polymer identification and precise mass quantification at atomic resolution independent of particle size.

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

Identification and quantification of polystyrene microplastics in marine sediments facing a river mouth through NMR spectroscopy

Researchers explored the use of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify and quantify polystyrene microplastics in marine sediments near a river mouth. The study demonstrated that NMR can serve as a complementary analytical tool for microplastic detection, offering advantages in polymer identification accuracy compared to some conventional methods.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 32 citations
Article Tier 2

M. Sc

Researchers developed a workflow using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy — including quantitative 1H NMR and 2D 1H-13C HSQC NMR — to identify and precisely quantify microplastic polymer types in environmental surface water samples at atomic resolution, independent of particle size. The method provides unambiguous polymer identification and mass quantification, offering a rigorous alternative to imaging-based approaches for microplastic characterization.

2024 Open MIND
Article Tier 2

M. Sc

Researchers developed a workflow using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy — including quantitative 1H NMR and 2D 1H-13C HSQC NMR — to identify and precisely quantify microplastic polymer types in environmental surface water samples at atomic resolution, independent of particle size. The method provides unambiguous polymer identification and mass quantification, offering a rigorous alternative to imaging-based approaches for microplastic characterization.

2024 Open MIND
Article Tier 2

Quantitative analysis of PET microplastics in environmental model samples using quantitative 1H-NMR spectroscopy: validation of an optimized and consistent sample clean-up method

Researchers proposed a new mass-based method for quantifying PET microplastics in environmental samples that enables comparisons across different sample matrices. Standardizing how microplastics are measured — particularly reporting mass rather than just particle counts — would improve the comparability of data from different studies.

2019 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 54 citations
Article Tier 2

M. Sc

Researchers proposed a workflow for examining microplastic contamination in environmental surface water samples using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, enabling simultaneous unambiguous polymer identification and precise quantification at atomic resolution independent of particle size. The NMR-based approach offered advantages over conventional spectroscopy methods by providing structural-level chemical characterization without size-based detection thresholds.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Feasibility of using quantitative 1H-NMR spectroscopy and ultra-microbalances for investigation of a PET microplastic reference material

Researchers validated quantitative NMR spectroscopy and ultra-microbalances as complementary tools for measuring PET microplastic mass in reference materials, finding both methods produced consistent results within standard deviations — supporting their use in large-scale inter-laboratory comparisons.

2023 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 6 citations
Article Tier 2

The power of a multi-technique approach for the reliable quantification of microplastics in water

Researchers applied a multi-technique analytical approach combining several spectroscopic and microscopic methods to improve the reliability of microplastic quantification in environmental samples. The combined approach reduced false positives and improved polymer identification accuracy compared to any single method used alone.

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

Identification and morphological characterization of different types of plastic microparticles

Researchers used multiple complementary techniques to identify and characterize the morphology and polymer composition of different types of plastic microparticles. They compared methods including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and spectroscopic analysis to evaluate their reliability. The study provides practical guidance for standardizing microplastic identification protocols, which is important for producing comparable results across different research laboratories.

2024 Heliyon 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Low molecular weight polymers in aquatic environments as pollutants of emerging concerns: recovery, quantification and microstructure

This study developed a new method using solution NMR spectroscopy to isolate and quantify low-molecular-weight synthetic polymers (polyethylene and PDMS) directly from seawater, bypassing some limitations of traditional spectroscopic approaches. The analytical advance matters because accurate quantification of dissolved and near-dissolved polymer debris in marine water is essential for assessing true human and ecological exposure to plastic contamination.

2023 Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

Towards a quantitative approach for the accurate analysis of blended microplastics based on 3-D micro-Raman spectroscopy

Researchers developed a quantitative 3D micro-Raman spectroscopy approach for accurately analyzing blended microplastic particles composed of multiple polymer types, addressing the challenge that environmentally released microplastics often originate from complex multi-polymer blended materials.

2024
Article Tier 2

Micro(nano)plastics from synthetic oligomers persisting in Mediterranean seawater: Comprehensive NMR analysis, concerns and origins.

Researchers developed a novel method to detect and quantify ultra-small synthetic polymer fragments — including polyethylene and silicone — in Mediterranean seawater that had previously escaped conventional analysis. These sub-micron polymer fragments represent a previously unmeasured fraction of plastic pollution that could have significant environmental and health implications.

2024 Environment international
Article Tier 2

Fast identification of microplastics in complex environmental samples by a thermal degradation method

Researchers developed a fast identification method for microplastics in complex environmental samples using thermal analysis, offering a high-throughput alternative to spectroscopic techniques for polymer identification.

2017 Chemosphere 598 citations
Article Tier 2

Physicochemical characterization and quantification of nanoplastics: applicability, limitations and complementarity of batch and fractionation methods

Researchers evaluated a suite of techniques for measuring the size, shape, and chemical makeup of nanoplastics — plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer — and found that no single method works for all sample types, especially when particles vary in size or clump together. Combining multiple complementary techniques is essential for reliable nanoplastic characterization, particularly in complex environmental or biological samples.

2023 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 56 citations