Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Regression analysis for the determination of microplastics in sediments using differential scanning calorimetry

Researchers developed a differential scanning calorimetry method for rapid identification and quantification of microplastics in sediment samples. The study demonstrated that this thermo-analytical approach could detect multiple polymer types including polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET in sand samples, offering a faster and more cost-efficient alternative to traditional microplastic analysis methods.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic analysis in sediments of the Elbe River by electrostatic separation and differential scanning calorimetry

Researchers surveyed 43 sediment samples from the Elbe River using electrostatic separation and differential scanning calorimetry, finding microplastics — predominantly polyethylene fibers — at concentrations up to 44.6 mg/kg in harbor basins, with the highest pollution in the middle Elbe between two major tributaries.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

A facile approach to microplastic identification and quantification using differential scanning calorimetry

Researchers developed a simpler differential scanning calorimetry method to identify and quantify six types of semi-crystalline microplastic polymers in water samples, offering a lower-cost alternative to μFTIR that also provides mass concentration data.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimized microplastic analysis based on size fractionation, density separation and μ-FTIR

Researchers optimized a multi-step method for extracting and identifying microplastics from soil and sediment, combining grain size separation, density flotation, and infrared microscopy. The validated method achieved high recovery rates for eight common plastic polymers, contributing to more reliable monitoring of soil microplastic contamination.

2020 Water Science & Technology 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Extraction of microplastics from sediment matrices: Experimental comparative analysis

Extraction efficiencies of four methods for separating microplastics from sediment matrices were experimentally compared using spiked samples, finding that density separation with saturated NaCl was adequate for most polymer types but underperformed for high-density polymers, and that no single method achieved complete recovery across all particle sizes and shapes.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Sequential combination of micro-FTIR imaging spectroscopy and pyrolysis-GC/MS for microplastic quantification. Application to river sediments

Researchers developed a protocol combining micro-FTIR imaging and pyrolysis-GC/MS for sequential microplastic analysis in river sediments. While both methods showed consistent total mass concentrations across sites, they found discrepancies in polymer proportions due to each method's specific limitations, providing practical recommendations for comparing results across different analytical approaches.

2025 Analytical Methods 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of microplastics in complex environmental matrices using a tiered approach with modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC)

Researchers developed a method using modulated differential scanning calorimetry to quantify microplastics in biosolids and soil, achieving 1.4-2.5 times higher sensitivity than conventional thermal analysis with detection limits as low as 7 micrograms per gram. They demonstrated an average recovery rate of 93% for four common plastic types extracted from biosolid samples. The study suggests this thermal approach, combined with complementary spectroscopic techniques, provides a reliable and cost-effective tool for measuring microplastics in complex environmental samples.

2025 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of multi-step approach for comprehensive identification of microplastic particles in diverse sediment samples

Researchers developed a multi-step analytical approach to comprehensively identify and characterize microplastics in environmental samples, combining visual, spectroscopic, and thermal analysis. A systematic, multi-method approach is needed to capture the full diversity of microplastic types present in complex environmental matrices.

2020 Water Science & Technology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel, highly efficient method for the separation and quantification of plastic particles in sediments of aquatic environments

Researchers improved a density separation method for isolating microplastics from aquatic sediments, achieving higher recovery rates and reducing processing time compared to earlier approaches. The validated method was designed to be reproducible and cost-effective, addressing the need for reliable standardized protocols in microplastic monitoring.

2012 Limnology and Oceanography Methods 654 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of marine microplastics in Eastern Harbor, Mediterranean Coast of Egypt, using differential scanning calorimetry

Researchers applied differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the first time to identify microplastics in marine sediments from Eastern Harbor on Egypt's Mediterranean coast, demonstrating it as a cost-effective complement to conventional spectroscopic identification methods.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of density separation for the rapid recovery of microplastics from sediment

Researchers validated a density separation method for rapidly recovering microplastics from sediment samples, confirming it as a reliable and efficient approach for routine environmental monitoring.

2016 Analytical Methods 505 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances on Density Separation Techniques for Microplastic Recovery from Sediments

This review summarises recent advances in density separation techniques for extracting microplastics from sediments, evaluating the effectiveness of different salt solutions and comparing novel approaches such as electrostatic separation and pressurised fluid extraction against conventional methods.

2022 Sinaya A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic extraction from sediments established? – A critical evaluation from a trace recovery experiment with a custom-made density separator

Scientists evaluated the accuracy of a custom density separator for extracting small microplastic particles from sediment, finding variable recovery rates across different polymer types. Standardized and validated extraction methods are essential for accurate measurements of microplastic contamination in sediment environments.

2021 Analytical Methods 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of μ-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and py-GCMS as identification tools for microplastic particles and fibers isolated from river sediments

Researchers compared two identification methods — micro-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and pyrolysis-GC-MS — for characterizing microplastics extracted from river sediments, finding that the methods generally agreed on dominant polymers but differed in sensitivity to certain types. The comparison provides practical guidance for choosing analytical methods in freshwater microplastic monitoring programs.

2018 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 286 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in sediments of the river Rhine—A workflow for preparation and analysis of sediment samples from aquatic river systems for monitoring purposes

Researchers developed a workflow for preparing and analysing river sediment samples for microplastic monitoring using density separation followed by thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Analysis of Rhine River sediments identified polyethylene and styrene-butadiene rubber as dominant polymers, with total polymer masses ranging from 1.18 to 337.0 µg/g and highest MP concentrations found at low-flow sites such as harbours and reservoirs.

2023 Applied Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison between two methods for microplastic separation from sandy sediments

Researchers compared two density-based methods for separating microplastics from sandy sediments, evaluating their performance on beach sand and mangrove soil samples. The study assessed the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to identify the most suitable method for large-scale in-situ monitoring programs.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Dual-method analysis of microplastics in lake and wastewater treatment effluents: comparison of micro-FTIR and differential scanning calorimetry technique

Researchers compared micro-FTIR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for detecting microplastics in lake water and wastewater treatment effluents, finding that both methods showed similar pollution trends but differed in specific results, with micro-FTIR identifying polymer types and DSC providing superior mass quantification from large-volume samples.

2025 Water Research X
Article Tier 2

Methods for separating microplastics from complex solid matrices: Comparative analysis

Separation methods for extracting microplastics from complex solid matrices including soil, sediment, and sludge were systematically compared, evaluating density separation, oil extraction, electrostatic separation, and other approaches. The review provides guidance for choosing appropriate separation methods depending on matrix composition and target microplastic characteristics.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 134 citations
Article Tier 2

Modeling microplastic with polyethylene (PE) spherical particles: a differential scanning calorimetry approach for quantification

Researchers developed a thermal analysis approach to detect and quantify polyethylene microplastics in environmental samples, offering an alternative to optical methods. Accurate quantification tools are essential for understanding the true scale of microplastic contamination in soil and water.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 7 citations
Article Tier 2

A new approach in separating microplastics from environmental samples based on their electrostatic behavior

Researchers developed a novel electrostatic separation method to isolate microplastics from environmental matrices based on differences in electrostatic behavior between plastic particles and natural materials. The technique offers a low-cost, chemical-free approach to microplastic extraction that could complement or replace existing density separation methods in some applications.

2017 Environmental Pollution 245 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and quantitation of semi-crystalline microplastics using image analysis and differential scanning calorimetry

Researchers developed an analytical workflow combining optical microscopy with image analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for identifying and quantifying semi-crystalline microplastics including LDPE, HDPE, PP, and PET. The study found that particle size significantly affects DSC signal quality, requiring sieve pre-treatment to achieve reliable identification and mass quantitation.

2018 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 107 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel heating-assisted density separation method for extracting microplastics from sediments

A new method using heated sodium dihydrogen phosphate solution was developed to extract microplastics from marine sediments more effectively than existing techniques. The method is non-toxic, inexpensive, and achieved high recovery rates for seven common plastic types.

2020 Chemosphere 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Laboratory Designed Portable Device for Density Separation and Characterization of Microplastics in Environmental Soil Samples

Scientists designed a small, portable device for extracting microplastics from soil and sediment samples using a density separation method with different salt solutions, successfully isolating PET, LDPE, PVC, and PP from samples collected in school yards, lakesides, and agricultural fields. A portable, low-cost device lowers the barrier to field-based microplastic monitoring and could enable wider participation in pollution surveys.

2024 Letters in Applied NanoBioScience 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of microplastics in environmental samples via pressurized liquid extraction and pyrolysis-gas chromatography

Researchers combined pressurized liquid extraction with pyrolysis-gas chromatography to quantify microplastics in environmental samples, validating the method against reference materials and real-world samples. The approach offers a quantitative, polymer-specific measurement of bulk microplastic mass in sediments and soils, complementing particle-counting methods.

2019 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 313 citations