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Papers
61,005 resultsPaper on the developed characterisation methods for SMPs (< 10 μm) and NPs (< 0.1 μm), and in terms of: (i) chemical identity of the SMPs/NPs polymer type; (ii) physical particle characterisation and quantification, size distribution and particle morphologies; and (iii) quantification of the mass fraction in complex matrices. Uncertainty evaluation and traceability statements will be included
Researchers developed and comprehensively characterized a nano-polypropylene test material produced by mechanical fragmentation as a reference standard for nanoplastic (less than 100 nm) measurement, validating its homogeneity and stability across multiple analytical techniques including light scattering, high-resolution microscopy, and spectrometry.
Multiparameter characterisation of a nano-polypropylene representative test material with fractionation, light scattering, high-resolution microscopy, spectroscopy, and spectrometry methods
This study comprehensively characterised a nano-polypropylene reference material using a battery of analytical techniques to understand its size, shape, and surface properties — filling a critical gap because researchers currently lack standardised nanoplastic reference materials. Reliable reference materials are essential for producing comparable, reproducible data across laboratories studying nanoplastic risks.
Preparation of Nanoplastic Particles as Potential Standards for the Study of Nanoplastics
Researchers developed methods to prepare well-defined nanoplastic particles as potential reference standards for nanoplastic research, addressing the critical shortage of reliable materials for toxicity studies and analytical method validation. The study characterized the size, shape, and surface properties of the produced particles to confirm their suitability as standards.
Aqueous Dispersions of Polypropylene: Toward Reference Materials for Characterizing Nanoplastics
Researchers developed aqueous dispersions of polypropylene nanoplastics to serve as reference materials for detection and characterization studies, addressing a critical gap in nanoplastics research where the lack of standardized reference particles has hindered method development for identifying nanoplastics in environmental and biological samples.
The Challenge of the Analysis of Nanoplastics in the Environment: Current Status and Perspectives
This review examines the analytical challenges of detecting and characterising nanoplastics in environmental samples, presenting the state of the art in size determination, chemical composition analysis, and quantification techniques, as well as a survey of nanoplastic model materials used in the literature.
Report on the harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the developed SMPs (10 μm - 100 μm) characterisation methods in terms of: (i) chemical identity of the SMPs polymer type; (ii) physical particle characterisation and quantification, size distribution and particle morphologies; and (iii) quantification of the mass fraction in complex matrices.
Researchers harmonised standard operating procedures for characterising small microplastics (10-100 μm) in infant milk powder and suspended particulate matter, using thermo-analytical and spectroscopic methods including μ-FTIR, μ-Raman, and py-GC/MS to assess chemical identity, particle size, and mass fraction.
Production, labeling, and applications of micro- and nanoplastic reference and test materials
This study reviews methods for producing, labeling, and applying micro- and nanoplastic reference and test materials for research purposes. The researchers address the growing need for in-house production of standardized test materials, driven by challenges in extracting these particles from the environment and the limited range of commercially available options.
Report on the harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the developed SMPs (10 μm - 100 μm) characterisation methods in terms of: (i) chemical identity of the SMPs polymer type; (ii) physical particle characterisation and quantification, size distribution and particle morphologies; and (iii) quantification of the mass fraction in complex matrices.
Researchers developed and harmonized standard operating procedures for characterizing small microplastic particles (10-100 µm) in infant milk powder and environmental suspended particulate matter matrices, covering polymer type identification, particle size distribution, morphology, and mass fraction quantification.
Quality-by-design and current good practices for the production of test and reference materials for micro- and nano-plastic research
Researchers outlined best practices for producing standardized reference materials used in micro- and nanoplastic research, covering both top-down fragmentation and bottom-up precipitation methods. They provided examples using common polymers like polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and PET across different size ranges. The study addresses a critical need in the field, since reliable reference materials are essential for validating the analytical methods used to detect and measure plastic pollution.
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.
The micro-, submicron-, and nanoplastic hunt: A review of detection methods for plastic particles
This review systematically summarizes detection and characterization methods for micro-, submicron-, and nanoplastics, providing recommendations for method validation, standardization, and analytical pathways suited to different sample types and research goals.
Current techniques for identifying, quantifying, and characterizing micro and nanoplastics with emphasis on strengths, limitations, and challenges
Researchers reviewed current analytical techniques for identifying, quantifying, and characterizing micro- and nanoplastics across environmental matrices. The review highlights the strengths and limitations of methods including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-GC/MS, and calls for standardization to improve comparability across studies.
The production and characterisation of nanoplastic reference material: optimization and method development
Researchers developed and optimized non-solvent phase separation methods for producing polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene nanoplastic reference materials more representative of environmental particles than commercial polystyrene spheres. They tested three solvents and found xylene and toluene suitable for PE and PP production, characterizing the resulting materials to support standardized nanoplastic research.
The production and characterisation of nanoplastic reference material: optimization and method development
Researchers optimized non-solvent phase separation methods using xylene, toluene, and phenol as solvents to produce nanoplastic reference materials from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene — polymer types more environmentally representative than commonly used commercial polystyrene nanoparticles. They characterized the produced particles by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy, finding predominantly irregular fragment morphologies that more closely resemble environmentally occurring nanoplastics.
NPPP-1 : Matériau de référence nanométrique de polypropylène
Researchers developed and characterized NPPP-1, a reference material consisting of nanoscale polypropylene dispersed in water, intended to standardize biological effects assessment and support development and optimization of nanoplastic detection techniques.
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.
Searching Nanoplastics: From Sampling to Sample Processing
This review addresses the challenges of sampling and processing nanoplastics from environmental matrices, discussing how their infinitesimal size and physical diversity complicate detection, characterization, and quantification efforts.
Small micro- and nanoplastic test and reference materials for research: Current status and future needs
This review highlights the critical shortage of well-characterized, environmentally relevant reference materials for studying small microplastics and nanoplastics. Most laboratory studies use commercially available spherical particles that do not represent the irregular, weathered particles found in nature. The authors call for developing standardized reference materials that better mimic real-world microplastic contamination to improve the reliability of exposure and hazard assessments.
Nanoplastics prepared with uniformly distributed metal-tags: a novel approach to quantify size distribution and particle number concentration of polydisperse nanoplastics by single particle ICP-MS
Researchers developed a new method for creating nanoplastic test particles with embedded metal tags, allowing scientists to precisely measure the size and number of nanoplastics using single-particle mass spectrometry. The particles have realistic irregular shapes and varied sizes, unlike the uniform spheres typically used in lab studies. This tool will help researchers more accurately study how nanoplastics behave in environmental and health experiments.
Micro-Nanoparticle Characterization: Establishing Underpinnings for Proper Identification and Nanotechnology-Enabled Remediation
This review lays out the scientific foundations needed to properly identify and characterize micro- and nanoplastic particles, comparing a wide range of analytical tools from spectroscopy to electron microscopy. Getting identification right matters because different particle types carry different toxicity profiles, and accurate characterization is the first step toward designing effective removal and remediation strategies.
Generation of Simulated “Natural” Nanoplastics from Polypropylene Food Packaging as the Experimental Standard
Researchers developed a laboratory protocol to generate simulated 'natural' nanoplastics from polypropylene food packaging using an SEM-particle size distribution analyzer-surface-enhanced Raman scattering assay, producing experimental standards with physicochemical properties more representative of environmental nanoplastics than commercial spherical nanoparticles used in most toxicology studies.
How small a nanoplastic can be? A discussion on the size of this ubiquitous pollutant
Researchers explored the question of how small nanoplastic particles can actually be, highlighting the lack of standardized size definitions for this emerging pollutant. They examined the analytical challenges involved in detecting and characterizing nanoplastics at the smallest scales. The study calls for a clearer framework around nanoplastic size boundaries, since particle size is a key factor influencing toxicity and environmental behavior.
Protocol for the production of micro- and nanoplastic test materials
Researchers developed a standardized protocol for producing well-characterized polypropylene and PVC micro- and nanoplastic test materials through cryogenic milling and sedimentation fractionation, yielding size fractions from below 1 µm to 300 µm with contamination below 1 wt% that remained stable in BSA solution over nine months.
Nanoplastics Identification in Complex Environmental Matrices: Strategies for Polystyrene and Polypropylene
Researchers developed and compared analytical strategies for detecting and identifying polystyrene and polypropylene nanoplastics in complex environmental matrices, evaluating techniques including pyrolysis-GC/MS, Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopy, and proposing a multi-method workflow for environmental samples.