Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Markermaterialien und spektroskopische Methoden für die Sortierung von Kunststoffabfällen (NanoTrust-Dossier Nr. 060 - Jänner 2023)

This report (in German) reviews marker materials and spectroscopic methods used to sort plastic waste streams for recycling. Reliable plastic sorting technology is important for recycling efficiency and for reducing the amount of mixed plastic waste that ends up fragmented into microplastics in the environment.

2023
Article Tier 2

Polymer Sorting Through Fluorescence Spectra

Identifying which type of plastic a particle is made of is a key step in microplastics research, and this study explored using fluorescence spectroscopy as a faster, cheaper alternative to standard methods. By exposing six common polymers to different light wavelengths and analyzing their fluorescence signatures, the researchers found combinations of wavelengths that could reliably distinguish between plastics like polystyrene, polyamide, and polypropylene. This technique could streamline polymer identification in large-scale environmental monitoring programs.

2025 Bioengineering 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Fluorescent labelling as a tool for identifying and quantifying nanoplastics

Researchers used fluorescent labeling with four fluorescent molecules to enable detection of nanoplastics from six common polymer types (PP, LDPE, HDPE, PS, PET, PVC) via 3D fluorescence spectral analysis. The method provides a practical approach to identifying and quantifying nanoplastics in samples where conventional spectroscopic methods face sensitivity challenges.

2024 RSC Advances 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifying plastics with photoluminescence spectroscopy and machine learning

Researchers showed that combining photoluminescence spectroscopy (shining light on plastic and measuring what comes back) with machine learning can reliably identify different types of plastic materials. This low-cost, widely accessible approach could help scientists track and characterize plastic pollution in the environment at a global scale.

2022 Scientific Reports 15 citations
Article Tier 2

The potential of NIR spectroscopy in the separation of plastics for pyrolysis

This study examined the potential of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to identify and sort different plastic types for chemical recycling, finding it can effectively distinguish major polymer types. Better plastic sorting technology could improve recycling rates and reduce the amount of plastic that ends up as environmental microplastic pollution.

2021 Electronic Imaging 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Lab-on-Chip Proposal for Polymer Sorting Through Fluorescence Spectra

Researchers proposed a lab-on-chip device for polymer sorting that identifies six common polymers -- PA6, PMMA, PP, PS, HDPE, and PET -- by analyzing their fluorescence emission spectra under excitation wavelengths ranging from 245 to 345 nm, selecting optimal wavelengths to distinguish each polymer for applications in recycling, quality control, and microplastic environmental monitoring.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Laser-based spectroscopic techniques: A novel approach for distinguishing aging processes and types of microplastics

Researchers applied laser-based spectroscopic techniques as a novel approach to distinguish between different aging processes and plastic types in microplastic particles, addressing the challenge of identifying weathered plastics that have undergone physical and chemical degradation in the environment.

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

A comparison of microscopic and spectroscopic identification methods for analysis of microplastics in environmental samples

Researchers compared microscopic and spectroscopic methods for analyzing microplastics in environmental samples, evaluating accuracy and efficiency and finding that spectroscopic confirmation substantially reduces misidentification errors.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 820 citations
Article Tier 2

Laser-based spectroscopic techniques: A novel approach for distinguishing aging processes and types of microplastics

Researchers applied laser-based spectroscopic techniques as a novel approach to distinguish different aging processes and plastic types in microplastics, examining how biotic and abiotic degradation factors alter spectral signatures across particles ranging from 1 to 1000 microns.

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

Comparison of Various Plastics Wastes Using X-ray Fluorescence

This study used X-ray fluorescence analysis to compare the elemental composition of different types of plastic waste, finding characteristic elemental profiles that could help sort plastics by resin type for recycling. Improved sorting of plastic waste is important for increasing recycling rates and reducing the fraction that ends up as environmental microplastic contamination.

2017 American Journal of Materials Synthesis and Processing 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy with neural network approach for plastic identification and classification in waste management

Researchers applied laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy combined with neural network algorithms to identify and classify different plastic types, addressing the need for rapid and accurate plastic sorting in recycling chains. The system demonstrated high classification accuracy for common polymer types based on their elemental emission spectra.

2024 Applied Chemical Engineering 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Mid-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning for postconsumer plastics recycling

Mid-infrared spectroscopy combined with machine learning was developed to sort and identify postconsumer plastics, aiming to prevent contamination and improve recycling stream purity. The approach could help close material loops and reduce the volume of plastic ultimately entering the environment.

2023 Environmental Science Advances 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Photoluminescence‐Based Techniques for the Detection of Micro‐ and Nanoplastics

This review examined photoluminescence-based techniques for detecting micro- and nanoplastics, evaluating fluorescent labeling and spectroscopic methods as promising approaches to address the challenge of identifying plastic particles at the smallest scales.

2021 Chemistry - A European Journal 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Analytical methods used in microplastics identification: A review

This review examines the range of analytical methods used to identify microplastics in environmental samples, evaluating the strengths and limitations of techniques including visual inspection, spectroscopy, and chromatography for accurate microplastic characterization.

2024 Journal of Hydro-meteorology
Article Tier 2

Labelling of micro- and nanoplastics for environmental studies: state-of-the-art and future challenges

Researchers reviewed labelling techniques used to track micro- and nanoplastics in environmental studies, categorizing them into fluorescent, metal, stable isotope, and radioisotope methods. The study found that fluorescent labelling works well for tracking microplastics while metal labelling is more sensitive for nanoplastics research, though a major challenge remains in developing techniques that do not alter the inherent properties of the plastic particles being studied.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Electrostatic Separation Effectiveness of Plastic Waste Using a Vision System

Researchers developed an electrostatic separation method for sorting mixed plastic waste by polymer type, providing a faster way to assess the quality of plastic separation in recycling processes. Improved plastic sorting and recycling efficiency is key to reducing the amount of mixed plastic waste that eventually breaks down into microplastics.

2020 Sensors 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Potential of Time-Resolved Photoluminescence Spectroscopy for the Detection of Plastics

Researchers tested time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy as a faster alternative to conventional Raman and FTIR spectroscopy for identifying plastic polymers. The technique showed promise for rapid plastic identification, which could speed up microplastic analysis in environmental samples.

2020 Applied Spectroscopy 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Optical measurement technologies for detecting low levels of pollution and identifying microplastics in water

Researchers reviewed optical technologies for detecting and identifying microplastics in water, experimentally characterizing the fluorescence spectra of PE and PET microplastic samples under 365 nm excitation and identifying spectral bands enabling identification of different polymer types, then proposing a comprehensive hardware solution using a fluorescent probe for microplastic visualization.

2024
Article Tier 2

Advancing Plastic Waste Classification and Recycling Efficiency: Integrating Image Sensors and Deep Learning Algorithms

Researchers developed a deep learning approach combined with image sensors to improve plastic waste classification and recycling efficiency. The study demonstrates that this method can distinguish between chemically similar plastics like PET and PET-G that conventional near-infrared spectroscopy struggles to differentiate, potentially improving automated sorting systems.

2023 Applied Sciences 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimization of sample preparation, fluorescence- and Raman techniques for environmental microplastics

Researchers optimized methods for preparing and analyzing environmental microplastic samples using fluorescence staining with Nile Red dye and Raman spectroscopy. The study found that while fluorescence can broadly categorize plastics as polar or non-polar, Raman spectroscopy with a deep-UV laser was needed to reliably identify all polymer types, including those pigmented with carbon black.

2024 Spectrochimica Acta Part A Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging technologies for assessing the occurrence, fate, effects, and remediation of plastics in the environment

Researchers reviewed emerging technologies for detecting, tracking, and remediating plastic pollution across environmental compartments, covering advanced spectroscopic and chromatographic tools alongside novel remediation strategies.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Nile Red-Stained Microplastics through Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Researchers developed an improved method for characterizing microplastics using Nile Red fluorescent staining combined with fluorescence spectroscopy. They found that different plastic polymers produce distinct fluorescent signatures when stained, enabling more reliable identification of plastic types. The technique offers a faster and more affordable alternative to traditional microplastic detection methods, which could help scale up environmental monitoring efforts.

2024 Preprints.org 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Material-Specific Determination Based on Microscopic Observation of Single Microplastic Particles Stained with Fluorescent Dyes

Researchers developed a fluorescence-based technique using commercially available fluorescent dyes to identify the material composition of individual microplastic particles under microscopy, offering a faster first-screening alternative to FT-IR and Raman microspectroscopy. The method was validated on common microplastic types and demonstrated as a practical tool for material-specific determination without requiring specialized spectral expertise.

2022 Sensors 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Fabrication and characterization of (fluorescent) model nanoplastics for polymer specific detection

Scientists developed fluorescently labeled model nanoplastics that mimic the properties of real plastic particles, enabling polymer-specific identification at very small scales. These standardized reference particles are a key research tool because nanoplastics are otherwise extremely difficult to detect and characterize in environmental samples.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)