Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Label-free identification and differentiation of different microplastics using phasor analysis of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)-generated data

Researchers developed a label-free method using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) combined with phasor analysis to identify and differentiate multiple types of microplastics based on their unique fluorescence lifetime signatures, enabling more efficient microplastic characterization without chemical staining.

2021 Chemico-Biological Interactions 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Frequency domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy: A new method to directly identify microplastics in water.

Researchers evaluated frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FD-FLIM) as a method to identify ABS, PC, PET, PS, and PVC granulates directly in a 1 cm water layer without filtration or drying. The study found that all five polymer types could be unambiguously identified by their fluorescence lifetimes, establishing FD-FLIM as a promising rapid label-free technique for direct microplastic detection in aqueous samples.

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

A promising method for fast identification of microplastic particles in environmental samples: A pilot study using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy

Researchers piloted fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy as a fast method for identifying microplastic particles in environmental samples. The study suggests this technique could simplify microplastic analysis by potentially eliminating the need for extensive extraction steps, enabling more direct identification of plastic particles in complex matrices.

2024 Heliyon 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Nile Red lifetime reveals microplastic identity

Researchers developed a fluorescence lifetime imaging approach using the dye Nile Red that can distinguish microplastic particles from biological and mineral debris based on their distinct fluorescence lifetimes, offering faster and more specific microplastic identification than conventional methods.

2020 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of different plastic types and natural materials from terrestrial environments using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy

Researchers tested a microscopy technique called fluorescence lifetime imaging (FD-FLIM) to quickly identify and distinguish microplastics from natural materials like soil particles, finding that a 445 nm light excitation was best for telling plastic types apart — potentially offering a faster alternative to slow, labor-intensive microplastic analysis methods.

2024 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 14 citations
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

Identification of marine microplastics based on laser-induced fluorescence and principal component analysis

Researchers developed a method to identify different types of marine microplastics using laser-induced fluorescence combined with principal component analysis. The technique successfully distinguished nine types of microplastics based on their fluorescence signatures and could detect microplastic concentrations as low as 0.03% by mass. The study suggests this approach could be a practical tool for rapid microplastic identification in marine environments.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Fast and portable fluorescence lifetime analysis for early warning detection of micro- and nanoplastics in water

Researchers developed a portable fluorescence-based system that can detect micro- and nanoplastics in water without any sample preparation or labeling. The method works by measuring the natural fluorescence lifetime of plastic particles using a pulsed laser, achieving detection limits as low as 0.01 mg/mL. The study presents a promising early-warning tool for rapid, on-site monitoring of plastic contamination in water sources.

2023 Environmental Research 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Shedding light on the polymer’s identity: Microplastic detection and identification through nile red staining and multispectral imaging (FIMAP)

Researchers built a multispectral imaging platform called FIMAP that uses fluorescent dye and five different light wavelengths to automatically detect and classify ten types of microplastics with 90% accuracy, while effectively ignoring natural organic matter that typically causes false positives. The system provides a scalable, high-throughput approach for analyzing large environmental samples without needing expensive traditional instruments like infrared spectroscopy.

2025 Journal of environmental chemical engineering 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Determining the influence of variable additive, filler, and dye concentrations in plastics on their fluorescence behavior via spectrometry and FD-FLIM

This study investigated how varying concentrations of additives, fillers, and dyes within plastic materials affect their fluorescence behavior, with the goal of improving fluorescence-based microplastic identification methods. The researchers used spectrometry and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FD-FLIM) to reveal that these internal variables significantly influence fluorescence signals, which must be accounted for when using fluorescence as a detection technique. More reliable microplastic identification methods are needed to accurately measure contamination levels across diverse environmental and food samples.

2026 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
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

First-line detection of PET and PVC microplastics in water using a portable fluorescence lifetime platform

Researchers demonstrated that a portable fluorescence lifetime analysis (FLA) device can rapidly screen for PET and PVC microplastics in water suspensions at concentrations as low as 0.01 mg/mL. The label-free method is much cheaper than conventional detection approaches, enabling cost-effective tiered environmental monitoring.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Exploring the potential of photoluminescence spectroscopy in combination with Nile Red staining for microplastic detection

Researchers explored photoluminescence spectroscopy combined with Nile Red staining as a cost- and time-efficient detection method for microplastics, evaluating improvements to existing fluorescence microscopy approaches for more reliable global monitoring of microplastic abundance.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Fluorescence polarimetry for microplastics identification

Researchers developed a novel fluorescence polarimetry approach using anisotropy measurements to identify and characterize microplastics, offering a faster and simpler alternative to conventional spectroscopy and chromatography methods that require complex sample preparation.

2025
Article Tier 2

Microplastic detection and identification by Nile red staining: Towards a semi-automated, cost- and time-effective technique

Researchers developed a semi-automated, cost-effective method for microplastic detection using Nile red fluorescent staining, showing it can significantly reduce the time and expense of identifying microplastics compared to traditional spectroscopic approaches.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Rapid and reliable detection of microplastics in drinking water using fluorescence microscopy

Researchers developed a fluorescence-based method for rapid detection and quantification of microplastics in drinking water, addressing the need for faster and more practical monitoring tools. The method achieved high sensitivity and allowed polymer discrimination without requiring expensive spectroscopic instrumentation.

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

A rapid-screening approach to detect and quantify microplastics based on fluorescent tagging with Nile Red

Researchers developed a rapid fluorescent screening method using Nile Red dye to detect and quantify microplastics in environmental samples, finding it significantly faster than conventional methods while maintaining reasonable accuracy.

2017 Scientific Reports 897 citations
Article Tier 2

Imaging microplastics with multiphoton tomographs

Researchers demonstrated that multimodal multiphoton tomography, combining autofluorescence, lifetime imaging, and other optical techniques, can effectively identify and characterize microplastic particles. The study suggests this advanced imaging approach could help standardize microplastic detection methods, addressing a key challenge in environmental monitoring.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Applications of Fluorescence Technology for Rapid Identification of Marine Plastic Pollution

This review examines how fluorescence-based technologies can be used to rapidly identify and classify plastic pollution in marine environments. Researchers found that analyzing differences in fluorescence lifetimes and intensities of different plastics, combined with various fluorescent dyes, enables effective detection of microplastics. The study highlights fluorescence technology as a promising low-cost tool for monitoring ocean plastic contamination.

2025 Polymers 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Rapid and reliable detection of microplastics in drinking water using fluorescence microscopy

This study developed a rapid and reliable fluorescence-based method for detecting microplastics in drinking water, addressing the need for faster alternatives to time-consuming conventional analytical approaches. The method demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for common plastic polymers in drinking water matrices.

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

Detection and Characterisation of Micro- and Nano-plastics in Water using Optical Spectroscopy

This thesis explored photoluminescence spectroscopy as an alternative technique for detecting and characterizing micro- and nanoplastics in water, optimizing fluorescence excitation-emission features and comparing performance against conventional spectroscopic approaches.

2025 Aston Publications Explorer (Aston University)
Article Tier 2

A New Optical Method for Quantitative Detection of Microplastics in Water Based on Real-Time Fluorescence Analysis

Researchers developed a new fluorescence-based particle counter for real-time quantitative detection of microplastics in water, validating the method against FTIR analysis on wastewater treatment plant samples containing polyethylene and PVC particles.

2022 Water 29 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 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

Single particle-resolution fluorescence microscopy of nanoplastics

Researchers developed a fluorescence microscopy technique capable of imaging and identifying individual nanoplastic particles. The method enables single-particle resolution detection of nanoplastics, which is a key step toward better quantifying these otherwise invisible particles in environmental samples.

2020 3 citations