Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Optimized Classification of Suspended Particles in Seawater by Dense Sampling of Polarized Light Pulses

Researchers developed an optical method using polarized light pulses to classify suspended particles in seawater, aiming to distinguish microplastics from natural particles like algae in situ. A reliable in-water optical sensor for microplastics would greatly improve environmental monitoring capability.

2021 Sensors 6 citations
Article Tier 2

In-situ Detection Method for Microplastics in Water by Polarized Light Scattering

Researchers developed an in-situ detection method for microplastics in water using polarized light scattering at 120 degrees, enabling real-time measurement of individual particles without sample collection or laboratory processing.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Classification of suspended particles in seawater using an in situ polarized light scattering prototype

This study developed and field-tested an underwater sensor that uses polarized light scattering to distinguish between microplastics, sediment particles, and phytoplankton in seawater in real time. Lab tests showed classification accuracy above 85%, and the device was successfully deployed in a Chinese coastal bay across two seasons. Such in-situ monitoring tools could greatly improve our ability to track microplastic concentrations in the ocean without the labor-intensive sample collection and lab analysis currently required.

2023 Limnology and Oceanography Methods 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Simultaneous Measurement of Polarization and Excitation-Emission Spectrum of Suspended Particles in Water

Researchers developed an optical method capable of simultaneously measuring multi-wavelength polarized light scattering (Stokes parameters) and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectra of suspended single particles in water within 125 ns. Testing on microalgae, microplastics, and sediments demonstrated that the multi-wavelength approach outperforms single-wavelength classification for identifying harmful microalgae and other aquatic particulates.

2024 arXiv (Cornell University)
Article Tier 2

Optical System for In-situ Detection of Microplastics

Researchers developed a portable optical system capable of detecting, identifying, continuously monitoring, and quantifying microplastics in situ at natural water bodies. The system uses optical techniques to observe the temporal behavior of microplastic concentrations at fixed locations, enabling real-time environmental monitoring without sample collection and laboratory processing.

2024
Article Tier 2

Portable On-Site Optical Detection and Quantification of Microplastics

Researchers built a portable, on-site optical device to detect and quantify microplastics in water. The device addresses the challenge of detecting small, often translucent particles without a laboratory setting. Portable microplastic detection tools could enable real-time monitoring in the field, supporting faster environmental assessments.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Classification of Microplastic Particles in Water using Polarized Light Scattering and Machine Learning Methods

Researchers developed a reflection-based, in-situ classification method for microplastic particles in water using polarized light scattering combined with machine learning, successfully identifying colorless particles in the 50-300 micrometer range. The approach circumvents transmission-based interference problems and offers a pathway toward continuous, large-scale microplastic monitoring in aquatic environments.

2025 ArXiv.org
Article Tier 2

Differentiation of suspended particles by polarized light scattering at 120°

A polarized light scattering method was developed to rapidly distinguish different types of suspended particles in seawater, including microplastics, microalgae, and sediment. This optical approach could enable faster, real-time monitoring of microplastic concentrations in ocean water.

2018 Optics Express 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Recognition of microplastics suspended in seawater via refractive index by Mueller matrix polarimetry

Researchers developed a method to identify microplastics suspended in seawater using Mueller matrix polarimetry, which measures how particles interact with polarized light. The study successfully classified different types of microplastics based on their refractive index, even for irregularly shaped particles with varying sizes, suggesting this approach could advance in-situ microplastic detection in ocean water.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Underwater Particle Classification Detector using Mueller Matrix and Fluorescence Signal

A new underwater particle classification detector using Mueller matrix polarimetry was developed to distinguish microplastics from natural particles like sediment and organic matter in situ. The instrument advances real-time, in-water monitoring of microplastics without requiring sample collection and laboratory analysis.

2025 IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Smart polarization and spectroscopic holography for real-time microplastics identification

Researchers developed a new optical imaging system called SPLASH that simultaneously captures polarization, holographic, and texture data from tiny particles — without needing a traditional spectrometer — and used machine learning to identify different types of microplastics with high accuracy. This approach could enable faster, more practical real-time monitoring of microplastic pollution in water.

2024 Communications Engineering 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Imaging-based lensless polarisation-resolving fluid stream analyser for automated, label-free and cost-effective microplastic classification

Researchers developed an imaging-based, lensless, polarisation-resolving fluid stream analyser for automated, label-free, and cost-effective microplastic classification in liquid samples, addressing the lack of in-situ monitoring solutions for ocean environments. The device operates at high flow rates using a custom illumination circuit to reduce motion blur, providing quantitative classification of microplastics without the labour intensity and cost of traditional sampling methods.

2024 Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town)
Article Tier 2

A prototype of a portable optical sensor for the detection of transparent and translucent microplastics in freshwater

Researchers developed a portable prototype optical sensor capable of detecting transparent and translucent microplastics in freshwater by simultaneously measuring specular laser light reflection and transmission, offering a feasibility pathway for field-deployable microplastic monitoring.

2019 Chemosphere 88 citations
Article Tier 2

High-throughput microplastic assessment using polarization holographic imaging

Researchers built a portable, low-cost system that uses holographic imaging and polarized light combined with deep learning to automatically detect, count, and classify microplastics in water in real time — without lengthy sample preparation. This tool significantly speeds up microplastic monitoring and could be widely deployed for environmental surveillance.

2024 Scientific Reports 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastics in wastewater samples by means of polarized light optical microscopy

Scientists tested polarized light optical microscopy as a rapid method for identifying microplastics in wastewater samples, finding it could distinguish synthetic polymer particles from natural debris based on their optical properties without requiring expensive spectroscopy equipment.

2019 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 120 citations
Article Tier 2

Imaging‐Based Lensless Polarization‐Sensitive Fluid Stream Analyzer for Automated, Label‐Free, and Cost‐Effective Microplastic Classification

Researchers developed an imaging-based lensless polarization-sensitive fluid stream analyzer that combines digital in-line holography with polarization sensitivity for automated, label-free, and cost-effective in situ detection and classification of microplastics in fluid streams, offering a practical tool for continuous aquatic monitoring without the labor costs of traditional sampling.

2024 Advanced Intelligent Systems
Article Tier 2

A Portable Optical Sensor for Microplastic Detection: Development and Calibration

Researchers built a portable, low-cost optical sensor prototype designed to detect microplastics by shining multiple wavelengths of light through water samples. The device measures how different plastic particles absorb and scatter light, producing color spectra that can help identify microplastics. The sensor offers an affordable field-deployable option for environmental monitoring, with potential future improvements using machine learning for automated identification.

2025 Applied Sciences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Real-time microplastic detection using polarization digital holographic microscope

Researchers developed a real-time microplastic detection system using a polarization digital holographic microscope, enabling identification and characterization of MP particles in water based on their optical properties without the need for chemical staining or extensive sample preparation.

2025
Article Tier 2

Advancing the Understanding of Microplastic Weathering: Insights from a Novel Polarized Light Scattering Approach

Researchers introduced a polarized light scattering technique to rapidly characterize microplastic weathering, which alters the physical and chemical properties of particles and affects their environmental behavior. The approach provides high-throughput, real-time insights into weathering-induced surface and structural changes that are difficult to capture with conventional methods.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Holographic and polarization features analysis for microplastics characterization and water monitoring

Researchers explored digital holography and polarization imaging as a combined technique for characterizing and classifying microplastics in water, computing features including angle of polarization (AoP) and degree of linear polarization (DoLP) to distinguish microplastics from biological and natural particles. The method demonstrated potential for real-time, non-contact, in situ microplastic detection and water quality monitoring.

2023 4 citations