Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

A Nanoplastic Sampling and Enrichment Approach by Continuous Flow Centrifugation

This study developed a continuous flow centrifugation method for sampling and concentrating nanoplastics from water, achieving enrichment efficiencies over 90% for particles smaller than 1 micrometer. This sampling approach addresses a critical technical gap: the difficulty of detecting and quantifying nanoplastics that are too small for conventional filtration methods.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 59 citations
Article Tier 2

A membrane cascade for size-based separation and concentration of nanoplastics in environmental waters

Researchers developed a cascade system of membrane filters that can separate and concentrate nanoplastics from environmental water samples by size. They demonstrated that the system effectively isolates nanoplastic particles while tracking recovery rates using fluorescent markers. The technology addresses a major challenge in nanoplastic research by providing a reliable method to extract these extremely small particles from water for accurate measurement and analysis.

2025 Separation and Purification Technology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Non-Destructive Extraction and Separation of Nano- and Microplastics from Environmental Samples by Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation

Researchers developed a non-destructive method using density gradient ultracentrifugation to extract and separate different types of nano- and microplastics from environmental samples. The study demonstrates that this approach can effectively separate various plastic polymer types from complex environmental matrices based on their density differences, offering a promising new tool for microplastic analysis.

2022 Analytical Chemistry 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-classifiable quantification of nanoplastic by rate zonal centrifugation coupled with pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Researchers combined rate-zonal centrifugation with pyrolysis-GC-MS to separately quantify nanoplastics of three distinct size classes (100, 300, and 600 nm) in water samples with high recovery rates (81–89%), providing a scalable analytical method for size-resolved environmental nanoplastic monitoring.

2024 Analytica Chimica Acta 6 citations
Article Tier 2

High-throughput enrichment of micro-nanoplastic using inertial microfluidics

Researchers developed a high-throughput microfluidic enrichment method using inertial microfluidics for concentrating micro- and nanoplastics from water samples, demonstrating this passive particle manipulation technique as an efficient approach for pre-concentrating plastic particles prior to analysis.

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

Extraction and concentration of nanoplastic particles from aqueous suspensions using functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and a magnetic flow cell

Researchers developed a method using hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles to capture and concentrate nanoplastics — plastic particles smaller than 1 micrometer — from water samples, achieving recovery rates of 57–85% across different water types including freshwater and seawater. This technique addresses a major gap in nanoplastic research by making it possible to detect and measure these nearly invisible particles in real environmental samples.

2023 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Separate determination of polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics in water by membrane filtration and gel permeation chromatography-ultraviolet detection analysis

Researchers developed a practical laboratory method to separately measure polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics in water samples using membrane filtration and a specialized chromatography technique. The method was validated in both environmental water and tap water, confirming the presence of nanoplastics through multiple analytical approaches. This represents an important step forward in the ability to accurately distinguish between different sizes of plastic pollution in drinking and environmental water.

2025 Talanta 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative Removal Efficiency of Polypropylene Microplastics from Aqueous Solutions by Filtration, Centrifugation, and Flocculation

Researchers compared three methods (filtration, centrifugation, and flocculation) for removing polypropylene microplastics from laboratory water samples, evaluating removal efficiency and practicality for use as a foundation for standardized environmental water treatment protocols.

2025 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Matrix OverloadingEffects on Size-Resolved Quantificationof Low-Concentration Nanoplastics in Complex Environmental MatricesUsing Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation

Researchers developed a size-resolved nanoplastic quantification method using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation with on-channel preconcentration, identifying and characterizing matrix overloading effects that cause analytical artifacts when measuring nanoplastics in complex environmental water samples.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Protein Corona-Mediated Extraction for Quantitative Analysis of Nanoplastics in Environmental Waters by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Scientists developed a new method for detecting and measuring nanoplastics in environmental water samples using a protein-based extraction technique paired with specialized mass spectrometry. The approach works by adding a protein that naturally coats nanoplastic particles, which can then be separated from the water and analyzed. Using this method, researchers detected nanoplastics in both river water and wastewater treatment plant samples, demonstrating a practical tool for monitoring these tiny but potentially harmful contaminants.

2021 Analytical Chemistry 103 citations
Article Tier 2

New method for separating and online detecting polydisperse mixed nanoplastics

Researchers optimized an asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation method coupled with UV detection to separate and quantify mixed nanoplastics between 20 and 200 nm in a single run, achieving high recovery rates and low detection limits across multiple polymer types and real water sample conditions.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Continuous-flow separation and preconcentration of microplastics from natural waters using countercurrent chromatography

Researchers developed a continuous-flow system for separating and concentrating microplastics from water samples, enabling higher throughput analysis than conventional batch methods. The approach improved detection sensitivity and reduced processing time for environmental monitoring applications.

2024 Talanta 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Matrix Overloading Effects on Size-Resolved Quantification of Low-Concentration Nanoplastics in Complex Environmental Matrices Using Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation

Researchers developed a size-resolved method for quantifying nanoplastics in the 20-200 nm range in environmental water samples using asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation. The study identified important analytical artifacts from matrix overloading effects that can occur when measuring low-concentration nanoplastics in complex environmental samples, providing guidance for more accurate quantification methods.

2025 Analytical Chemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and Quantification of Nanoplastics in Surface Water and Groundwater by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a method combining ultrafiltration and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and quantify nanoplastics in surface water and groundwater. The study successfully detected six types of plastic polymers at the nanoscale in environmental water samples, providing much-needed quantitative data on nanoplastic pollution in real-world water sources.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 210 citations
Article Tier 2

Separation and Analysis of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Complex Environmental Samples

This review examined separation and analysis methods for microplastics and nanoplastics in complex environmental samples, covering density separation, filtration, spectroscopic identification, and emerging approaches for sub-micron particles. The authors identify detection of nanoplastics as a critical unresolved methodological challenge for understanding full plastic contamination in the environment.

2019 Accounts of Chemical Research 671 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics in aquatic environments: Origin, separation and characterization: Review

This review covers the origins, separation methods, and characterization of nanoplastics in aquatic environments. Nanoplastics (1–100 nm) are particularly concerning because their tiny size gives them a large surface area for adsorbing pollutants and allows them to penetrate biological barriers more easily than larger microplastics.

2023 Tehnika
Article Tier 2

A method for efficient separation of polystyrene nanoplastics and its application in natural freshwater

Researchers developed a method using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled with multiple detectors to efficiently separate and characterize polystyrene nanoplastics by particle size in freshwater environments, demonstrating its applicability for analysing nanoplastic environmental behaviour in natural freshwater samples.

2025 RSC Advances
Article Tier 2

Expanding sample volume for microscopical detection of nanoplastics

Researchers developed a method to expand the sample volume analyzed in microscopical detection of nanoplastics, enabling more representative detection of rare nanoplastic particles below 1 micrometer. The approach improved detection limits without proportionally increasing analysis time, advancing practical nanoplastic characterization in environmental water samples.

2024
Article Tier 2

A straightforward method for microplastic extraction from organic-rich freshwater samples

Researchers developed a streamlined method for extracting microplastics from organic-rich freshwater samples using centrifugation and enzymatic digestion. They found that the approach effectively concentrated microplastics while preserving their integrity and minimizing contamination, at lower cost than existing methods. The study offers a practical and accessible protocol for laboratories studying microplastic pollution in freshwater environments.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of microplastic sample preparation method for freshwater samples

Researchers developed and validated a standardized sample preparation method for extracting microplastics from freshwater samples, testing enzymatic digestion and density separation steps to improve recovery rates and reduce measurement uncertainty across different particle types.

2021 Water Research 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and testing of a fractionated filtration for sampling of microplastics in water

Researchers developed and tested a fractionated filtration system for sampling microplastics in water bodies, proposing a standardized sampling concept that accounts for plastic-specific properties to improve comparability of microplastic data across different studies and environments.

2018 Water Research 101 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

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

Evaluating theEfficiency of Enhanced Coagulationfor Nanoplastics Removal Using Flow Cytometry

Researchers evaluated the efficiency of enhanced coagulation for removing nanoplastics from water using flow cytometry as a quantification tool, addressing the interconnected challenges of nanoplastic removal and detection in conventional water treatment systems.

2025 Figshare