Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Identifying a quick and efficient method of removing organic matter without damaging microplastic samples

Researchers compared common organic-matter digestion protocols used before microplastic detection, finding significant variation in removal efficiency and polymer damage, and recommending optimized methods to avoid underestimating microplastic counts.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 311 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimization of a method used for extracting microplastics from an organic matter-rich matrix and isolated particles assessment

Researchers optimized a method for extracting microplastics from sewage sludge — a challenging organic-rich matrix — by combining density separation and chemical digestion steps, improving recovery rates and enabling more accurate characterization of sludge-associated microplastics.

2025 Chemosphere 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics extraction from wastewater treatment plants: Two-step digestion pre-treatment and application

Researchers developed an optimized two-step digestion method for extracting microplastics from wastewater treatment plant samples, achieving high recovery rates especially in organic-rich matrices like sludge, and applied it across multiple treatment stages.

2023 Water Research 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifying an accurate and efficient approach to soil organic matter removal for quantifying microplastics in agricultural soils

Researchers evaluated multiple soil organic matter removal strategies for microplastic extraction from agricultural soils, comparing their efficiency in decomposing organic interference while preserving microplastic integrity. The study identifies an optimal approach that balances thorough SOM removal with minimal microplastic degradation, supporting more accurate quantification in contaminated agricultural samples.

2025 Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
Article Tier 2

A method for the characterisation of microplastics in sludge

Researchers developed a method for detecting and characterizing microplastics in sewage sludge, which concentrates the majority of microplastics removed during wastewater treatment. This method is important because sludge is widely spread on agricultural land, making it a key pathway for microplastics entering soils.

2019 MethodsX 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Various Digestion Protocols Within Microplastic Sample Processing—Evaluating the Resistance of Different Synthetic Polymers and the Efficiency of Biogenic Organic Matter Destruction

Multiple organic matter digestion protocols used in microplastic sample preparation were systematically evaluated for their effectiveness in removing biogenic material while preserving plastic particles. The review helps standardize sample processing by identifying which digestion chemicals and conditions work best for different environmental matrices.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 216 citations
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

Optimised reduction of total solids and organic matter of sewage sludge matrix for an improved extraction of microplastics

Researchers optimized chemical digestion protocols for extracting microplastics from sewage sludge, finding that maximizing reduction of total solids and organic carbon content significantly improved the reliability and efficiency of subsequent density-based microplastic separation.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Rapid and efficient removal of organic matter from sewage sludge for extraction of microplastics

Researchers tested hydrogen peroxide combined with enzymatic treatment as an efficient method for removing organic matter from sewage sludge before microplastic extraction, overcoming the limitations of acid digestion for organic-rich matrices. The optimized approach improved MP recovery and reduced interference during spectroscopic identification steps.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined application of analytical techniques for microplastic determination to achieve comprehensive results for sewage sludge samples

Researchers combined multiple analytical techniques for comprehensive microplastic determination in sewage sludge samples, addressing the challenge that more than 90% of microplastics entering wastewater treatment plants are retained in sludge and require robust multi-method characterization.

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

Comprehensive assessment of various digestion protocols for extraction microplastics from organic-rich environmental matrices

Researchers tested 27 different chemical protocols for extracting microplastics from organic-rich samples like animal tissue, plants, soil, and sewage sludge. They identified the best digestion method for each sample type that removes organic matter while preserving the integrity of 26 different plastic types. The optimized protocols achieved recovery rates above 98%, offering a standardized approach for more accurate microplastic analysis across different environmental samples.

2025 Water Research 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic identification and quantification from organic rich sediments: A validated laboratory protocol

Researchers developed and validated a laboratory protocol for extracting, quantifying, and identifying microplastics from organic-rich sediments with fine grain sizes. The study addressed the challenge of analyzing microplastics in contamination hotspots like harbors and estuaries, where high organic content makes extraction difficult, and provided a cost-effective integrated method for more reliable environmental monitoring.

2020 Environmental Pollution 136 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic isolation method for wastewater and sludge samples by removal of excess organic and inorganic interferences

Researchers developed an improved microplastic isolation method for wastewater and sludge samples that removes extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) interfering with detection. The optimized protocol improves the accuracy and reliability of microplastic quantification in complex environmental matrices.

2023 Chemosphere 8 citations
Article Tier 2

An improved methodology for microplastics analysis in sludge samples based on monitoring of organic matter oxidation

Researchers developed an improved method for analyzing microplastics in wastewater sludge by using colorimetry to monitor organic matter oxidation and a 3D-printed filtration piece for visual scanning and Raman spectroscopy. They found high levels of polyethylene and polypropylene across sludge treatment stages, with smaller microplastics predominating in certain waste streams. The methodology accelerates microplastic characterization in sludge samples by providing a reliable way to determine when organic interference has been sufficiently removed.

2025 Journal of environmental chemical engineering 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient removal of microplastic particles from wastewater through formation of heteroagglomerates during the activated sludge process

Microplastic particles were efficiently removed from wastewater using a novel treatment process, demonstrating high removal rates across different plastic sizes and polymer types. The technology contributes to the toolkit for preventing microplastic discharge from wastewater treatment plants into receiving waters.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Tackling microplastic contamination in sewage sludge: Optimizing organic matter degradation, quantifying microplastic presence, and evaluating ecological risks for sustainable agriculture

Researchers optimized a Fenton reagent-based method to remove 86.6% of organic matter from sewage sludge, enabling more accurate quantification of microplastics in the samples. Analysis of sludge from 14 treatment plants in Ahmedabad, India revealed microplastic concentrations ranging from 2,430 to 227,200 particles per kilogram, with small fibers and fragments being the most abundant. Ecological risk assessments indicated extreme hazard levels, raising concerns about using contaminated sewage sludge as agricultural fertilizer.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimising sample preparation for FTIR-based microplastic analysis in wastewater and sludge samples: multiple digestions

Researchers optimized sample digestion protocols for FTIR-based microplastic analysis in wastewater and sludge, finding that multiple sequential digestion steps improve removal of organic matter while minimizing polymer degradation.

2021 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 97 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of chemical pretreatments on microplastic extraction in sewage sludge and their physicochemical characteristics

This study evaluated different chemical pretreatment methods for extracting microplastics from sewage sludge, finding that some treatments can alter the physical and chemical properties of plastic particles in ways that affect identification. Choosing the right extraction method is important for accurately characterizing microplastic contamination in biosolids.

2019 Water Research 166 citations
Article Tier 2

Heat and Bleach: A Cost-Efficient Method for Extracting Microplastics from Return Activated Sludge

Researchers developed a cost-efficient heat and bleach method for extracting microplastics from sewage sludge, offering a faster and less expensive alternative to existing density separation and oxidative digestion procedures for processing this complex, highly organic matrix.

2017 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 126 citations
Article Tier 2

Effectiveness of conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants in microplastics removal: Insights from multiple analytical techniques

Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants in removing microplastics across multiple treatment stages, finding removal efficiencies of 70–90% but documenting that billions of particles still pass through in final effluent daily.

2025 Journal of Environmental Sciences 4 citations