Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics on plankton samples: Multiple digestion techniques assessment based on weight, size, and FTIR spectroscopy analyses

This study compared KOH, hydrogen peroxide, and two-step digestion protocols for removing organic matter from plankton samples before microplastic analysis, finding that two-step protocols improved recovery but that all methods caused measurable changes in microplastic weight and size, necessitating protocol standardization.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Probenaufbereitung für die Analyse auf Mikroplastik mit µFTIR-Spektroskopie: Untersuchung des enzymatischen Verdaus von Plankton mit FlowCam und µFTIR

This German-language study tested sample preparation methods for microplastic analysis using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, comparing different approaches for extracting particles from complex environmental matrices. Optimizing sample preparation is essential for generating reliable, reproducible data on microplastic types and concentrations in environmental samples.

2016 Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar-und Meeresforschung (Alfred-Wegener-Institut)
Article Tier 2

Optimization and application of pretreatment method of microplastics detection in municipal solid waste landfills

Researchers compared different pretreatment digestion methods for detecting microplastics in municipal solid waste landfill samples, establishing which protocols best remove organic matter without degrading the plastic particles themselves.

2024 Waste Management 7 citations
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

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

The pretreatment method in marine organisms and sediment for microplastics analysis by FTIR using “Cylindrical microplastics fractionator”

Researchers compared different chemical pretreatment methods for removing organic matter from marine organisms and sediments before microplastic analysis by infrared spectroscopy, identifying approaches that are effective without destroying the plastic particles. Standardizing sample preparation is critical for producing reliable, comparable microplastic data across studies and laboratories.

2023 MethodsX 8 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel method for organic matter removal from samples containing microplastics

Researchers developed a novel organic matter removal method for wastewater treatment plant sludge samples containing microplastics, demonstrating that the approach is more time- and cost-effective than existing techniques while preserving microplastic integrity for accurate quantification and identification.

2021 Environmental Pollution 45 citations
Article Tier 2

A peak comparison index approach for robust microplastic analysis across environmental matrices: validation using meat products

Researchers developed a peak comparison index approach to improve the accuracy of microplastic detection in meat products using FTIR spectroscopy, testing four different digestion protocols. The method validation demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide digestion combined with the new spectral analysis framework provided the most reliable results for complex organic matrices.

2025 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Microplastics in Industrial Processes—Systematic Analysis of Digestion Efficiency of Samples from Forestry, Wastewater Treatment Plants and Biogas Industries

Enzymatic digestion protocols developed for industrial wastewater matrices (forestry, wastewater treatment, and biogas industries) enabled reliable microplastic detection using both micro-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, showing the need for matrix-specific sample preparation.

2024 Microplastics 4 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

Microplastics in different water samples (seawater, freshwater, and wastewater): Methodology approach for characterization using micro-FTIR spectroscopy

Researchers developed a standardized methodology for detecting and characterizing small microplastics (10-500 micrometers) in different water types using micro-FTIR spectroscopy. The study tested various sample preparation approaches for seawater, freshwater, and wastewater, establishing reliable protocols for rinsing, digestion, and microplastic collection that can be used to assess treatment plant removal efficiency.

2023 Water Research 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics identification in landfill leachates by different spectroscopic techniques

Researchers compared the performance of FTIR and Raman micro-spectroscopy for identifying microplastics in landfill leachate samples, investigating how different pre-treatment protocols affected analytical outcomes. The study re-examined previously treated leachate samples and tested varying concentrations of pre-treatment reagents on duplicate samples to clarify how sample preparation influences the accuracy of microplastic identification in complex matrices.

2022 Detritus 14 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel, density-independent and FTIR-compatible approach for the rapid extraction of microplastics from aquatic sediments

Researchers developed a novel extraction method for microplastics from aquatic sediments that does not rely on density separation, making it compatible with FTIR spectroscopy without requiring additional processing steps. The approach could simplify and speed up microplastic analysis in environmental samples.

2017 Analytical Methods 369 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimizing microplastic analysis through comparative FTIR and raman spectroscopy: Addressing challenges in environmental degradation studies

This study optimized microplastic analysis by comparing FTIR and Raman spectroscopy approaches for identifying degraded polymer particles in environmental samples where photooxidation and mechanical fragmentation have altered spectral signatures. A combined spectroscopy approach outperformed either technique alone for accurately identifying degraded microplastics in complex environmental matrices.

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

Microplastic Monitoring at Different Stages in a Wastewater Treatment Plant Using Reflectance Micro-FTIR Imaging

Researchers used reflectance micro-FTIR imaging to monitor microplastic presence at multiple treatment stages within a wastewater treatment plant, addressing the challenge of analyzing MPs in biogenic organic matter-rich matrices. The study mapped how microplastic identity, abundance, and size distribution changed through primary and secondary treatment, providing insight into WWTP contributions to aquatic microplastic pollution.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 82 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimising microplastics analysis for quantifying and identifying microplastic fibres in laundry wastewater

This methodological paper optimized microplastic analysis protocols for identifying and quantifying particles in environmental samples, comparing extraction, digestion, and spectroscopic identification approaches to improve accuracy and reduce contamination.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

A method for the extraction of microplastics from solid biowastes including biosolids, compost, and soil for analysis by µ-FTIR

Researchers developed and validated a method for extracting microplastics from solid organic materials including biosolids, compost, and soil for analysis by micro-FTIR spectroscopy. The approach combines wet peroxide oxidation with sequential density separations to isolate plastic particles from complex organic matrices. The method provides a reliable protocol for researchers studying how microplastics move through and accumulate in agricultural and waste management systems.

2024 MethodsX 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in Danish wastewater: Sources, occurrences and fate

Researchers evaluated the role of Danish wastewater treatment plants in microplastic emissions by analyzing samples from 10 WWTPs, associated sludge, and farmland soils using FTIR imaging, identifying the amounts, polymer types, and potential sources of microplastics entering the environment.

2017 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastiche: classificazione, identificazione e rimozione all'interno degli impianti di trattamento delle acque reflue

This Italian-language paper reviews how microplastics are classified, identified using techniques like FTIR spectroscopy, and removed in wastewater treatment plants. Conventional treatment plants remove a substantial portion of microplastics but still allow many particles to pass through into the environment. The review calls for better treatment technologies and standardized methods to assess microplastic removal efficiency.

2021 1 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

Pretreatment methods for the isolation of microplastics from wastewater and sludge samples Part 2

This article reviews pretreatment methods for isolating microplastics from wastewater and sludge samples, examining digestion, density separation, and filtration approaches to optimize sample preparation for downstream identification and quantification.

2025 GAZ WODA I TECHNIKA SANITARNA
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

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

A novel method for purification, quantitative analysis and characterization of microplastic fibers using Micro-FTIR

Researchers developed an improved method for purifying, quantifying, and characterizing microplastic fibers using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, addressing the challenge that fibers are harder to process and identify than other microplastic shapes. The method improvements enable more accurate characterization of this common but technically challenging category of environmental microplastics.

2019 Chemosphere 191 citations