Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Electrostatic Separation Effectiveness of Plastic Waste Using a Vision System

Researchers developed an electrostatic separation method for sorting mixed plastic waste by polymer type, providing a faster way to assess the quality of plastic separation in recycling processes. Improved plastic sorting and recycling efficiency is key to reducing the amount of mixed plastic waste that eventually breaks down into microplastics.

2020 Sensors 27 citations
Article Tier 2

A new approach in separating microplastics from environmental samples based on their electrostatic behavior

Researchers developed a novel electrostatic separation method to isolate microplastics from environmental matrices based on differences in electrostatic behavior between plastic particles and natural materials. The technique offers a low-cost, chemical-free approach to microplastic extraction that could complement or replace existing density separation methods in some applications.

2017 Environmental Pollution 245 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilizing Electrosorptionfor Efficient Removal ofPolyethylene Microplastics from Water: Critical Factors and MechanisticInsights

An electrosorption method was developed to remove polyethylene microplastics from wastewater, demonstrating improved removal efficiency compared to conventional treatment, especially for smaller particles that typically escape standard wastewater treatment plants.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Study on PET Recovery from Polymeric Mixtures, Using the Floatation Technique, and Valorization of the Collected Particles by Dyeing Them

Researchers developed and tested a flotation-based process to separate PET plastic flakes from mixed polymer waste, then tested whether the recovered PET could be dyed for reuse as textile fiber. Improving the purity and value of recycled PET reduces the amount of plastic that ends up in environments where it fragments into microplastics.

2023 Fibers and Polymers 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Electrostatic Separation of Microplastics From Mineral-Rich Environmental Samples

This study evaluated electrostatic separation as a technique for extracting microplastics from mineral-rich environmental samples like soil and sediment, finding that recovery rates varied significantly by polymer type. Electrostatic separation shows promise for processing large sample volumes but requires further optimization before it can be reliably used for routine microplastic monitoring.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of microplastics from wastewater through electrocoagulation-electroflotation and membrane filtration processes

Researchers investigated electrocoagulation-electroflotation and membrane filtration for removing microplastics from wastewater, finding that combining these processes effectively recovers microplastic particles from treatment plant effluent.

2021 Water Science & Technology 149 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced density separation efficiency of microplastics in presence of nonionic surfactants

Scientists improved the density-separation technique for sorting mixed microplastics by adding nonionic surfactants, boosting the purity of separated polymer types from as low as 69% to up to 96%. Better sorting methods are essential for both accurately measuring microplastic contamination and enabling recycling of plastic waste streams.

2024 Environmental Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Separation of plastic mixtures by sink-float combined with froth flotation

Researchers separated a six-component post-consumer plastic mixture (PS, PMMA, PVC, PET) by combining sink-float density separation with froth flotation, demonstrating that the hybrid method achieved cleaner separation of overlapping-density polymers than either technique alone.

2023 Polímeros 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the efficacy of electrocoagulation process for polypropylene microplastics removal from wastewater: Optimization through TOPSIS approach

Researchers evaluated electrocoagulation as a method for removing polypropylene microplastics from wastewater, testing different electrode materials and operating conditions. They found that using aluminum electrodes achieved up to 95.5% microplastic removal efficiency with relatively low energy consumption. The study suggests that electrocoagulation is a practical and cost-effective treatment option that could complement existing wastewater treatment processes.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilizing Electrosorption for Efficient Removal of Polyethylene Microplastics from Water: Critical Factors and Mechanistic Insights

Researchers developed an electrosorption method using graphite felt electrodes to remove tiny polyethylene microplastics from water. By optimizing voltage, flow rate, and salt concentration, they achieved a removal efficiency of nearly 97%. The study lays groundwork for a scalable technology that could help capture microplastics that slip through conventional wastewater treatment systems.

2025 ACS ES&T Engineering 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of Microplastics from Wastewater by Methods of Electrocoagulation and Adsorption

This review examines electrocoagulation and adsorption methods for removing microplastics from wastewater, comparing them against conventional physical, chemical, and biological approaches in terms of removal efficiency, cost, and practical scalability.

2025 Journal of Water Chemistry and Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Strategies for Electrochemical Recycling of Plastic Polyethylene Terephthalate‐Derived Ethylene Glycol Into High‐Value Chemicals

This paper reviews new methods for recycling PET plastic waste, the most common plastic in bottles and packaging, using electricity from renewable sources. By converting PET-derived chemicals into high-value products through electrocatalysis, this approach could help reduce both plastic pollution and microplastic contamination in the environment.

2025 Advanced Energy Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Stepwise flotation separation of WEEE plastics by polymeric aluminum chloride towards source control of microplastics

Researchers developed a stepwise flotation separation process using polymeric aluminum chloride to sort and recover mixed plastics from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), demonstrating improved separation efficiency and positioning the approach as a strategy to reduce microplastic pollution from e-waste mismanagement.

2022 Waste Management 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances on Density Separation Techniques for Microplastic Recovery from Sediments

This review summarises recent advances in density separation techniques for extracting microplastics from sediments, evaluating the effectiveness of different salt solutions and comparing novel approaches such as electrostatic separation and pressurised fluid extraction against conventional methods.

2022 Sinaya A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Mechanochemical and Mechanobiological Recycling of Postconsumer Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Plastics under Microwave irradiation: A comparative study.

Researchers developed a rapid mechanical pretreatment using microwave irradiation to improve PET plastic recycling under mild, environmentally friendly conditions. More efficient PET recycling reduces the amount that ends up in landfills or the environment, where it breaks down into microplastics.

2023
Review Tier 2

A focused review on recycling and hydrolysis techniques of polyethylene terephthalate

This review examines techniques for recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most common plastics found as microplastic pollution. Chemical recycling through hydrolysis shows the most promise for breaking PET back into its original building blocks for reuse. Improving PET recycling is important because reducing plastic waste at the source is one of the most effective ways to decrease microplastic contamination in the environment.

2023 Polymer Engineering and Science 154 citations
Article Tier 2

Size and Shape Distribution of Microplastics in PET Recycled Wastewater and Their Removal Behavior during the Coagulation–Flocculation Process

Researchers investigated the size and shape distribution of microplastics in wastewater from a PET recycling facility and evaluated removal efficiency through coagulation-flocculation, finding that fragment-shaped and medium-sized particles were most abundant and most effectively removed. The study demonstrates that coagulation-flocculation is a strong candidate for controlling microplastic release from plastic recycling facilities.

2025 Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Management (JES-TM)
Article Tier 2

A clean and efficient flotation towards recovery of hazardous polyvinyl chloride and polycarbonate microplastics through selective aluminum coating: Process, mechanism, and optimization

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polycarbonate (PC) microplastics are hazardous due to their chemical content but are difficult to separate for recycling. Researchers developed a flotation method using aluminum coating that cleanly separates these two plastic types.

2021 Journal of Environmental Management 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Title Perniciousness of microplastics in the ocean and electrocoagulation in microplastic removal in effluent treatmentprocess.

This report reviews the environmental harm of ocean microplastics and evaluates electrocoagulation as a wastewater treatment technology for microplastic removal, examining its dissolution, coagulation, and flocculation mechanisms and the factors affecting its efficiency.

2024 Science and Technology of Engineering Chemistry and Environmental Protection
Article Tier 2

Bidimensional Dynamic Magnetic Levitation: Sequential Separation of Microplastics by Density and Size

Researchers developed a two-dimensional dynamic magnetic levitation technique that simultaneously separates microplastics by both material density and particle size in a single step. The 2D-MagLev method addresses a key gap in microplastic sample preparation by resolving mixtures of plastics that differ in both polymer type and particle dimensions.

2024 Analytical Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of Different Procedures for Separating Microplastics from Sediments

Researchers compared three different methodologies for separating dense microplastics from fine sediments, finding significant differences in recovery rates and identifying contamination risks during the separation procedures.

2021 Water 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental aspects of restoring the environment: nanotechnology for removing micro and nanoplastics from water

Researchers developed a plasma chemical water purification method that combines modified humic substances with high-voltage electrical discharge to aggregate and magnetically remove micro- and nanoplastics from contaminated water. Tested on wastewater from a printing facility, the method outperformed conventional sorption or plasma treatment alone and showed promise for simultaneously removing plastics, heavy metals, and organic pollutants. This offers a potentially scalable technology for treating industrial wastewater sources that are currently releasing nanoplastics to the environment.

2023 Environment & Health
Article Tier 2

Not all microplastics are created equal. Quantifying efficacy bias and validation of density separation methods

Researchers evaluated and validated density separation methods for extracting microplastics from environmental matrices, quantifying efficacy bias across different polymer types with varying densities. They found that recovery rates differ substantially depending on polymer density relative to the separation solution, introducing systematic bias in microplastic concentration estimates across studies.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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