Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Validated method for polystyrene nanoplastic separation in aqueous matrices by asymmetric-flow field flow fraction coupled to MALS and UV–Vis detectors

Researchers developed and fully validated a method to accurately measure nanoplastic particle sizes (30–490 nm) in water using a technique that combines flow separation with light-scattering detection. Having a validated analytical method is a critical step for standardizing how nanoplastics are measured across laboratories, enabling more consistent assessment of their environmental risks.

2023 Microchimica Acta 14 citations
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

Detection and Identification of Non-Labeled Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Rodent Tissues Using Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) Combined with UV–Vis, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) Detectors and Offline Pyrolysis–GCMS (Pyro-GCMS)

Researchers developed a multi-platform analytical method combining field-flow fractionation, light scattering, and pyrolysis-based mass spectrometry to detect and quantify non-labeled polystyrene nanoplastics in rodent tissues. They created tissue-specific digestion protocols for intestine, kidney, and liver that maximize particle recovery while preventing loss of submicron particles. The method provides a standardized approach for tracking nanoplastics in biological samples, which is essential for evaluating potential health risks.

2026 Microplastics
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

Detection of nanoplastics in food by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation coupled to multi-angle light scattering: possibilities, challenges and analytical limitations

Researchers tested whether asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation coupled to light-scattering detection could identify nanoplastics in fish tissue, successfully detecting 100 nm polystyrene particles at a limit of 52 µg/g after enzymatic digestion, but found the method could not be directly transferred to polyethylene particles without further adjustment.

2018 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 177 citations
Article Tier 2

IntegratingAF4 and Py-GC-MS for Combined Size-ResolvedPolymer-Compositional Analysis of Nanoplastics with Application toWastewater

Researchers developed a novel workflow for nanoplastic characterization in environmental water samples by integrating asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation with multiangle light scattering (AF4-MALS) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) in an offline combination. This approach enables simultaneous size-resolved and polymer-compositional analysis of nanoplastics in wastewater, addressing the lack of standardized methods for this challenging contaminant class.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation methods to characterize submicron particles: application to carbon-based aggregates and nanoplastics

Researchers developed and validated an asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) strategy capable of rapidly sizing and separating submicron particles — including nanoplastics — across the full colloidal range from 10 to 800 nm using a single programmed method with four high-resolution sub-fractionation windows.

2017 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 119 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrating AF4 and Py-GC-MS for Combined Size-Resolved Polymer-Compositional Analysis of Nanoplastics with Application to Wastewater

This study combined asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation with multiangle light scattering and pyrolysis-GC-MS in an offline workflow to simultaneously characterize nanoplastic size distribution (down to ~1 nm) and polymer composition in wastewater, offering a new standard-compatible approach for environmental nanoplastic analysis.

2025 Analytical Chemistry 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Thermal fragmentation enhanced identification and quantification of polystyrene micro/nanoplastics in complex media

Researchers developed a method using thermal fragmentation combined with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to identify and quantify polystyrene micro/nanoplastics in complex media, enabling reliable fingerprint-based detection and quantification down to nanoplastic size ranges.

2019 Talanta 119 citations
Article Tier 2

An effective solution to simultaneously analyze size, mass and number concentration of polydisperse nanoplastics in a biological matrix: asymmetrical flow field fractionation coupled with a diode array detector and multiangle light scattering

Researchers developed an asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation method coupled with a diode array detector and multiangle light scattering to simultaneously measure the size, mass, and number concentration of polydisperse nanoplastics in biological matrices, providing a more accurate tool for assessing nanoplastic pollution levels.

2021 RSC Advances 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Refractive Index of Benchmark Polystyrene Nanoplastics by Optical Modeling of UV–Vis Spectra

The refractive index of benchmark polystyrene nanoplastics was precisely measured using optical methods, providing a fundamental physical parameter needed for accurate optical detection and sizing of nanoplastics. Reliable optical constants for nanoplastics improve the accuracy of light-scattering-based detection instruments.

2025 Analytical Chemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and validation of simple UV-spectrophotometric method for the estimation of polystyrene plastic/microplastic

Researchers developed a simple UV spectrophotometry method to detect and quantify polystyrene microplastics in samples. Polystyrene is widely used in food packaging and can release styrene — a potential carcinogen — when in contact with hot or fatty foods, making reliable detection methods important for monitoring contamination.

2023 Pharmaspire 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel platform using a regenerable SDS-functionalized membrane with AF4-DAD-MALS for online-operated enrichment and detection of polydisperse nanoplastics in biological samples

This study developed a novel analytical platform combining an SDS-functionalized membrane with asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation to detect and characterize nanoplastics in biological samples. The method enabled online enrichment and size-resolved detection of polydisperse nanoplastics at concentrations relevant to health exposure assessments.

2025 Analytical Methods
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

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

Size-dependent selectivity and quantification on detecting PS nanoplastics particles in a mixed solution with different diameters by using periodic Ag nanocavities SERS substrates with high sensitivity

Researchers developed silver nanocavity-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates that selectively detect and quantify polystyrene nanoplastics by size in mixed solutions, achieving a detection limit of 0.001 mg/mL and enabling simultaneous characterization of nanoplastics with different diameters using a microfluidic chip.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Portable detection system for polystyrene nanoplastics: Advancing public health safety

Researchers developed a portable, UV-based detection system for polystyrene nanoplastics that uses multiple optical components and real-time data analysis via an embedded microcontroller. The system demonstrated the feasibility of field-deployable nanoplastic monitoring, addressing a gap left by traditional laboratory-bound methods.

2025
Article Tier 2

High sensitivity in quantitative analysis of mixed-size polystyrene micro/nanoplastics in one step

Scientists developed a new method using filtration combined with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to separate and identify mixed-size micro- and nanoplastics in a single step. The technique achieved detection limits as low as parts-per-billion concentration levels and was successfully tested in real-world tap water samples. Reliable methods for detecting nanoplastics in drinking water are crucial for understanding the extent of human exposure through water consumption.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 11 citations
Article Tier 2

RefractiveIndex of Benchmark Polystyrene Nanoplasticsby Optical Modeling of UV–Vis Spectra

Researchers measured UV-visible spectra of polystyrene nanobeads deposited on sapphire substrates and applied a new optical model based on Mie theory to determine the refractive index of polystyrene nanoplastics below 1 micrometre, bridging a critical gap in the optical characterisation of nanoplastic particles.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Direct Nanoplastics Detection Below the Diffraction Limit Using Micro Raman

Researchers demonstrated that micro-Raman spectroscopy can directly detect polystyrene nanoplastic particles as small as 20 nm — far below the normal diffraction limit. This advances analytical capabilities for detecting the smallest nanoplastic particles in environmental samples.

2023
Article Tier 2

Correlation of refractive index to morphology for polystyrene nanospheres by optical modelling of UV-VIS spectra

Researchers developed an optical modelling approach using UV-VIS spectroscopy to determine the complex refractive index (RI) of polystyrene nanospheres and correlate it to particle morphology. The study bridged two key gaps in RI-morphology characterization: sizes below 1 micrometer and wavelengths below 400 nm, providing reference data critical for monitoring nanoplastics in environmental samples.

2025
Article Tier 2

The production and characterisation of nanoplastic reference material: optimization and method development

Researchers optimized non-solvent phase separation methods using xylene, toluene, and phenol as solvents to produce nanoplastic reference materials from polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene — polymer types more environmentally representative than commonly used commercial polystyrene nanoparticles. They characterized the produced particles by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy, finding predominantly irregular fragment morphologies that more closely resemble environmentally occurring nanoplastics.

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

Overcoming resolution limitations: Spectroscopy of sub-30 nm nanoplastics

Researchers developed a multi-technique approach combining standard micro-Raman spectroscopy with atomic force microscopy to characterize nanoplastics as small as 25 nm, achieving a mass detection limit of 8.6 attograms and demonstrating the capability to obtain single-particle spectra from sub-30 nm polystyrene nanoparticles.

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

Overcoming resolution limitations: Spectroscopy of sub-30 nm nanoplastics

Researchers developed a multi-technique approach combining standard micro-Raman spectroscopy with atomic force microscopy to characterize nanoplastics as small as 25 nm, achieving a mass detection limit of 8.6 attograms and demonstrating the capability to obtain single-particle spectra from sub-30 nm polystyrene nanoparticles.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)