Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Innovative reference materials for method validation in microplastic analysis including interlaboratory comparison exercises

Researchers developed innovative reference materials for validating microplastic analysis methods, presenting interlaboratory comparison results that support quality assurance and standardization in the growing field of microplastic detection.

2023 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Reference materials for microplastics in environmental matrices

This paper discussed the development and use of reference materials for microplastic analysis in environmental matrices, addressing the urgent need for calibration standards to ensure comparable and reliable measurements across different laboratories. Standardized reference materials are a foundational requirement for credible, policy-relevant microplastic monitoring.

2018
Article Tier 2

The use of reference material in microplastic research: general aspects

This paper discussed general considerations for using certified reference materials in microplastic research, arguing that standardized reference materials are essential for ensuring that measurements are reproducible and comparable across different laboratories and studies. The lack of such standards remains a major limitation in the field.

2017
Article Tier 2

A novel proof of concept approach towards generating reference microplastic particles

This paper presented a proof-of-concept approach for generating standardized reference microplastic particles to improve comparability across analytical methods. The lack of consistent reference materials has been a key barrier to producing reliable and comparable microplastic research data.

2024 EPub Bayreuth (University of Bayreuth)
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic content in natural waters and sediments: sampling and sample preparation

Researchers reviewed and evaluated sampling and analytical methods for measuring microplastic content in natural waters and sediments, assessing sources of error and variability in current approaches. The review recommended a standardized protocol to improve cross-study comparability.

2024 Журнал аналитической химии
Article Tier 2

Microplastic analysis—are we measuring the same? Results on the first global comparative study for microplastic analysis in a water sample

Researchers conducted the first international comparative study of analytical methods for microplastic analysis in a water sample and found that comparability between methods was highly limited, underscoring the urgent need for standardized protocols in microplastic research.

2019 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 112 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation and Analysis of Standard Microplastics

Researchers prepared and characterized standard microplastic samples from synthetic textiles, finding that microfilaments shed by fabrics are the dominant form and proposing methods for creating consistent reference materials for environmental monitoring studies.

2022 Environmental sciences 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of Sample Preparation Methods for Microplastic Analysis in Wastewater Matrices—Reproducibility and Standardization

Sample preparation methods for microplastic analysis in wastewater were validated against reference standards to assess recovery rates and reproducibility. The validation study identified methods that reliably extract microplastics from complex wastewater matrices, supporting more consistent environmental monitoring of microplastic discharge from treatment plants.

2020 Water 180 citations
Article Tier 2

Standard Practice for Development of Microplastic Reference Samples for Calibration and Proficiency Evaluation in All Types of Water Matrices with High to Low Levels of Suspended Solids

This ASTM standard practice provides procedures for creating reference microplastic particle samples for use in calibrating and evaluating microplastic detection methods. Standardized reference materials are essential for ensuring that different laboratories produce consistent and comparable microplastic measurement results.

2023
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

Development of new microplastic reference particles for usage in pre-defined numbers

This study developed new microplastic reference particles with defined numbers of particles per unit, addressing the lack of standardized reference materials that has hampered comparability across microplastic research studies and analytical methods.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Selection of an appropriate fluorescent reference material to assess microplastic recovery in natural waters

Researchers developed a standardized fluorescent reference material for validating methods used to detect microplastics in drinking water samples. The material was designed to closely mimic the size, shape, and composition of real environmental microplastics, enabling more accurate spike-and-recovery testing. The work addresses a key gap in microplastic monitoring by providing a reliable benchmark for ensuring that sampling and analysis methods are capturing particles accurately.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel proof of concept approach towards generating reference microplastic particles

Researchers developed a new method for creating standardized reference microplastic particles that can be embedded in a dissolvable matrix in precise, known quantities. Current microplastic research suffers from a lack of consistent reference standards, making it difficult to compare results across different laboratories and methods. The approach could significantly improve the quality and comparability of microplastic measurements in environmental studies.

2024 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Standard Practice for Development of Microplastic Reference Samples for Calibration and Proficiency Evaluation in All Types of Water Matrices with High to Low Levels of Suspended Solids

This ASTM standard practice describes procedures for creating reference microplastic samples to calibrate and validate detection methods in water matrices with varying levels of suspended solids. Standardized reference materials are essential for ensuring that different labs and methods produce comparable, reliable results. Consistent calibration tools are a prerequisite for building a credible global dataset on microplastic contamination in water.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation and analysis of standards containing microfilaments/microplastic with fibre shape

Researchers developed and validated reference standards containing synthetic textile microfilaments for use in laboratory analysis of microplastics. Standardized reference materials are essential for ensuring that analytical methods for detecting textile-derived microplastics are accurate and comparable across different labs.

2020 Chemosphere 25 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

Monitoring microplastics in drinking water: An interlaboratory study to inform effective methods for quantifying and characterizing microplastics

Researchers conducted an interlaboratory study with 22 labs from six countries to evaluate methods for quantifying microplastics in drinking water, finding significant variability between labs and identifying key areas for method standardization.

2022 Chemosphere 113 citations
Article Tier 2

Analytical precision assessment for microplastic analyses

Researchers demonstrated methods for assessing analytical precision in microplastic analysis through initial and continuing laboratory evaluations, establishing repeatability and reproducibility benchmarks to address the widely reported need for improved accuracy in microplastic measurement data.

2022 Chemosphere 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Do We Speak the Same Language for Reference Particles in Microplastic Research?

This paper argues that the microplastics research community lacks agreement on standardized reference particles for laboratory experiments, making it difficult to compare results across studies. The authors call for consensus on definitions and materials to improve the reproducibility and policy relevance of microplastic research.

2022 Microplastics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Microplastics Content in Natural Waters and Sediments: Sampling and Sample Preparation

This review examines the challenges of sampling and preparing water and sediment samples for microplastic analysis, highlighting the lack of standardized methods. Researchers found that differences in collection techniques, sample volumes, and processing steps make it difficult to compare results across studies. The study calls for an internationally agreed-upon analytical framework to improve the reliability and consistency of microplastic monitoring worldwide.

2024 Journal of Analytical Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater sediment: A review on methods, occurrence, and sources

This review synthesizes methods, occurrence data, and sources of microplastics in freshwater sediments, comparing approaches and providing recommendations for standardized sampling and analysis to fill knowledge gaps relative to marine research.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 480 citations
Article Tier 2

Small micro- and nanoplastic test and reference materials for research: Current status and future needs

This review highlights the critical shortage of well-characterized, environmentally relevant reference materials for studying small microplastics and nanoplastics. Most laboratory studies use commercially available spherical particles that do not represent the irregular, weathered particles found in nature. The authors call for developing standardized reference materials that better mimic real-world microplastic contamination to improve the reliability of exposure and hazard assessments.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review of microplastics characterisation in aquatic environments: recent trends in the last 10 years

This critical review assessed current approaches to characterizing microplastics in aquatic environments, evaluating sampling methods, extraction protocols, and analytical techniques. It identified persistent inconsistencies in methodology and recommended standardization practices to improve data comparability.

2024 Analytical Methods 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Are we really producing environmentally relevant reference materials for microplastic studies?

This study evaluated whether laboratory-produced microplastic reference materials used in research adequately represent the physical and chemical properties of particles found in natural environments. Results found substantial differences between commercially available reference materials and environmentally weathered microplastics, undermining the ecological relevance of studies using pristine materials.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)