Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Monitoring Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Polyvinyl Dichloride Micro/Nanoplastics in Water by Direct Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a novel method for detecting and quantifying micro- and nanoplastics in water using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The technique successfully identified poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyvinyl dichloride particles at low concentrations without requiring extensive sample preparation. The study offers a simpler, more sustainable, and more sensitive approach for monitoring plastic particle contamination in aqueous environments.

2024 Analytical Chemistry 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Enrichment of Nanoplastics in Waters Using Magnetic Solid Phase Extraction With Magnetic Biochar Adsorbents and Their Determination by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a method combining magnetic biochar with pyrolysis gas chromatography to detect and measure nanoplastics in water at very low concentrations. The magnetic biochar efficiently captured polystyrene nanoplastics from both tap and river water, achieving detection limits below 1 microgram per liter. The approach offers a practical and sensitive tool for monitoring nanoplastic contamination in drinking water sources.

2024 Journal of Separation Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Protein Corona-Mediated Extraction for Quantitative Analysis of Nanoplastics in Environmental Waters by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Scientists developed a new method for detecting and measuring nanoplastics in environmental water samples using a protein-based extraction technique paired with specialized mass spectrometry. The approach works by adding a protein that naturally coats nanoplastic particles, which can then be separated from the water and analyzed. Using this method, researchers detected nanoplastics in both river water and wastewater treatment plant samples, demonstrating a practical tool for monitoring these tiny but potentially harmful contaminants.

2021 Analytical Chemistry 103 citations
Article Tier 2

Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental Samples

Researchers developed a simplified headspace solid-phase microextraction followed by GC-MS method for detecting and identifying microplastics in environmental soil and water samples, offering a more accessible alternative to pyrolysis-GC-MS for routine environmental monitoring.

2021 Molecules 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and Quantification of Nanoplastics in Surface Water and Groundwater by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a method combining ultrafiltration and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and quantify nanoplastics in surface water and groundwater. The study successfully detected six types of plastic polymers at the nanoscale in environmental water samples, providing much-needed quantitative data on nanoplastic pollution in real-world water sources.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 210 citations
Article Tier 2

A straightforward Py-GC/MS methodology for quantification of microplastics in tap water

Researchers developed a simpler, more affordable method for detecting and measuring microplastics in tap water using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry without needing expensive custom databases. The method successfully identified seven common polymer types in drinking water samples, making it easier for labs to monitor microplastic contamination in the water supply.

2025 MethodsX 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards quantitative microplastic analysis using pyrolysis-gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

Researchers worked to improve a lab technique called pyrolysis-GC/MS — which identifies plastics by heating them until they break apart into detectable chemical fragments — and found that mixing certain plastics together (especially PVC with others) produces unexpected reactions that can throw off measurements. Their findings highlight the urgent need for standardized international methods so that microplastic data from different labs can be reliably compared.

2024 Polymer Testing 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Targeted and non-targeted analysis of microplastics exposure using pyrolysis gas chromatography ion mobility mass spectrometry

Researchers developed a sensitive method for detecting trace levels of polystyrene, polyethylene, and PVC microplastics in drinking water using pyrolysis gas chromatography. When they tested household water samples, they found measurable levels of polyethylene and PVC, corresponding to a daily intake of approximately 392 nanograms. A second part of the study identified halogenated compounds associated with airborne microplastics, suggesting a potential link between indoor PFAS contamination and textile sources.

2026 Memorial University Research Repository (Memorial University)
Article Tier 2

Simultaneous Trace Identification and Quantification of Common Types of Microplastics in Environmental Samples by Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a method for simultaneous trace identification and quantification of common microplastic types in environmental samples, improving detection efficiency and enabling more accurate monitoring of multiple plastic polymers at once.

2017 Environmental Science & Technology 589 citations
Article Tier 2

Discrimination and simultaneous quantification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate) microplastics in environmental samples via gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Scientists developed a method using chemical depolymerization followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to simultaneously identify and quantify two common plastic types — PET and PBT — as microplastics in environmental water samples, without requiring complex separation steps. The method achieved high recovery rates (89–100%) and low detection limits, making it practical for routine environmental monitoring of textile and packaging microplastics.

2024 Microchimica Acta 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microwave-Assisted Extraction for Quantification of Microplastics Using Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a microwave-assisted extraction method combined with pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) for quantifying microplastics in environmental matrices, improving extraction efficiency and analytical accuracy.

2021 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Cloud-Point Extraction Combined with Thermal Degradation for Nanoplastic Analysis Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a cloud-point extraction method combined with pyrolysis GC-MS to detect and quantify nanoplastics in aqueous samples, achieving detection of particles smaller than those typically measurable with conventional microplastic methods. The technique addresses a critical analytical gap in understanding nanoplastic contamination in water environments.

2018 Analytical Chemistry 202 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

Green solvent mediated extraction of micro- and nano-plastic particles from water

Researchers developed a green solvent-based extraction method for isolating micro- and nanoplastic particles from water samples, offering a lower-toxicity alternative to conventional extraction approaches for environmental plastic monitoring.

2023 Scientific Reports 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Separation of microplastics from river water in a rotating spiral column using a water-oil system

Researchers demonstrated for the first time the use of a rotating spiral column with a water-oil system to separate and quantify microplastics from river water samples, presenting this flowing separation method as a new analytical chemistry approach for assessing microplastic pollution in natural water bodies.

2025 Журнал аналитической химии / Journal of Analytical Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Continuous-flow separation and preconcentration of microplastics from natural waters using countercurrent chromatography

Researchers developed a continuous-flow system for separating and concentrating microplastics from water samples, enabling higher throughput analysis than conventional batch methods. The approach improved detection sensitivity and reduced processing time for environmental monitoring applications.

2024 Talanta 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Routine method for the analysis of microplastics in natural and drinking water by pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Researchers developed a standardized method to measure microplastics in drinking water using a technique called pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. They tested the method on river water, reclaimed water, and tap water in Barcelona, finding microplastic concentrations ranging from 11 to 77 micrograms per liter. Reliable detection methods like this are essential for understanding how much microplastic people are actually consuming through their drinking water.

2024 Journal of Chromatography A 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Utilization of Bubbles and Oil for Microplastic Capture from Water

Researchers demonstrated a simple method using vegetable oil and air bubbles to capture over 98% of microplastics from water, achieving complete removal of larger particles and high capture of microfibers — a potentially passive, low-cost cleanup approach that avoids releasing secondary contamination into treated water.

2024 Engineering 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative Raman analysis of microplastics in water using peak area ratios for concentration determination

Researchers developed a new method using Raman spectroscopy to measure microplastic concentrations in water. By analyzing the ratio of plastic-specific signals to the water signal, they created a reliable calibration model for detecting polyethylene and PVC microplastics, even when multiple plastic types are mixed together. This approach could make it faster and easier to monitor microplastic contamination in real-world water sources.

2024 npj Clean Water 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Extraction of Microplastics from River Water in a Rotating Coiled Column Using a Water–Oil System

Researchers demonstrated for the first time the use of a rotating coiled column with a water-oil system to continuously separate microplastics from river water samples. After separation, pyrolysis GC-MS was used to confirm polymer identity in extracted particles from Moscow River water, establishing proof of concept for this novel analytical approach.

2025 Journal of Analytical Chemistry 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics analysis in environmental samples – recent pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method improvements to increase the reliability of mass-related data

This study improved pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) methods for measuring mass-related microplastic data in environmental samples, enhancing reliability and sensitivity for trace-level analysis. Better analytical methods are essential for accurately quantifying microplastic contamination across diverse environmental matrices.

2019 Analytical Methods 224 citations
Article Tier 2

Representative Test Material for Validation of Density Separation as Part of Microplastic Quantification in Drinking Water

Researchers developed and characterized a PVC-based representative test material for validating density separation procedures used in microplastic quantification in drinking water, in line with EU Drinking Water Directive requirements. The material's physicochemical characterization and application in validation protocols provides a practical reference for standardizing analytical methods for drinking water MP monitoring.

2025 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Elimination of a Mixture of Microplastics Using Conventional and Detergent-Assisted Coagulation

Researchers tested coagulation as a method to remove microplastics from tap water, evaluating how microplastic type (PE and PVC), water pH, coagulant dose, and microplastic concentration affect removal efficiency, and finding that detergent-assisted coagulation improves performance.

2023 Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

A Selective Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe for No-Wash Detection of PVC Microplastic

Researchers developed a selective ratiometric fluorescent probe for detecting PVC microplastics without sample washing, offering a simpler and faster method than current spectroscopic approaches for identifying this specific polymer type in water.

2021 Polymers 17 citations