Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

High resolution X-ray microtomography as a tool for observation and classification of individual microplastics

Researchers investigated X-ray microtomography (microCT) as a non-destructive tool for characterizing microplastics embedded in sediment, demonstrating that the technique could provide detailed internal and external morphological data to help classify individual particles based on structure and composition.

2025 Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Detectability Investigation in Soils Using X‐Ray Microtomography

Researchers evaluated X-ray microtomography (microCT) for non-destructive 3D detection of microplastic fragments (PET, PEHD, PS, PP) in soils, achieving strong agreement between microCT and manual measurements (R² = 0.94-0.96) and demonstrating the method's capacity to differentiate polymer types via gray-level intensity differences.

2025 X-Ray Spectrometry
Article Tier 2

Adding depth to microplastics for particle characterization and assessing settling behavior

Researchers developed a method for 3D characterization of microplastic particles to obtain volume and shape data beyond conventional 2D image analysis, improving accuracy in predicting settling behavior and estimating particle mass. Three-dimensional characterization was shown to substantially improve estimates of microplastic transport and sedimentation in water systems.

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

Morphological description of microplastic particles for environmental fate studies

Researchers proposed a standardized morphological classification system for microplastic particles based on three-dimensional measurements of the smallest enclosing parallelepiped, offering a more objective framework for describing particle shape to improve cross-study comparability.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 118 citations
Article Tier 2

An analytical computed microtomography methodology for identification of microplastic fragments in aqueous media

A computed microtomography methodology was developed to quantify microplastic fragments in aqueous media, using phantoms with fragments of 0.18-0.71 mm and achieving satisfactory quantitative results with relative errors below 20%, providing a new non-invasive imaging approach for microplastic analysis.

2023 X-Ray Spectrometry 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating factors influencing microplastic mobility in sediments through visualization and experiments

Researchers used micro-CT imaging to visualize three-dimensional transport pathways of microplastics through gravel and sand sediments relevant to riverbank filtration, finding that smaller sediment pore sizes restrict microplastic mobility and that particle properties such as shape, size, and polymer density influence infiltration depth.

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

Evaluating factors influencing microplastic mobility in sediments through visualization and experiments

Researchers used micro-CT imaging to visualize three-dimensional transport pathways of microplastics through gravel and sand sediments relevant to riverbank filtration, finding that smaller sediment pore sizes restrict microplastic mobility and that particle properties such as shape, size, and polymer density influence infiltration depth.

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

Adding depth to microplastics for particle characterization and assessing settling behavior

This study developed methods to characterize microplastics in three dimensions rather than the conventional two-dimensional approach, obtaining volume and shape data that improves predictions of how particles settle and transport in water systems. Three-dimensional characterization significantly improved settling rate predictions compared to 2D image-based estimates.

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

Visualization and (Semi-)quantification of submicrometer plastics through scanning electron microscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

Researchers combined scanning electron microscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry to detect and semi-quantify submicron plastic particles from 195 nm upward, demonstrating the method on teabag leachates and showing it can distinguish multiple polymer types in complex mixtures.

2022 Environmental Pollution 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and morphological characterization of different types of plastic microparticles

Researchers used multiple complementary techniques to identify and characterize the morphology and polymer composition of different types of plastic microparticles. They compared methods including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and spectroscopic analysis to evaluate their reliability. The study provides practical guidance for standardizing microplastic identification protocols, which is important for producing comparable results across different research laboratories.

2024 Heliyon 19 citations
Article Tier 2

X-ray computed tomography: A novel non-invasive approach for the detection of microplastics in sediments?

Researchers tested whether X-ray computed tomography (CT scanning) can non-invasively detect microplastics in river sediment cores, finding it works well for particles 4 mm or larger but cannot resolve smaller microplastics below 125 μm due to resolution limits. Importantly, CT scanning also revealed sediment layering and structural features that affect where microplastics accumulate — information that is lost when sediment cores are physically extracted and processed by conventional methods. This non-destructive approach could improve how scientists study microplastic distribution in sediments.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Non-invasive 3D analysis of microplastic particles in sandy soil — Exploring feasible options and capabilities

This study explored the feasibility of non-invasive 3D X-ray computed tomography for analyzing microplastic particles in intact sandy soil samples, finding that while the technique can locate particles, distinguishing MP from soil minerals requires further methodological development.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing microplastic detection in biological tissue with x-ray computed tomography

This study tested X-ray computed tomography (CT scanning) as a way to detect microplastics in biological tissue, exploring whether this non-destructive imaging approach could improve on current methods that require chemically processing samples. A non-destructive technique would allow scientists to study microplastic distribution in tissues without destroying the sample, potentially enabling more detailed and repeatable analyses.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Enhancing microplastic detection in biological tissue with x-ray computed tomography

This study tested X-ray computed tomography (CT scanning) as a way to detect microplastics in biological tissue, exploring whether this non-destructive imaging approach could improve on current methods that require chemically processing samples. A non-destructive technique would allow scientists to study microplastic distribution in tissues without destroying the sample, potentially enabling more detailed and repeatable analyses.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic rapid screening method development using automated mineralogy

Automated scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis was adapted as a rapid screening method for detecting and characterizing microplastic particles in environmental samples. The method simultaneously identifies particle chemistry, size, and shape without hazardous chemicals. This approach offers a faster and less labor-intensive alternative to traditional microplastic analysis techniques.

2022 Frontiers in Earth Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Adding Depth to Microplastics

Researchers developed a new model for converting 2D microplastic measurements from spectroscopic and image analysis into 3D parameters such as volume and surface area, without requiring calibration for each particle set. Accurate 3D characterization is important because the biological effects and environmental risks of microplastics depend on their volume and accessible surface area.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Advancing microplastic detection in zebrafish with micro computed tomography: A novel approach to revealing microplastic distribution in organisms

Researchers tested a new approach using X-ray micro-computed tomography (microCT) to detect and map microplastics inside zebrafish in three dimensions. The non-destructive imaging technique successfully identified polyethylene particles throughout the gut and revealed how their distribution changed over time. This method offers a promising alternative to traditional destructive techniques for studying how microplastics move through living organisms.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Inclusion of shape parameters increases the accuracy of 3D models for microplastics mass quantification

Researchers found that incorporating shape parameters into 3D geometric models significantly improves the accuracy of microplastic mass quantification, providing a more reliable method for measuring microplastic concentrations in environmental samples.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 25 citations
Article Tier 2

The micro-, submicron-, and nanoplastic hunt: A review of detection methods for plastic particles

This review systematically summarizes detection and characterization methods for micro-, submicron-, and nanoplastics, providing recommendations for method validation, standardization, and analytical pathways suited to different sample types and research goals.

2022 Chemosphere 136 citations
Article Tier 2

A semi-automated Raman micro-spectroscopy method for morphological and chemical characterizations of microplastic litter

Researchers developed a semi-automated Raman micro-spectroscopy method coupled with static image analysis for characterizing microplastics, achieving morphological and chemical identification of over 1,000 particles in under three hours, with polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene as the dominant types in the environmental sample.

2016 Marine Pollution Bulletin 176 citations