Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

A straightforward protocol for extracting microplastics from freshwater sediment with high organic content

Researchers developed a simplified protocol for extracting microplastics from organic-rich clayey freshwater sediments. The method achieved recovery rates exceeding 83% for five common plastic types and minimized particle loss by reducing container transfers, offering a practical and effective approach for environmental monitoring.

2025 Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 5 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

An optimized density-based approach for extracting microplastics from soil and sediment samples

Researchers optimized a density-based extraction method for isolating microplastics from soil and sediment samples, testing different density solutions and separation steps to maximize recovery efficiency. The improved protocol reduces contamination risks and particle loss, enabling more accurate quantification of microplastics in terrestrial and freshwater sediment matrices.

2019 Environmental Pollution 215 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic identification and quantification from organic rich sediments: A validated laboratory protocol

Researchers developed and validated a laboratory protocol for extracting, quantifying, and identifying microplastics from organic-rich sediments with fine grain sizes. The study addressed the challenge of analyzing microplastics in contamination hotspots like harbors and estuaries, where high organic content makes extraction difficult, and provided a cost-effective integrated method for more reliable environmental monitoring.

2020 Environmental Pollution 136 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

Protocol for microplastic pollution monitoring in freshwater ecosystems: Towards a high-throughput sample processing - MICROPLASTREAM

Scientists developed a standardized high-throughput protocol for processing freshwater microplastic samples, addressing the challenge that freshwater samples contain far more organic matter than seawater. Consistent, efficient processing methods are essential for generating comparable microplastic data across different rivers and lakes.

2021 MethodsX 18 citations
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
Article Tier 2

Establishing freshwater sediment sample pretreatment methods for monitoring microplastics and its challenges

This review evaluates the various sample preparation methods used to extract microplastics from freshwater sediment, which contains more organic matter and debris than other environmental samples. Researchers compared different digestion, density separation, and filtration techniques and found that no single standardized approach exists. The study highlights the urgent need for consistent protocols so that microplastic monitoring results from different locations can be meaningfully compared.

2024 Chemical Engineering Journal 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimization of a method used for extracting microplastics from an organic matter-rich matrix and isolated particles assessment

Researchers optimized a method for extracting microplastics from sewage sludge — a challenging organic-rich matrix — by combining density separation and chemical digestion steps, improving recovery rates and enabling more accurate characterization of sludge-associated microplastics.

2025 Chemosphere 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A density separation method for microplastics implemented to varved sediments of Lake Kallavesi, eastern Finland

This thesis developed and tested an improved density separation method to isolate microplastics from lake sediment cores, then applied it to a dated sediment archive from Lake Kallavesi in Finland. The method and sediment core data allow tracking of how microplastic pollution in Finnish lakes has changed over time.

2020 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Burial of microplastics in freshwater sediments facilitated by iron-organo flocs

Researchers found that iron-organo flocs in freshwater sediments facilitate the burial and long-term sequestration of microplastics by aggregating plastic particles with organic matter and iron minerals, identifying this aggregation mechanism as an important pathway controlling microplastic fate in lake sediments.

2021 Scientific Reports 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Extraction of microplastics from sediment matrices: Experimental comparative analysis

Extraction efficiencies of four methods for separating microplastics from sediment matrices were experimentally compared using spiked samples, finding that density separation with saturated NaCl was adequate for most polymer types but underperformed for high-density polymers, and that no single method achieved complete recovery across all particle sizes and shapes.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Oxidative purification of microplastics in riverine suspended matter samples — Solving the challenge of plant debris removal for microplastic analysis

This study developed an oxidative purification method to remove organic matter from riverine suspended sediment samples prior to microplastic analysis, enabling more accurate identification and quantification of plastic particles. The method improved detection sensitivity by reducing interference from natural organic material.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics everywhere: A review on existing methods of extraction

This review compiled and evaluated existing methods for extracting microplastics from environmental samples, including density separation, oil extraction, and other techniques, assessing their advantages and limitations across different environmental matrices.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Metodologia de extração de microplásticos associados a sedimentos de ambientes de água doce

This Brazilian study (in Portuguese) evaluated methods for extracting microplastics from aquatic sediment samples, comparing different protocols to improve analytical accuracy. Standardized extraction methods are essential for producing comparable microplastic data across different studies and regions.

2021 Engenharia Sanitaria e Ambiental 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic extraction from sediments established? – A critical evaluation from a trace recovery experiment with a custom-made density separator

Scientists evaluated the accuracy of a custom density separator for extracting small microplastic particles from sediment, finding variable recovery rates across different polymer types. Standardized and validated extraction methods are essential for accurate measurements of microplastic contamination in sediment environments.

2021 Analytical Methods 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of pre-treatment methods and heavy density liquids to optimize microplastic extraction from natural marine sediments

Researchers compared multiple pre-treatment methods and density separation liquids for extracting microplastics from marine sediments, identifying optimised protocols that improved recovery rates and reduced contamination, supporting the development of more standardised monitoring approaches.

2022 Scientific Reports 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in lakes and rivers: an issue of emerging significance to limnology

Researchers found that microplastic concentrations in freshwater lakes and rivers can exceed those of living organisms like zooplankton, with sediment levels matching the most contaminated marine sites, establishing microplastics as a significant issue for limnology.

2021 Environmental Reviews 141 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimized ExtractionMethods for Pristine and AgedMicroplastics from Complex Water Samples

Researchers optimized extraction protocols for recovering both pristine and UV-aged microplastics from complex water matrices including seawater, wastewater, and drinking water, finding that aged MPs require different treatment conditions than pristine particles to achieve reliable recovery.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Validation of density separation for the rapid recovery of microplastics from sediment

Researchers validated a density separation method for rapidly recovering microplastics from sediment samples, confirming it as a reliable and efficient approach for routine environmental monitoring.

2016 Analytical Methods 505 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments Using Oxidative Treatment and Automated Image Analysis

Researchers developed a cost-effective and replicable method for detecting microplastics in freshwater environments using oxidative treatment to digest organic matter from water samples, enabling cleaner isolation and more accurate identification of MP particles without requiring expensive instrumentation.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Extraction of biodegradable microplastics from tissues of aquatic organisms

Researchers developed and validated a method for extracting biodegradable microplastics from tissues of aquatic organisms, finding that standard extraction protocols used for conventional plastics are insufficient and that enzymatic digestion combined with density separation is needed to recover these materials accurately.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 22 citations
Article Tier 2

The extraction of microplastics from sediments: An overview of existing methods and the proposal of a new and green alternative

This review assessed existing methods for extracting microplastics from sediment samples — including density separation, chemical digestion, and filtration — and proposed a green alternative extraction protocol using only salt solutions and enzymatic digestion, reducing chemical waste while achieving comparable recovery rates.

2021 Chemosphere 112 citations
Article Tier 2

A novel method for organic matter removal from samples containing microplastics

Researchers developed a novel organic matter removal method for wastewater treatment plant sludge samples containing microplastics, demonstrating that the approach is more time- and cost-effective than existing techniques while preserving microplastic integrity for accurate quantification and identification.

2021 Environmental Pollution 45 citations