Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Analysis of Microplastics in Synthetic Fibers Through FT-IR Microscope

This study used FTIR microscopy to identify and characterize microplastics derived from synthetic textile fibers in environmental samples. Synthetic fiber microplastics are among the most common types found in the ocean, and FTIR analysis is essential for confirming their identity and polymer composition.

2020 Journal of Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in different water samples (seawater, freshwater, and wastewater): Methodology approach for characterization using micro-FTIR spectroscopy

Researchers developed a standardized methodology for detecting and characterizing small microplastics (10-500 micrometers) in different water types using micro-FTIR spectroscopy. The study tested various sample preparation approaches for seawater, freshwater, and wastewater, establishing reliable protocols for rinsing, digestion, and microplastic collection that can be used to assess treatment plant removal efficiency.

2023 Water Research 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Contributions of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in microplastic pollution research: A review

This review covers advances in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques — including chemical imaging — for identifying polymer types in microplastic samples and tracing their fate in different environmental matrices.

2020 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 480 citations
Article Tier 2

Automated identification and quantification of microfibres and microplastics

Researchers developed an automated method using FTIR imaging data analysis to simultaneously identify and quantify both microplastics and microfibers in environmental samples. Automation improves throughput and consistency compared to manual identification, addressing a key bottleneck in large-scale microplastic monitoring.

2019 Analytical Methods 152 citations
Article Tier 2

Analytical tools in advancing microplastics research for identification and quantification across environmental media: from sample to insight

Researchers reviewed the analytical tools most commonly used for identifying and quantifying microplastics, focusing on FTIR and Raman spectroscopy as the two primary methods. The review compared their strengths and limitations and provided guidance for choosing between them based on particle size, sample matrix, and research objectives.

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

Chemical characterization of microplastics from biosolids: a comparison of FTIR and O-PTIR microspectroscopy

Researchers compared conventional FTIR microspectroscopy with the emerging Optical Photothermal Infrared (O-PTIR) technique for chemical characterization and polymer-type identification of microplastics extracted from biosolids, finding that O-PTIR's submicron resolution and artifact-free spectra offer advantages over traditional methods.

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

Microplastiche: classificazione, identificazione e rimozione all'interno degli impianti di trattamento delle acque reflue

This Italian-language paper reviews how microplastics are classified, identified using techniques like FTIR spectroscopy, and removed in wastewater treatment plants. Conventional treatment plants remove a substantial portion of microplastics but still allow many particles to pass through into the environment. The review calls for better treatment technologies and standardized methods to assess microplastic removal efficiency.

2021 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of an FT-IR microscopy method for the determination of microplastic particles in surface waters

Researchers validated an FT-IR microscopy method for reliably detecting and quantifying microplastic particles in aquatic and solid samples. Validated, standardized analytical methods are essential for producing comparable data across laboratories and building a reliable global picture of microplastic contamination.

2020 MethodsX 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of environmental microplastics by vibrational microspectroscopy: FTIR, Raman or both?

This study reviewed analytical methods for environmental microplastic analysis using vibrational microspectroscopy — comparing FTIR, Raman, and related techniques — and provided guidance on method selection for different sample types and research questions.

2016 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 975 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of a novel semi-automated analytical system of microplastics using reflectance-FTIR spectrometry: designed for the analysis of large microplastics

A semi-automated reflectance-FTIR spectrometry system was developed for microplastic analysis, designed specifically for large microplastics and capable of dramatically accelerating the otherwise labor-intensive identification process while maintaining accuracy in polymer type determination.

2025 Environmental Science Advances 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Direct µ-FTIR analysis of microplastics deposited on silicon in indoor air environments

Direct micro-FTIR analysis of microplastics deposited on silicon wafers was optimized for improved detection sensitivity and throughput. The refined protocol reduces sample preparation steps and improves the accuracy of polymer identification, advancing the standardization of microplastic analysis methods.

2025 npj Emerging Contaminants 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Robust Automatic Identification of Microplastics in Environmental Samples Using FTIR Microscopy

Researchers developed a robust automated method for identifying microplastics in environmental samples using FTIR microscopy combined with machine learning-based spectral matching, improving the consistency and efficiency of microplastic identification compared to manual evaluation.

2019 Analytical Chemistry 87 citations
Article Tier 2

Refined Analysis of Microplastics: Integrating Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy

This study optimized the use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy for characterizing microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that integrating both techniques improves identification accuracy and physicochemical characterization.

2025 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
Article Tier 2

Development of a rapid detection protocol for microplastics using reflectance-FTIR spectroscopic imaging and multivariate classification

Reflectance-FTIR spectroscopy was evaluated as a faster and more automated detection method for microplastics in environmental samples, with results showing strong potential for high-throughput screening. The method could reduce the time and cost of routine microplastic monitoring programs.

2023 Environmental Science Advances 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimizing microplastic analysis through comparative FTIR and raman spectroscopy: Addressing challenges in environmental degradation studies

This study optimized microplastic analysis by comparing FTIR and Raman spectroscopy approaches for identifying degraded polymer particles in environmental samples where photooxidation and mechanical fragmentation have altered spectral signatures. A combined spectroscopy approach outperformed either technique alone for accurately identifying degraded microplastics in complex environmental matrices.

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

Microplastics monitoring in different environments: separation, physicochemical characterization, and quantification

Researchers systematically monitored microplastic contamination across multiple environments including a wastewater treatment plant, surrounding water bodies, and soils near plastic factories, characterizing shape, size, color, and polymer composition via microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. They found fragments and fibers to be the most common microplastic shapes in water environments and documented simultaneous contamination across all sampled matrices.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

Spectroscopic Analysis of Microplastic Fibers Released During Laundry Washing Cycle

Researchers analyzed microplastic fibers released from synthetic textiles during laundry washing cycles using FTIR spectroscopy, demonstrating that spectroscopic identification of fiber polymer type is feasible and identifying key fiber release characteristics from different fabric types.

2023 Advanced Engineering Letters 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Forensic Assessment of Textile Fibers Using Micro FTIR-ATR Spectroscopy

This study evaluated micro Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for identifying textile fibers in forensic investigations, finding it can characterize fiber composition even from very small samples. The same technique is widely used for identifying microplastic polymer types in environmental samples.

2023 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Standardization of micro-FTIR methods and applicability for the detection and identification of microplastics in environmental matrices

Researchers worked to standardize micro-FTIR spectroscopy methods for detecting and identifying microplastics as small as 20 micrometers across different environmental samples. They tested reflection and transmission modes against known polymer standards and validated the approach on real-world water, sediment, and biological samples. The study provides a reproducible methodology that could help make microplastic measurements more consistent and comparable across laboratories.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 131 citations
Article Tier 2

Classification Of Environmental Micro-Fibres Using Stimulated Raman Microspectroscopy

This study applied stimulated Raman microspectroscopy to classify and identify environmental microfibres, which are the most abundant type of microplastic in the environment but are particularly difficult to analyze due to their small size. The technique enabled chemical characterization of individual fibres under 15 micrometres in diameter, distinguishing plastic from natural fibres. Improving identification methods for microfibres is critical because their small size and prevalence make them a priority concern for both environmental monitoring and human health risk assessment.

2023
Article Tier 2

Promising techniques and open challenges for microplastic identification and quantification in environmental matrices

This review assessed current and emerging techniques for microplastic identification and quantification in environmental matrices, highlighting advantages and limitations of methods including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-GC/MS.

2019 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 232 citations
Article Tier 2

Detecting small microplastics down to 1.3 μm using large area ATR-FTIR

Researchers introduced large-area ATR-FTIR spectroscopy as a new technique capable of detecting microplastics as small as 1.3 micrometers, outperforming conventional micro-FTIR for small particle detection in marine water samples.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Subsampling microplastics for chemical characterization and confirmation: assessing efficiency and discussing reliability risks

Researchers evaluated the efficiency and reliability risks of subsampling strategies for microplastic chemical characterization using FTIR spectroscopy, finding that while subsampling reduces labor-intensive manual transfer steps, it carries inherent risks of sampling bias and reduced representativeness.

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

Analytical tools in advancing microplastics research for identification and quantification across environmental media: from sample to insight

This review surveys analytical techniques used in microplastic research, covering sampling, extraction, and identification methods including FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-GC/MS, highlighting trade-offs between throughput, sensitivity, and particle size detection limits.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)