Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

Separation of microplastics from deep-sea sediment using an affordable, simple to use, and easily accessible density separation device

Researchers developed an affordable, simple, and accessible density separation device for extracting microplastics from deep-sea sediment, addressing the lack of accuracy and reproducibility in existing extraction methods. The study included spike-recovery experiments as positive controls to validate extraction performance across different sediment matrices.

2024
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 Different Procedures for Separating Microplastics from Sediments

Researchers compared three different methodologies for separating dense microplastics from fine sediments, finding significant differences in recovery rates and identifying contamination risks during the separation procedures.

2021 Water 29 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

Comparing methods for optimising microplastic extraction in sediment through density separation

Researchers compared six density separation solutions and two transfer methods for extracting microplastics from marine sediment. CaCl2-saturated solution with decantation achieved 90% recovery regardless of polymer type, size, or shape, and was safer and cheaper than the next-best option (ZnCl2), recommending it as a standardized method.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A simple method for the extraction and identification of light density microplastics from soil

This study developed and validated a simple method for extracting and identifying low-density microplastics from sediment samples, offering a practical and cost-effective approach for environmental monitoring.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 525 citations
Article Tier 2

Separation of microplastics from deep-sea sediment using an affordable, simple to use, and easily accessible density separation device

This study developed an affordable, simple technique for separating microplastics from deep-sea sediment samples, using density separation and chemical digestion to achieve reliable extraction of plastic particles from these challenging matrices.

2024 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 7 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

Not all microplastics are created equal. Quantifying efficacy bias and validation of density separation methods

Researchers evaluated and validated density separation methods for extracting microplastics from environmental matrices, quantifying efficacy bias across different polymer types with varying densities. They found that recovery rates differ substantially depending on polymer density relative to the separation solution, introducing systematic bias in microplastic concentration estimates across studies.

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

Extraction of microplastic from marine sediments: A comparison between pressurized solvent extraction and density separation

Researchers compared pressurized solvent extraction against density separation for extracting microplastics from marine sediments, evaluating the efficiency, accuracy, and practicality of each method to help establish consensus analytical protocols for deep-sea and coastal sediment samples.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Advances on Density Separation Techniques for Microplastic Recovery from Sediments

This review summarises recent advances in density separation techniques for extracting microplastics from sediments, evaluating the effectiveness of different salt solutions and comparing novel approaches such as electrostatic separation and pressurised fluid extraction against conventional methods.

2022 Sinaya A Philippine Journal for Senior High School Teachers and Students 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimization of elutriation device for filtration of microplastic particles from sediment

Researchers optimized an elutriation device — which uses upward water flow to separate particles by density — achieving high microplastic recovery rates from sediment by adjusting flow rate and column diameter. The optimized device provides a practical, low-cost tool for extracting microplastics from environmental sediment samples in research and monitoring programs.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient and sustainable microplastics analysis for environmental samples using flotation for sample pre-treatment

Researchers developed a greener microplastic extraction method using a hydrophobicity-based flotation cell, offering a faster and less chemically intensive alternative to standard density-separation protocols for analyzing microplastics in soils and sediments.

2022 Green Analytical Chemistry 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Non-Destructive Extraction and Separation of Nano- and Microplastics from Environmental Samples by Density Gradient Ultracentrifugation

Researchers developed a non-destructive method using density gradient ultracentrifugation to extract and separate different types of nano- and microplastics from environmental samples. The study demonstrates that this approach can effectively separate various plastic polymer types from complex environmental matrices based on their density differences, offering a promising new tool for microplastic analysis.

2022 Analytical Chemistry 42 citations
Article Tier 2

An efficient extraction device for microplastics in marine sediments and its applications

Researchers developed a new high-efficiency extraction device for separating microplastics from marine sediment samples using air pumps and metal perforated plate fillers. The device demonstrated improved effectiveness and efficiency compared to conventional density flotation methods for isolating plastic particles. The study suggests this tool could enhance the accuracy of quantitative microplastic detection in marine environments where sediments serve as significant pollution sinks.

2024 RSC Advances 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A new small device made of glass for separating microplastics from marine and freshwater sediments

Researchers developed a new compact glass device for extracting microplastics from marine and freshwater sediments via density separation, addressing shortcomings of existing apparatus such as poor recovery rates and time inefficiency.

2019 PeerJ 95 citations
Article Tier 2

Canola oil extraction in conjunction with a plastic free separation unit optimises microplastics monitoring in water and sediment

A canola oil extraction method was validated across 19 different plastic polymer types with densities ranging widely, achieving effective microplastic separation from environmental matrices. The method is fast, plastic-free, and works regardless of particle density, making it suitable for comprehensive microplastic analysis.

2020 Analytical Methods 52 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

Influence of sediment texture on HDPE microplastics recovery by density separation

This study examined how sediment texture — specifically grain size — affects the recovery of high-density polyethylene microplastics from sediment samples using density separation. Finer sediments retained more microplastics and reduced extraction efficiency. Matching extraction protocols to sediment type is essential for accurate microplastic quantification in environmental samples.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Not all microplastics are created equal. Quantifying efficacy bias and validation of density separation methods

Researchers systematically evaluated density separation methods used to extract microplastics from environmental matrices (water, soil, sediment), investigating whether efficacy varies by polymer density and identifying potential sources of bias in current approaches. The study highlighted risks from lack of methodological standardisation and called for detailed reporting to improve reproducibility across microplastics research.

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

A novel, density-independent and FTIR-compatible approach for the rapid extraction of microplastics from aquatic sediments

Researchers developed a novel extraction method for microplastics from aquatic sediments that does not rely on density separation, making it compatible with FTIR spectroscopy without requiring additional processing steps. The approach could simplify and speed up microplastic analysis in environmental samples.

2017 Analytical Methods 369 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimized microplastic analysis based on size fractionation, density separation and μ-FTIR

Researchers optimized a multi-step method for extracting and identifying microplastics from soil and sediment, combining grain size separation, density flotation, and infrared microscopy. The validated method achieved high recovery rates for eight common plastic polymers, contributing to more reliable monitoring of soil microplastic contamination.

2020 Water Science & Technology 59 citations