Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Quantification of microplastic targets in environmental matrices using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

This study developed and validated a pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry protocol for quantifying common microplastic polymer types in complex environmental matrices, providing a reliable thermal analysis method for assessing microplastic pollution.

2024 Environmental Science Advances 5 citations
Article Tier 2

An overview of microplastics characterization by thermal analysis

This review explores the potential of thermal analytical techniques - including thermogravimetry and pyrolysis-GC/MS - for identifying and characterizing microplastics in environmental samples, covering both manufactured primary microplastics and degradation-derived secondary ones. Thermal methods offer advantages for bulk quantification and polymer identification that complement spectroscopic approaches.

2019 Chemosphere 213 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimization, performance, and application of a pyrolysis-GC/MS method for the identification of microplastics

Researchers optimized a pyrolysis-GC/MS method for identifying and quantifying microplastics in environmental samples, improving the reliability of polymer identification especially for small particles that are difficult to classify visually. The improved method is particularly valuable for analyzing the smallest microplastic size fractions that dominate by number in marine environments.

2018 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 329 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Identification by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (py-GCMS)

This paper reviews pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) as a method for identifying and quantifying microplastics in environmental samples. The technique can identify specific polymer types even in complex environmental matrices where visual identification is difficult.

2019
Article Tier 2

Quantification of microplastics in environmental samples via pressurized liquid extraction and pyrolysis-gas chromatography

Researchers combined pressurized liquid extraction with pyrolysis-gas chromatography to quantify microplastics in environmental samples, validating the method against reference materials and real-world samples. The approach offers a quantitative, polymer-specific measurement of bulk microplastic mass in sediments and soils, complementing particle-counting methods.

2019 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 313 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastics in the environment: Identification and quantification of trace levels of common types of plastic polymers using pyrolysis-GC/MS

Researchers developed analytical methods using pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for identifying and quantifying 12 common plastic polymers in environmental samples. The validated method achieved detection limits as low as 0.1 micrograms and was successfully applied to analyze microplastics collected from three Mediterranean beaches in northeastern Spain.

2023 MethodsX 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of microplastic polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) in environmental samples using thermal analysis (TGA-DSC)

This study developed a thermal analysis method using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to determine the mass concentration of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in environmental samples. The approach is cost-effective and straightforward, offering an alternative to the more expensive spectroscopic methods commonly used for microplastic identification.

2016 The Science of The Total Environment 404 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

Development of an analytical method for the analysis of microplastics by Pyrolysis-GC/MS : application on Seine River sediments

Researchers developed and validated an analytical method using pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) for quantifying microplastics in complex environmental matrices, applying it to Seine River sediment samples rich in mineral and organic matter. They found that Py-GC/MS effectively determined mass concentrations of target polymers and proved complementary to micro-FTIR, though interfering compounds from organic-rich matrices required careful method optimization.

2024 theses.fr (ABES)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the environment: Sampling, pretreatment, analysis and occurrence based on current and newly-exploited chromatographic approaches

This review comprehensively examined sampling, pretreatment, and chromatographic analysis methods for microplastics in environmental matrices, evaluating conventional and newly developed approaches and identifying liquid chromatography and pyrolysis-GC/MS as the most promising platforms for chemical characterization of complex microplastic mixtures.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Fast identification of microplastics in complex environmental samples by a thermal degradation method

Researchers developed a fast identification method for microplastics in complex environmental samples using thermal analysis, offering a high-throughput alternative to spectroscopic techniques for polymer identification.

2017 Chemosphere 598 citations
Article Tier 2

Automated thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry: A multifunctional tool for comprehensive characterization of polymers and their degradation products

This paper describes how automated thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS) can comprehensively characterize polymer composition and degradation products in environmental samples. The technique offers a promising approach for identifying and quantifying microplastics as well as understanding their chemical transformation in the environment.

2019 Journal of Chromatography A 214 citations
Article Tier 2

Fully quantitative analysis of nano-plastics in environmental samples using TD-PTR-MS and multivariate standard addition

This study developed a fully quantitative method for analyzing nanoplastics in environmental samples using thermal desorption pyrolysis-GC/MS, addressing the challenge that nanoplastics are often present at low concentrations in complex matrices. The approach advances detection capabilities needed to accurately assess nanoplastic pollution in natural systems.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Identification of Microplastics in Drinking Water Using Pyrolysis-GC/MS

Researchers used pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify and quantify microplastics by polymer mass (rather than particle count) in drinking water samples. The method detected multiple polymer types and provided mass-based metrics that are more toxicologically relevant than particle counts commonly reported in water quality studies.

2025 TSpace
Article Tier 2

Fully quantitative analysis of nano-plastics in environmental samples using TD-PTR-MS and multivariate standard addition

Researchers developed a fully quantitative analytical method using thermal desorption pyrolysis-GC/MS to measure nanoplastics in environmental samples, addressing the technical challenges of detecting particles present at low concentrations in complex matrices. The method provides quantitative data on nanoplastic mass concentrations in environmental samples, enabling more rigorous risk assessment.

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

Analysis of Microplastics in Environmental Waters by Pyrolysis-GC/MS

This chapter reviewed pyrolysis-GC/MS as an analytical method for detecting and quantifying microplastics in environmental water samples including wastewater, rivers, and seawater. Unlike size-limited optical methods, Py-GC/MS can analyze particles of any size and directly identify polymer types, making it a promising high-throughput tool.

2025
Article Tier 2

Identification and Quantification of Microplastic in Sewage systems by TED-GC-MS

Thermal extraction desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS) was applied to identify and quantify microplastics in sewage systems, offering a more time-efficient and comparable approach than traditional microscopy methods.

2022 Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Modeling microplastic with polyethylene (PE) spherical particles: a differential scanning calorimetry approach for quantification

Researchers developed a thermal analysis approach to detect and quantify polyethylene microplastics in environmental samples, offering an alternative to optical methods. Accurate quantification tools are essential for understanding the true scale of microplastic contamination in soil and water.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 7 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

Microplastics’ analysis in water: Easy handling of samples by a new Thermal Extraction Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) methodology

Researchers developed a simplified Thermal Extraction Desorption-GC/MS method for microplastic identification in water samples that processes the entire filter in a tubular furnace rather than requiring subsampling for thermogravimetric analysis. The approach reduced sample handling steps, minimized contamination risk, and maintained polymer identification accuracy comparable to standard methods.

2022 Talanta 71 citations
Article Tier 2

A practical method for mass quantification of microplastics in soil media using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Researchers developed and validated a pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) method for quantifying polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene microplastics in soil, achieving low detection limits (0.02-0.44 microgram), strong linearity, and recovery rates of 86-100% across three soil types. Cryomilling improved homogeneity and accuracy by 3.2%, and FTIR confirmed polymer identities with over 85% spectral match.

2025 MethodsX
Article Tier 2

Systematic Development of a Simultaneous Determination of Plastic Particle Identity and Adsorbed Organic Compounds by Thermodesorption–Pyrolysis GC/MS (TD-Pyr-GC/MS)

Researchers developed a new pyrolysis-based analytical method that can simultaneously identify the polymer type and measure adsorbed organic pollutants on plastic particles in a single step. This combined approach removes the need for complex extraction steps and could simplify the detection of plastic-associated chemical contaminants in environmental samples.

2020 Molecules 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of the microplastic content in Mediterranean benthic macrofauna by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Researchers developed an analytical method combining pyrolysis with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS/MS) for quantifying six common plastic polymers in Mediterranean benthic macrofauna with minimal sample preparation. The method achieved lower detection limits than conventional Py-GC/MS for six polymers including polyethylene and polypropylene, enabling more sensitive monitoring of MP contamination in seafloor organisms.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 41 citations