Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

New techniques for the detection of microplastics in sediments and field collected organisms

Researchers developed new techniques for detecting microplastics in sediment samples and for collecting particles in the field, improving the reliability and sensitivity of methods used to monitor environmental microplastic contamination.

2013 Marine Pollution Bulletin 971 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative analysis of microplastics detection methods applied to marine sediments: A case study in the Bay of Marseille

This study compared multiple analytical methods for detecting and quantifying microplastics in marine sediment samples, evaluating extraction efficiency, polymer identification accuracy, and practical considerations for routine environmental monitoring.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 9 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

Microplastic in marine environment: reworking and optimisation of two analytical protocols for the extraction of microplastics from sediments and oysters

Researchers improved existing protocols for extracting microplastics from both marine sediments and oysters, making the NOAA protocol more versatile and extending it to PET extraction. Validated extraction methods are essential for producing consistent, comparable data on microplastic contamination in seafood.

2020 MethodsX 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Proposal for an initial screening method for identifying microplastics in marine sediments

Researchers developed a simplified screening protocol to identify microplastics in marine sediment samples, intended as a rapid initial method before more detailed analysis. Standardized screening protocols that are accessible to more laboratories are needed to expand global monitoring of microplastic sediment contamination.

2021 Scientific Reports 7 citations
Article Tier 2

An optimized procedure for extraction and identification of microplastics in marine sediment

Scientists developed an improved method for extracting and identifying microplastics from marine sediment using a sodium bromide-zinc chloride solution combined with infrared imaging. Reliable extraction and identification methods are essential for accurately measuring microplastic contamination in seafloor sediments.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in seafood: Benchmark protocol for their extraction and characterization

Researchers developed a benchmark protocol for extracting and characterizing microplastics from seafood samples, providing standardized methods to improve consistency and comparability across studies measuring human dietary exposure.

2016 Environmental Pollution 894 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic abundance and characteristics in French Atlantic coastal sediments using a new extraction method

Researchers developed a new extraction method for microplastics from coastal Atlantic sediments in France and applied it to characterize microplastic abundance and composition, finding widespread contamination and demonstrating the method's improved efficiency for recovering particles from sediment matrices.

2018 Environmental Pollution 127 citations
Article Tier 2

A new analytical technique for the extraction and quantification of microplastics in marine sediments focused on easy implementation and repeatability

This paper describes a new analytical method for extracting and quantifying microplastics from sediment using common laboratory equipment and salt solutions, making microplastic analysis more accessible to laboratories without specialized instruments. Standardized, low-cost methods are essential for expanding the geographic and temporal coverage of microplastic monitoring.

2017 Analytical Methods 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Extraction efficiency of different microplastic polymers from deep-sea sediments and their quantitative relevance

Researchers developed and validated a specific extraction protocol for microplastics in the 2–1000 µm size range from deep-sea sediments (greater than 200 m depth), evaluated extraction efficiency across different polymer types, and assessed the quantitative relevance of extraction efficiency for accurate environmental monitoring.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical review of the novel analytical methods for the determination of microplastics in sand and sediment samples

This review critically assessed novel analytical methods for detecting microplastics in sand and sediment samples, comparing extraction procedures and identification techniques while highlighting the need for standardized protocols across laboratories.

2023 TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimization of an Analytical Protocol for the Extraction of Microplastics from Seafood Samples with Different Levels of Fat

Researchers optimized an analytical protocol for extracting microplastics from seafood samples with varying fat content, addressing a key methodological challenge in accurately quantifying microplastic contamination in marine food sources given the ubiquitous presence of plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in marine environments.

2022 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of microplastic content in seafood: An integrated approach combined with the determination of elemental contaminants

Researchers developed and tested an integrated analytical approach combining multiple techniques to reliably detect and characterize microplastics in seafood. The method aims to provide more accurate and reproducible results for food safety assessments.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 17 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

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

Global mapping for the occurrence of all-sized microplastics in seafloor sediments

Researchers compiled global seafloor microplastic data from 155 marine sediment samples including detailed sampling metadata and abundance measurements for 20 microplastic categories, providing foundational data for understanding the distribution and uncertainty of microplastic contamination on the seafloor.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Development of cost-effective methodologies to identify and quantify microplastics in seawater samples

Researchers developed low-cost, practical methods for detecting and quantifying microplastics in seawater samples, addressing the lack of standardized protocols. Consistent, affordable detection methods are essential for expanding global microplastic monitoring and enabling meaningful comparisons across different regions and studies.

2020 Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Extraction and identification of microplastics from mussels: Method development and preliminary results

Scientists developed and validated a method for extracting and identifying microplastics from mussel tissue, then applied it to measure contamination in commercially harvested mussels. The method produced reliable, reproducible results, providing a practical tool for monitoring microplastic levels in one of the world's most widely consumed shellfish.

2021 Italian Journal of Food Safety 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Improved separation and quantification method for microplastic analysis in sediment: A fine-grained matrix from Arctic Greenland

Researchers developed an improved method for extracting microplastics from fine-grained Arctic sediments that reduces particle loss by cutting out intermediate processing steps, achieving over 90% recovery for particles larger than 100 micrometers. This is important because smaller microplastic particles are particularly easy to lose during analysis, and better methods mean we get more accurate data on how much plastic pollution is actually present in remote environments like Greenland.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 10 citations
Article Tier 2

The Hidden Microplastics: New Insights and Figures from the Thorough Separation and Characterization of Microplastics and of Their Degradation Byproducts in Coastal Sediments

Researchers applied thorough extraction and characterization methods to coastal sediment samples and found substantially more microplastics — including degradation byproducts not previously reported — than standard methods typically detect. The results suggest that conventional extraction protocols underestimate true microplastic contamination levels in marine sediments.

2018 Environmental Science & Technology 172 citations