Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

Methods of analysing chemicals associated with microplastics: a review

This review surveys analytical methods used to identify and quantify chemicals associated with marine microplastics, covering extraction techniques, spectroscopic approaches, and the challenges of characterizing the complex mixture of polymer additives and adsorbed contaminants.

2017 Analytical Methods 111 citations
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

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

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

Methods of the Investigation and Chemical Analysis of Microplastics and the Determination of Associated Compounds

This review surveys the major analytical methods used to identify microplastics and determine their chemical composition, including spectral, chromatographic, microscopic, and thermal techniques. Researchers compare the strengths and limitations of each approach for detecting different polymer types and associated chemical additives. The study serves as a practical guide for selecting appropriate methods for microplastic analysis in environmental and biological samples.

2025 Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and quantification of additive-derived chemicals in beached micro-mesoplastics and macroplastics.

Researchers screened 261 macro- and micro-mesoplastic debris samples from two beaches for plastic additives, detecting 52 chemicals including antioxidants, phthalates, UV stabilizers, and flame retardants, and finding that antioxidant degradation products served as markers for weathering duration in the marine environment.

2023 Marine pollution bulletin
Article Tier 2

Previous successes and untapped potential of pyrolysis–GC/MS for the analysis of plastic pollution

This review highlights the potential of pyrolysis combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry as a powerful tool for analyzing plastic pollution. Unlike traditional spectroscopy methods, this technique can determine the mass and chemical composition of microplastics, including additives, which is important for understanding health risks. The authors argue this method is underutilized and could significantly advance microplastic research, particularly for very small particles that are difficult to analyze with other approaches.

2023 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 96 citations
Article Tier 2

Qualitative characterisation and identification of microplastics in a freshwater dam at Gauteng Province, South Africa, using pyrolysis–gas chromatography–time of flight–mass spectrometry (Py–GC–ToF–MS)

Researchers used pyrolysis gas chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-ToF-MS) to characterise microplastics extracted from five locations in Rietvlei Dam, South Africa, identifying five polymer types (PE, PS, PA, PVC, and PET) as well as phthalate and fatty acid additives, with polyamide being the dominant polymer at 52%.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 10 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
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

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

Characterization of plastic micro particles in the Atlantic Ocean seashore of Cape Town, South Africa and mass spectrometry analysis of pyrolyzate products

Pyrolysis-GC-TOF-MS analysis of marine water samples from Cape Town, South Africa, identified 16 polymer types in microplastics, with polyethylene dominant, along with chemical additives and plasticizers, many of which are classified as irritants or health hazards under international safety standards. The presence of hazardous pyrolysis products highlights concerns about the chemical risks associated with microplastic pollution.

2020 Environmental Pollution 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Pyrolysis GC-MS Characterization of Plastic Debris from the Northern Gulf of Alaska Shorelines

Using pyrolysis GC-MS, researchers chemically characterized 115 plastic debris samples collected from shorelines in the northern Gulf of Alaska, identifying polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant polymers regardless of the debris's physical appearance or degree of weathering. Accurate polymer identification of environmental plastic litter is foundational to understanding degradation pathways and the types of microplastics that eventually enter marine food webs.

2023 ACS ES&T Water 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microwave-assisted pretreatments and analytical pyrolysis for the quantification of microplastics and correlated pollutants

Researchers developed and evaluated microwave-assisted pretreatment methods combined with analytical pyrolysis to simultaneously quantify microplastics and associated co-pollutants such as additives and persistent organic pollutants, addressing gaps in understanding how these contaminant classes interact in ecosystems.

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

Analysis of polyethylene microplastics in environmental samples, using a thermal decomposition method

Researchers developed a thermal analysis method using pyrolysis-GC/MS to identify and quantify polyethylene microplastics in environmental samples without relying on visual sorting or density separation. The approach provides a more objective and automatable way to measure microplastic mass in complex environmental matrices.

2015 Water Research 450 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of multi-step approach for comprehensive identification of microplastic particles in diverse sediment samples

Researchers developed a multi-step analytical approach to comprehensively identify and characterize microplastics in environmental samples, combining visual, spectroscopic, and thermal analysis. A systematic, multi-method approach is needed to capture the full diversity of microplastic types present in complex environmental matrices.

2020 Water Science & Technology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic additives and microplastics as emerging contaminants: Mechanisms and analytical assessment

Researchers reviewed how chemical additives mixed into plastics during manufacturing — including stabilizers, flame retardants, and plasticizers — can leach out throughout a plastic's lifecycle and pose risks to ecosystems and human health, with microplastics acting as carriers that concentrate and transport these hazardous chemicals.

2022 TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry 194 citations
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

Thermogravimetric analysis and kinetic study of marine plastic litter

This study characterized the composition and thermal degradation behavior of collected marine plastic debris, exploring pyrolysis as a method for recovering energy from plastic waste that cannot be recycled. Managing the large volumes of plastic debris in the ocean requires both prevention and end-of-life treatment solutions.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Analytical methods for microplastics in the environment: a review

Researchers reviewed classical and advanced analytical methods for detecting microplastics in the environment. The methods covered include visual analysis, electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis, mass spectrometry, and flow cytometry, providing a comprehensive overview of available tools for microplastic identification and quantification.

2022 Environmental Chemistry Letters 276 citations
Article Tier 2

Microwave-assisted solvent extraction and double-shot analytical pyrolysis for the quali-quantitation of plasticizers and microplastics in beach sand samples

Researchers developed an analytical method combining microwave-assisted solvent extraction with double-shot pyrolysis-GC-MS for simultaneous quantification of plasticizers and microplastics in beach sand samples. The approach allowed both soluble plastic additives and residual polymer microplastics to be characterized from a single environmental matrix.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 86 citations