2026-06-29T02:06:31Zhttps://docta.ucm.es/rest/oai/request

oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/1331162026-02-25T00:59:20Zcom_20.500.14352_14col_20.500.14352_15

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc López Ochoa, Marcos author Cárdenas Escudero, J. author Sánchez Orozco, Claudia Alejandra author Galán Madruga, D. author Urraca Ruiz, Javier author Ararat, C. author Lucia, A. author Gómez Sánchez, Y. P. author Cáceres, Jorge Omar author 2025-09 The present article reports the detection and identification of microplastics (MPs) by constructing LIBS images from the emission lines of different markers. Given the increasing environmental concern regarding the presence of microplastics (MPs), the development of robust and sensitive analytical methodologies for their detection has become imperative. The characterization of the different types of MPs found in the environment is a key aspect when studying the pollution produced by these particles. However, the working protocols for evaluating this pollution include complex sample treatments or coupled techniques that increase the costs of these analyses. For this reason, the present work proposes a protocol for studying MPs that involves a novel, simple, and rapid sample preparation method, combined with a single LIBS image scan, which enables the construction of the particle distribution in the filter for the detection and classification of MPs. In this work, four different plastics were crushed, suspended in water, and filtered, emulating what could be found in a real sample. These plastics had specific markers, allowing for the use of a combination of spectral normalization and wavelength isolation related to a specific plastic to differentiate MPs in a mixture sample selectively. This approach could be applied to assess MP pollution in real samples when working on a larger scale or with more complex samples. In this way, a quick, inexpensive, and straightforward method was developed to detect and classify four types of MPs, which applied to both simple and more complex samples M. López Ochoa, J. Cárdenas-Escudero, C.A. Sánchez-Orozco, D. Galán-Madruga, J.L. Urraca Ruiz, C. Ararat, A. Lucia, Y.P. Gómez Sánchez, J.O. Cáceres, Methodological approach based on LIBS imaging for the identification of microplastics in the environment. A case study for water samples,Microchemical Journal,Volume 216,2025,114791, 10.1016/j.microc.2025.114791 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133116 1095-9149 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2025.114791 Methodological approach based on LIBS imaging for the identification of microplastics in the environment. A case study for water samples