Analysis of Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Huahong Shi got his PhD degree from Jinan University, China in 2003. Now he is a full-time professor of environmental sciences at East China Normal University. He is an associate editor of Environmental Science & Technology and Environmental Science & Technology Letters. In the past 10 years, he has been focusing on microplastic and nanoplastic pollution, including analytical methods, fate, toxicological effects, and risks to human health. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers on microplastic and nanoplastic research. He was recognized as the Highly Cited Researchers (HCRs) during 2020–23. Chengjun Sun received her PhD degree from University of California at Santa Barbara, United States, in 2001. She is currently a senior research scientist at the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, China. She serves as an associate editor for Marine Pollution Bulletin and an editorial board member for Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. Dr. Sun and her group have worked on microplastic pollution investigation in coastal waters, open oceans, and the polar regions with a focus on microplastic sampling and identification methods in the seawater, sediment, biota, and air, with the goal of understanding the microplastic pollution level in the world’s oceans and assessing their potential impact. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, including over 30 papers on microplastics.

Part One: Microplastic and nanoplastic as emerging contaminants
1. Plastic and oceans
2. Definition and features of microplastics and nanoplastics
3. Overview of analysis of microplastics and nanoplastics
4. Aims of the analysis and the choices of analytical methods

Part Two: Analysis of microplastics
5. The steps of microplastic analysis and their consistency
6. Sample collection and pre-treatment
7. Separation and purification of microplastics from the environmental samples
8. Observation and visual identification of microplastics
9. Identification of microplastics using spectroscopic methods
10. Analyzing microplastics using thermal decomposition-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
11. Application of artificial intelligence in the analysis of microplastics
12. Other methods and technology used in the analysis of microplastics
13. Calculation and presentation of the analysis results of microplastics

Part Three: Analysis of nanoplastics
14. The relation and consistency of nanoplastics analysis to microplastics
15. Separation and enrichment of nanoplastics from samples
16. Observation and physical characterization of nanoparticles
17. Identification of nanoplastics
18. Quantification of micro- and nanoplastics

Part Four: Perspectives and challenges
19. The harmonization of monitoring methods
for microplastics in the future
20. The challenges and perspectives of nanoplastic analysis
21. International digital platforms for analysis of microplastics and nanoplastics