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Diversified Analytical Methods Used to Analyze Plastic Biodegradation

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Advanced Strategies for Biodegradation of Plastic Polymers

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Abstract

Analytical methods for microplastics are essential for understanding and monitoring the degradation processes of these micromaterials, with some techniques even being able to identify them in living organisms. This chapter presents the fundamentals and applications of the main methods for the analysis of microplastics with a focus on degradation processes in environmental samples. Optical, electron, and atomic force microscopy methods are described. Spectrometric, thermal analysis, and chromatographic methods are also described. This wide variety of methods must be used together to obtain an integral qualitative and quantitative characterization. Hybrid techniques are of great interest as they show the best performance. Research on analytical methods for microplastics is still an area of opportunity, as there are still many practical limitations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Metallurgy, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

    Javier E. Vilasó-Cadre & Iván A. Reyes-Domínguez

  2. Multidisciplinary Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

    Lázaro Adrián González-Fernández & Nahum Andrés Medellín-Castillo

  3. Center for Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Engineering, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

    Nahum Andrés Medellín-Castillo

  4. National Council of Humanities, Science and Technology of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

    Iván A. Reyes-Domínguez

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  1. Javier E. Vilasó-Cadre
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  2. Lázaro Adrián González-Fernández
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  3. Nahum Andrés Medellín-Castillo
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India

    Ravindra Soni

  2. Department of Botany, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar College, Belonia, Tripura, India

    Prasenjit Debbarma

  3. Department of Science, Vidyadayini Institute of Science, Management, and Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

    Deep Chandra Suyal

  4. Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Chaumuhan, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Reeta Goel

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Vilasó-Cadre, J.E., González-Fernández, L.A., Medellín-Castillo, N.A., Reyes-Domínguez, I.A. (2024). Diversified Analytical Methods Used to Analyze Plastic Biodegradation. In: Soni, R., Debbarma, P., Suyal, D.C., Goel, R. (eds) Advanced Strategies for Biodegradation of Plastic Polymers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55661-6_7

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