Microplastics (MPs) contamination has emerged as a significant environmental concern due to its extensive dispersion along with potential adverse effects on aquatic as well as terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastics’ harmful effects have been seen to rise throughout the decades when they mix with other contaminants in a dynamic environmental setting. As a result, developing accurate, effective, and speedy analytical techniques for identifying MPs contamination has become a pressing issue. Understanding the origins, distribution, and implications of MPs requires reliable and efficient detection techniques in environmental samples. This chapter explores the methodologies and strategies for optical detection and identification of MPs in environmental samples, covering their potential, limitations, and the latest advances in destructive (thermal and GC-MS) and non-destructive (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy) detection techniques. By providing a brief overview of these detection methods, this chapter aims to inform further analysis and research efforts, evaluating their applicability across various sample matrices. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.
