OpenMNP is an open-access platform dedicated to eliminating technical barriers in microplastic identification. We provide consistent, transparent detection methods — starting with Raman spectroscopy and expanding to mass spectrometry — so that every researcher, regulator, and industry professional can identify microplastics with confidence. Together, we are advancing toward harmonized detection practices.
Have ideas about our methods? Don't hesitate to reach out.
The in-situ Raman identification framework powering this platform has been peer-reviewed and published in ES&T, a top-tier environmental journal. Covering 8 polymer types from 25°C to 800°C, the method achieves 91% median matching accuracy — a 44-point improvement over conventional libraries.
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Researchers applied the OpenMNP Raman identification workflow to characterize microplastics (>3 μm) in soil surrounding a waste incineration plant. The study reported 419–1,133 particles/g, with PP and PE accounting for 61.2% of total polymers, validating the method’s real-world applicability.
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A systematic comparison of Py/GC-MS and TD/GC-MS — both offered through OpenMNP — demonstrates Py/GC-MS achieves 10× lower detection limits (8.84×10−3–1.58×10−1 μg) and higher recoveries for 6 common polymers in complex soil matrices, supporting method standardization.
In Press →Microplastic detection today is fragmented — every lab uses different instruments, libraries, and criteria. OpenMNP is building a harmonized, open platform to change that.
When labs use a shared detection pipeline, results become truly comparable across regions and studies — a critical step toward harmonized microplastic identification.
No expensive software. No proprietary algorithms. Everything is open-source, transparent, and accessible. Upload a .txt file and get results instantly.
This Raman framework is just the beginning. More detection technologies — including mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) — and sample types are coming to the platform.
Currently, microplastic detection methods vary widely between laboratories — different instruments, different spectral libraries, different matching criteria. This fragmentation makes it impossible to compare results across studies or build reliable global datasets. OpenMNP exists to help change that. Our first method — an in-situ Raman framework covering 8 polymer types with a 91% median matching rate — is freely available, fully transparent, and ready for you to use. Mass spectrometry and other detection technologies will join the platform. Together, we can make microplastic identification more consistent, comparable, and accessible to everyone.
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Chinese Academy of Sciences
Institute of Process Engineering, CAS
Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences
State Key Laboratory of Mesoscience and Engineering
