A Physical-Chemical Approach to Investigate the Degradation of Plastics Exposed to Lake Water (Lém-PLAST)

The project in a nutshell:

The majority of plastics are derived from non-renewable petrochemical resources, which often end up as plastic waste polluting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, they can spread toxins that affect wildlife and human health. With the weathering processes, an increasing number of small MPs fragments with high proportions of carboxyl, peroxide, and keto groups is continuously released into the environment. The enhanced surface area for adsorbing and changes the environmental behavior of MPs. However, all these processes are far from being fully understood at a molecular level.

This research aims to analyze the structural and functional changes of the PET plastic (sub-) surface caused through controlled laboratory experiments and real-world environmental interactions. To achieve this, the study will combine physicochemical analyses with a unique equipment to quantify the functional groups changes on microplastic surface. Study the complexity of real-world conditions by introducing PET plastic into the lake through the LéXPLORE scientific platform. Understand the interaction of PET with natural water systems, including variations in temperature, humidity, sunlight, oxygen, microbial communities, and chemical composition.

It is envisaged that quantitative data generated from these investigations can be used to support the develop of predictive models for PET degradation across different climate zones. The ultimate goal of such models is to provide a foundation for understanding how varying environmental conditions influence the persistence and fragmentation of PET plastics.

Team members

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