Microplastics

Microplastics

Modeling fragmentation of micro- and nano-plastics in the environment

This project aims to develop a pragmatic, open-source mechanistic model of environmental factor effects on plastic fragmentation and degradation rates in various conditions and environmental compartments.

Organized by Cefic

Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

Principal Investigator

  • Dr. Claus Svendsen
    UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Collaborators

  • Dr. Wendel Wohlleben
    BASF
    (Germany)
  • Dr. Antonia Praetorius
    University of Amsterdam
    (The Netherlands)
  • Dr. Prof Mark R Wiesner
    Duke University
    (US)

Timeline

October 2021 to June 2024

Additional Information

The ECO59 FRAGMENT-MNP (Micro and NanoPlastic FRAGMentation in the Environment) project applies physical chemistry, fluid mechanics, material science and data science to extend researchers’ experience with existing fragmentation theory. This is expected to provide a unified view of how key environmental factors affect degradation and fragmentation rates for polymer particles. The project has the following elements: bringing together a ‘cluster’ of projects being funded by Cefic-LRI to ensure interoperability and sharing of learnings; developing an open-source mechanistic model; and providing an experimental database of key parameters leveraging in-house databases, existing literature and targeted gap-filling experiments.

Further details are available here.

Professional Presentations

Wohlleben W, Santizo K, Pfohl P, Harrison S, Cross R, Sipe JM, Wiesner M, Adediran G, Praetorius A, Catrouillet C, Lopez B, Scendsen C. Systematic comparison of environmental stresses (shear, humidity, UV, pH, temperature, enzymes) on microplastic fragmentation and release of nanoplastics and dissolved organics. SETAC Europe: May 2024. See details here.

Sipe J, Lewis A, Santizo K, Pfohl P, Lopez B, Harrison S, Wohlleben W, Wiesner M, Ferguson PL. Breaking down Plastics: Can we predict fragmentation and release of microplastics into the environment: University of Arizona Seminar: October 2023.

Santizo K, Pfohl P, Wohlleben W, Sipe JM, Wiesner M, Harrison S, Cross R, Adediran G, Praetorius A, Lopez B, Svendsen C. Systematic evaluation of fragmentation of five common synthetic polymers: Influence of photolysis, temperature and relative humidity on fragment size distribution and material characteristics. SETAC Europe: May 2023.

Santizo K, Pfohl P, Wohlleben W, Sipe JM, Wiesner M, Harrison S, Cross R, Adediran G, Praetorius A, Lopez B, Svenden. Distinctions on fragmentation and degradation of six common microplastics from hydrolysis condition variations: Insights into pH, salinity and enzyme effects. SETAC Europe: May 2023.

Sipe J, Lewis A, Santizo K, Pfohl P, Lopez B, Harrison S, Wohlleben W, Wiesner M, Ferguson PL. Breaking down the Plastic Problem: Can we predict how microplastics are fragmented and released. Brown University Seminar: March 2023.

Published Papers

N/A