Researchers / Institutional Affiliations

Principal Investigator

• Hiejima Yusuke
  Research Division for Science and Technology
  Kanazawa University
  (Japan)

Collaborators

• Kuroda Shinichi
  Graduate School of Science and Engineering
  Gunma University
  (Japan)
• Oku Hiroyuki
  Graduate School of Science and Engineering
  Gunma University
  (Japan)
• Kuriyama Takashi
  Graduate School of Organic Materials and Systems Science
  Yamagata University
  (Japan)
• Matsuba Go
  Graduate School of Organic Materials and Systems Science
  Yamagata University
  (Japan)
• Kouzi Hiroaki
  Department of Science and Engineering
  Kanto Gakuin University
  (Japan)
• Igarashi Toshio
  SC Environmental Science Co. Ltd
  (Japan)

Timeline

Underway since March 2019

Additional information

This study aimed to clarify the kinetic mechanisms by which secondary microplastics are generated from plastics, using the principles of polymer science and engineering. There are three main areas of focus: a detailed analysis of microplastics collected in the environment, along with specimens subjected to weathering; the kinetics of microplastic formation during artificially accelerated exposure tests; and the development of reference microplastics with sufficiently high throughput. These approaches will contribute to risk assessments, and will help develop efficient methods to prepare reference microplastics based on their formation mechanism

Professional Presentations

Shinichi K. Elucidation of the formation mechanism of microplastics. Microplastics Advance Research and Innovation Initiative (MARII) Workshop on Advancements and steps towards a holistic, quantitative risk assessment on microplastics, October 12-13, 2022.

Published Papers

N/A