Formation and Identification of Small Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Level of Education of Students Involved

Undergraduate

Faculty Sponsor

Julie Peller

College

Arts and Sciences

Discipline(s)

Environmental Chemistry

ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0003-0200-7807; 0000-0002-8557-8519

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 4-27-2023

Abstract

The rapid increase in plastic production over the past few decades has escalated the consequential global plastic pollution across all environments. Plastic pollution consists of large intact pieces, and also small, fragmented and altered pieces of plastic. In aqueous media, small micro- (< 10 um) and nanoplastics (< 1 um) have different properties than the larger plastic pieces, prompting the need for further investigations and concerns related to human and environmental health. We recently determined that using a small volume of liquid solubilizer, such as n-dodecane, and vigorous mixing, small micro- and nanoplastics are formed. Ultrasonic mixing can be used to further decrease these particle sizes and increase the concentration suspended in water. Common stock and real-world plastics, such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polycarbonate (PC) all readily formed nanoplastic suspensions in water. We have quantitatively created nanoplastic suspensions of known concentration with the solubilizer and have also removed it from the solution. The ease of this nanoplastic formation is also concerning, as it suggests they are more abundant and bio-available in natural environments than currently estimated.

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Joe Castleman is a Chemistry and Psychology double major interested in neuroscience and hoping to go to medical school.

Scott Kaiser is a Chemistry major and math minor interested in going to graduate school for chemistry.

Sydney Martens is a Chemistry and Biology double major and will be attending law school in the Fall, with interests in environmental and IP law.

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