Summary
The abundance of microplastics in the environment, and in water in particular, is a growing concern. Kosuth et al. (2018) showed that they were present in 81% of 159 drinking waters sampled across 14 countries. Both European Commission and EU Parliament have on-going investigations to enforce public policies to reduce the amount of microplastics released in the environment. Nestlé, as one of the many extensive users of plastics to protect and safely deliver goods, has been engaged in decreasing the environmental impact of its plastics and in ensuring that microplastics are absent from its products. In addition to policies tackling microplastic release in the environment, solutions are needed to remove those which are already present.
MICROPLASTINE aims at designing low-cost reusable biodegradable gelatine hydrogels to remove microplastics from water. Our water remediation process is based on the ability of charged gelatine hydrogels to flocculate oppositely charged microplastic particles, leading to the formation of aggregates that quickly sediment under gravity and can then be separated from water. As the charge of our hydrogels is pH-sensitive, they can be easily recovered by changing the pH.
Using static and dynamic scattering techniques, our detailed examination of hydrogel-microplastic association and of the structure of their aggregates will not only allow us to understand the role played by microstructure and surface chemistry, but also to optimise hydrogel structure and properties; thereby creating rapid aggregation processes. The same techniques will also allow us to investigate the aggregation reversibility, and subsequently design hydrogel regeneration and microplastic recovery processes to ensure the full reusability of our biodegradable flocculant. Model microplastic particles with well-defined shape, size, material and charge will be used, before the optimised flocculants are tested on weathered microplastic particles.
MICROPLASTINE aims at designing low-cost reusable biodegradable gelatine hydrogels to remove microplastics from water. Our water remediation process is based on the ability of charged gelatine hydrogels to flocculate oppositely charged microplastic particles, leading to the formation of aggregates that quickly sediment under gravity and can then be separated from water. As the charge of our hydrogels is pH-sensitive, they can be easily recovered by changing the pH.
Using static and dynamic scattering techniques, our detailed examination of hydrogel-microplastic association and of the structure of their aggregates will not only allow us to understand the role played by microstructure and surface chemistry, but also to optimise hydrogel structure and properties; thereby creating rapid aggregation processes. The same techniques will also allow us to investigate the aggregation reversibility, and subsequently design hydrogel regeneration and microplastic recovery processes to ensure the full reusability of our biodegradable flocculant. Model microplastic particles with well-defined shape, size, material and charge will be used, before the optimised flocculants are tested on weathered microplastic particles.
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More information & hyperlinks
| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101029810 |
| Start date: | 01-02-2022 |
| End date: | 31-01-2024 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | 191 149,44 Euro - 191 149,00 Euro |
Cordis data
Original description
The abundance of microplastics in the environment, and in water in particular, is a growing concern. Kosuth et al. (2018) showed that they were present in 81% of 159 drinking waters sampled across 14 countries. Both European Commission and EU Parliament have on-going investigations to enforce public policies to reduce the amount of microplastics released in the environment. Nestlé, as one of the many extensive users of plastics to protect and safely deliver goods, has been engaged in decreasing the environmental impact of its plastics and in ensuring that microplastics are absent from its products. In addition to policies tackling microplastic release in the environment, solutions are needed to remove those which are already present.MICROPLASTINE aims at designing low-cost reusable biodegradable gelatine hydrogels to remove microplastics from water. Our water remediation process is based on the ability of charged gelatine hydrogels to flocculate oppositely charged microplastic particles, leading to the formation of aggregates that quickly sediment under gravity and can then be separated from water. As the charge of our hydrogels is pH-sensitive, they can be easily recovered by changing the pH.
Using static and dynamic scattering techniques, our detailed examination of hydrogel-microplastic association and of the structure of their aggregates will not only allow us to understand the role played by microstructure and surface chemistry, but also to optimise hydrogel structure and properties; thereby creating rapid aggregation processes. The same techniques will also allow us to investigate the aggregation reversibility, and subsequently design hydrogel regeneration and microplastic recovery processes to ensure the full reusability of our biodegradable flocculant. Model microplastic particles with well-defined shape, size, material and charge will be used, before the optimised flocculants are tested on weathered microplastic particles.
Status
CLOSEDCall topic
MSCA-IF-2020Update Date
28-04-2024
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