ECO67: Plastic article fragmentation in soils and marine environments (FRAGMENT-ARTICLE)

Description

The FRAGMENT-ARTICLE project will identify key formulation factors that impact the degradation and fragmentation into micro- and nanoplastics of post-use plastic articles in the environment. It will build a quality dataset on the influence of product formulation, use this to add another dimension to the FRAGMENT-MNP model, and integrate previous validated methodology of project partners.

The study aims to address a gap by developing systematic studies at the interface between the two fields, durability vs disintegration by systematically varying formulations and subjecting them to specific environmental stressors for release detection.   

The project will achieve the following objectives:

1. Identify key formulation factors that impact the degradation of plastics and generation of microplastics in the environment.
2. Build a quality dataset on the influence of product formulation on the degradation and generation of micro- and nanoplastics (MNP). Unique methodology with previous validation allows us to cover also the nanoplastic size range and dissolved degradation products.
3. Develop a model capable of predicting micro- and nanoplastic release under different environmental conditions, based on the quality dataset and the existing FRAGMENT-MNP model.
4. Generate a quality dataset and reliable model that adheres to Good Modelling Practices (GMP) and FAIR for research software principles.