CRC Microplastic Seminar Series

Newsletter
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The newsletter will also send out the latest link for online participation on the morning of the event.
Current seminar programme
Monday, 25. July 2022
16:00, Virtual ZOOM or H18, NWII
Prof. Dr. Peter Fiener, Water and Soil Resource Research, University Augsburg
Coordinator of the EU Innovative Training Network ‘Macro and micro plastic in agricultural soil systems (SOPLAS)”
Arable soils - a leaking sink of microplastic?
This talk will focus on the potential importance of surface runoff and soil erosion as long-lasting pathway of microplastic from arable soils to inland waters. It will be subdivided into a general introduction regarding the challenges in dealing with soil and microplastic erosion on larger scales and will present original research comprising microplastic erosion process studies as well as first modelling approaches quantifying the erosion transport pathway in a mesoscale catchment. The latter underpins that even if the microplastic input to arable soils could be regulated today, soils would remain a diffuse microplastic source for inland waters for centuries
Link to Homepage: Peter Fiener
Link: Poster
- 13.06.2022 - Prof. Dr. Bernd Nowack - Modeling the release of plastic and microplastic to the environmentHide
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Monday, 13. June 2022
16:00, Virtual ZOOM or H18, NWIIProf. Dr. Bernd Nowack, Environmental Risk Assessment and Management Group, EMPA, ETH Zürich
Modeling the release of plastic and microplastic to the environment
There is still a lot of uncertainty about the quantity and main sources of plastic emissions to the environment. This presentation shows how a combined (dynamic) material flow and release modeling can be used to quantify the current and historic releases of macro- and microplastics to the environment. A polymer-specific approach is needed as large differences between the released amounts and the receiving compartments exists.
Link to Homepage: Bernd Nowack
Link: Poster - 04.04.2022 -SFB Insights Seminar: Microplastics is not MicroplasticsHide
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Monday, 4. April 2022
16:00, Virtual ZOOM or H33, AIInsights CRC 1357 Microplastics: Microplastics is not Microplastics –
When particle properties determine biological effectsThe CRC 1357 PhD students Matthias Völkl and Simon Wieland provide insights into current microplastics research. Why are microplastics not all the same? When do inhaled microparticles threat our health? What distinguishes them from other particles? Two recent publications in the Journal of Hazardous Materials address precisely these two questions. Matthias and Simon offer exclusive insights into the interdisciplinary research of the CRC 1357 Microplastics
- Link: Posterankündigung
- Pressemitteilung UBT: From properties to toxicity: comparing microplastics to other airborne microparticles
- Open Access Original Article: From properties to toxicity: comparing microplastics to other airborne microparticles
- Pressemitteilung UB: Supposedly identical microplastic particles substantially differ in their material
- Open Access Original Article: Supposedly identical microplastic particles substantially differ in their material
- 16.05.2022 - Insights CRC 1357 Microplastic with Dr. Hannes Laermanns and Jan-Pascal Boos: Tracing Microplastic transport on soil surfaces and the water-sediment boundaryHide
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Montag, 16. May 2022
16:00, H33, AI und ZoomInsights CRC 1357 Microplastic: Tracing Microplastic transport on soil surfaces and the water-sediment boundary
The SFB 1357 members Jan-Pascal Boos and Hannes Laermanns provide insights into current microplastics research. Microplastics have been ubiquitously detected in the environment. Since Microplastic particle properties can be substantially different from natural sediments, little is known about the specific transport mechanisms responsible for the distribution from anthropogenic sources to natural sinks. We present two approaches to track pristine and biofouled fluorescent microplastic transport in two different systems: On the water-sediment boundary using an experimental flume setting and during runoff using laboratory setup and computer simulations.
Link to Homepage: Hannes Laermanns
Link to Homepage: Jan-Pascal Boos
Link: Posterankündigung
- 21.02.2022 - Prof. Silke Christiansen: From macro- to nano-plastics - Scale bridging analytics with microscopies and spectroscopies in various matrices and preparative workflowsHide
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Monday, 21. February 2022
04:00 pm, Virtual ZOOM or H33, AIProf. Dr. Silke Christiansen, Fraunhofer IKTS, Department: Korrelative Mikroskopie und Materialdaten
From macro- to nano-plastics - Scale bridging analytics with microscopies and spectroscopies in various matrices and preparative workflows
In her talk, Prof. Christiansen will specify the challenges of scale-bridging analytics, in particular when identifying individual, identical M/NPs in various analytical techniques is required to truly correlate various physical and chemical properties at particle level. She will moreover demonstrate the strengths of scale-bridging analytics and will introduce the nanoGPS technology as an enabler of this multi-modal analytics correlation at single particle level. Application examples from M/NPs in filters from mineral water as well as in tissue of marine animals and human derived cells will be shown.
Link to Homepage: Silke Christiansen
Link: Poster - 09.05.2022 - Dr.-Ing. Kryss Waldschläger: Diverse microplastics and where to find them: Learning from natural sediment to tackle microplastic challengesHide
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Monday, 9. May 2022
16:00, H33, AI und ZoomDr.-Ing. Kryss Waldschläger, Assistant Professor for Fluid Mechanics at Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group, Wageningen University
Diverse microplastics and where to find them: Learning from natural sediment to tackle microplastic challenges
Although our knowledge of microplastics is rapidly increasing, we still have difficulties in describing these diverse particles and in understanding the basic transport processes of microplastics in the aquatic environment. However, research on natural sediments offers many approaches that can be applied or adapted to microplastics. This presentation will show what we can learn from natural sediments when it comes to particle and transport description and where we need to focus our efforts in the future.
Link to Homepage: Kryss Waldschläger
Link: Posterankündigung - 24.01.2022 - Prof. Dr. Thilo Hofmann: Nanotechnology, Nanogeosciences, Nanoplastics: Similarities and PerspectivesHide
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Monday, 24th January 2022
05:00 pm, ZOOMProf. Dr. Thilo Hofmann, Environmental Geosciences, Universität Wien
Nanotechnology, Nanogeosciences, Nanoplastics: Similarities and Perspectives
Hoffmann´s talk will address natural (NPs), engineered (ENPs) and microplastic (nano)particles (MPs) and specific aspects concerning the detection and prediction of nanoparticle fate. It will focus on new analytical concepts and “old” knowledge from nanogeoscience, which might be of importance for MPs research and the use of nanotechnology in the field of plant agriculture.
Link to Homepage: Thilo Hoffmann
Link: Poster - 13.12.2021 - Prof. Dr. Martin Koch: Spectroscopic Detection of MicroplasticsHide
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Monday, 13th December 2021
5:00 pm, Virtual ZOOMSpectroscopic Detection of Microplastics
Prof. Dr. Martin Koch, Semiconductor Photoniccs, University MarburgSeveral different spectroscopic methods exist to distinguish microplastics particles and natural materials typically found in the environment. We discuss the operation principles and the advantages and drawbacks of these different methods.
Link to Homepage: Martin Koch
Link: Posterankündigung - 15.11.2021 - Prof. Dr. Anke Nölscher:Assessing origin and fate of airborne (microplastic) particlesHide
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Montag, 15th November 2021
5:00 pm, H33, AIAssessing origin and fate of airborne (microplastic) particles via molecular-level composition analysis
Prof. Dr. Anke Nölscher, Atmosphärische Chemie, Universität BayreuthThe chemical composition of airborne particles can aid to diagnose their origin, atmospheric age and impact on air quality, weather and climate. This seminar talk will highlight the potential of a molecular-level composition analysis for studying sources and impact of (microplastic) particles in the atmosphere
Link to Homepage: Anke Nölscher
Link: Posterankündigung - 08.11.2021 - Prof. Dr. Iseult Lynch - Microplastics interactions with biomolecules and daphnidsHide
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Monday, 8th November 2021
Microplastics interactions with biomolecules and daphnids
Prof. Dr. Iseult Lynch, Environmental Nanosciences, University of BirminghamThe talk will present some of our work on understanding the interactions of Microplastics with Daphnia magna, a key indicator species for pollution, including the importance of mode of dispersion, impacts of medium composition, and role of the acquired biomolecule corona in mediating ingestion and retention of microplastics and co-pollutants such as triclosan (a representative antibacterial found in handwashes) and diclofenac (an exemplar pharmaceutical).
Link to Homepage: Iseult Lynch
Link: Posterankündigung - 25.10.2021 - Prof Dr. Andrea Haase: Possibilities to group micro- and nanoplastic particlesHide
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Monday, 25th October 2021
Possibilities to group micro- and nanoplastic particles: Insights from the perspective of the BMBF project InnoMat.Life
PD Dr. Andrea Haase, Chemical and Product Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)Compared to grouping of conventional substances or nanomaterials, establishing grouping approaches for micro- and nanoscaled plastic particles (MNPs) is much more challenging. The description of the chemical composition is more complicated for polymers and these particles are inherently heterogenous in many key properties.
This talk will provide an overview on the experimental work conducted within the InnoMat.Life consortium (www.innomatlife.de) to challenge possible grouping criteria using a variety of selected MNPs including several types of polyethylene, polyamide, polyurethane, polymethyl methacrylate and a rubber material obtained from recycled truck tires. As potential grouping criteria we assessed, among others, surface reactivity and biological effects considering human and environmental model systems, transport of different environmental contaminants, sedimentation and flotation behavior as well as ageing and fragmentation rates.
Based on our current data first conclusions concerning suitable approaches and criteria for grouping of different MNPs are possible. Our work is important for developing approaches to assess risks for human health and the environment.
Link to Homepage: Chemicals and Product Safety, BfR
Link: Posterankündigung - 04.10.2021 -Prof. Ulrich Schwaneberg: Protein Engineering for Plastic ManagementHide
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Monday, 04th October 2021
5:00 pm, Virtual Seminar (ZOOM)Protein Engineering for Plastic Management
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schwaneberg, Biotechnologie, RWTH Aachen
Plastics production reached ~370 million tons worldwide and our environment is massively contaminated with plastic waste. Microplastic contaminations alone are estimated to be in total 1.8-5.0 Mio tons with a yearly increase of 42 000 t (source European Chemical Agency; ECHA). Microplastic-particles can still be found in daily-used products such as cosmetics, cleaning/laundry products, and fertilizers. Based on bioaccumulation studies of Microplastic-particles the ECHA recommends wide-ranging restrictions on Microplastic in products to ensure human and environmental health. This ‘ban on microplastic’ is expected to be adopted into EU legislation till 2022, however, so far no ‘holy grail’ analytics has been developed to enable material-specific quantification of Microplastic-particles in high-throughput. In the presentation I will outline the advancement that we have achieved in designing by material-specific binding through protein engineering methodologies and their application in microplastic quantification and degradation. - 27.07.2021 - SFB 1357 Klausurtagung 2021Hide
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27-29th July 2021
Hotel The Monarch, Bad GöggingCRC 1357 Retreat, Internal CRC Event
- 19.07.2021 - Dr. Dirk Broßell: Assessment of health risks of high aspect ratio materials (HARM)Hide
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Monday, 19th July 2021
17:00 Uhr, Virtual Seminar (ZOOM)Assessment of health risks of high aspect ratio materials (HARM): New techniques for material control and testing
Dr. Dirk Broßell, Partikelförmige Gefahrstoffe, Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, Dortmund
Dust of high aspect ratio materials (HARM) can be hazardous to human health when inhaled. The classical fibre pathogenicity paradigm (FPP) predicts a carcinogenic potential in humans for inhalable biodurable fibres. Innovative testing methods and the availability of materials with narrow diameter distributions like carbon nanotubes and synthetic polymer fibres will and have already contribute(d) to a better understanding of the underlying pathomechanical cell effects that motivate a revision and extension of the FPP. Apart from implementing appropiate safety measures for workers, risk prediction enables the identification of parameters for designing and manufacturing safer HARM.Link to Homepage: Fachgruppe 4.5 Partikelförmige Gefahrstoffe und Innovative Materialien
- 28.06.2021 - Dr. Elke Brandes: Modelling microplastic input into agricultural soils – first results and a perspectiveHide
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Monday, 28th June 2021
17:00 Uhr, Virtual Seminar (ZOOM)Modelling microplastic input into agricultural soils – first results and a perspective
Dr. Elke Brandes, Institute for Rural Studies, Thünen-Insitut, Braunschweig
In both science and society, agriculture has been featuring prominently as an emitter of microplastics into soils, but its relevance compared with other sources (industry, littering, etc.) remains largely unknown. The talk will include some spatially explicit modelling results of MP emission distributions from the BMBF funded projects PLAWES and MicroCatch_Balt, and discuss these in context with the whole transport pathway chain from terrestrial to marine environments. It will also highlight the importance of multi-scale modelling approaches towards a holistic understanding as a basis for political decision-making.Poster: CRC 1357 Seminar Dr. Elke Brandes
Link to Homepage: Elke Brandes - 14.06.2021 - Prof. Marcus Halik: Nano- and Microplastics, Oil or Toxins – how Smart Rust can clean up our waterHide
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Monday, 14th June 2021
05:00 pm, Virtual Seminar (ZOOM)Nano- and Microplastics, Oil or Toxins – how Smart Rust can clean up our water
Prof. Dr. Marcus Halik, Organic Materials & Devices, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen - Nürnberg
Chemically surface-functionalized SuperParamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) – or smart rust – serve excellent vehicles to attract water contaminants and to allow a simple magnetic remediation of such loaded SPIONs. The surfaces of SPIONs matters in order to achieve magnetic responsive sorbents to collect efficiently different brands of nano/microplastics, different liquid hydrocarbons (oil) or special contaminants (PCBs, glyphosate). An overview of recent developments will be presented.Poster: CRC 1357 Seminar Prof. Marcus Halik
Link to Homepage: Marcus Halik
- 24.02.2020 - Dr. Lars Dähne: Synthesis of functionalized, monodisperse microparticles from different plastic materialsHide
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Monday, 24th February 2020
17:00 o'clock, NWIII, H36Synthesis of functionalized, monodisperse microparticles from different plastic materials
Dr. habil Lars Dähne, Surflay Nanotec GmbH, Berlin
Link zu Homepage: Surflay - 03.02.2020 - Prof. Matthias Rillig: Microplastic effects in terrestrial ecosystemsHide
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Monday, 3rd February 2020
17:00 o'clock, NWIII, H36Microplastic effects in terrestrial ecosystems
Prof. Dr. Matthias Rillig, Plant Ecology, Freie Universität Berlin
Microplastic effects have only relatively recently become a concern in terrestrial ecosystems, with research having initially focused on aquatic systems. In this talk I discuss the role of microplastic as a global change factor affecting soils and plants.Link Homepage: Prof. Rillig
Announcement: Poster - 27.01.2020 - Prof. Dr. Marco Beeken: Science Communication: Sustainability and Microplastics Hide
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Monday, 27th January 2020
17:00 o'clock, NWIII, H36Science Communication: Sustainability and Microplastics
Prof. Dr. Marco Beeken, Didactics of Chemistry, University of Osnabrück
The topics environment protection and sustainability are currently being intensively discussed in society, the media, sciences and politics. “Fridays for Future” may act as a prominent example here. However, on closer inspection, it becomes clear that many citizens show great interest in these topics, but are often rather uninformed with regard to details.For this reason, science communication is of great significance. In this lecture, first some theoretical basic knowledge on science communication based on the example of microplastics is presented, after which some concrete event formats and their evaluation results are discussed.
Link Homepage: Prof. Beeken
Announcement: Poster - 18.12.2019 - Prof. Stefan Mecking: Towards non-persistent polyethylene-like materials by polymerization catalysis methodsHide
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Wednesday, 18th December 2019
16:15 o'clock, NWI, H11Towards non-persistent polyethylene-like materials by polymerization catalysis methods
Prof. Dr. Stefan Mecking, Chemische Materialwissenschaften, Universität Konstanz
Polyethylene is the most important plastic with excellent materials properties due to its crystallinity, yet it is persistent in a natural environment. We pursue approaches to endow polyethylene-like materials with a non-persistent nature by introducing low densities of functional groups as break points in the chain. Key are polymerization catalysis methods that are compatible with such functional groups. These also provide access to unique polymer micro- and nanoparticles for studies of the fate of microplastics in the environment.Link Homepage: Prof. Mecking
Announcement: Poster - 11.12.2019 - CRC 1357 internal seminarHide
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Wednesday, 11th December 2019
16:15 o'clock, NWI, H11Prof. Dr. Eva Lehndorff, Department Soil Ecology, University of Bayreuth
Prof. Dr. Tillmann Lüders, Ecological Microbiology, University of Bayreuth
SFB-internal Seminar for PIs and PhDs.
- 04.12.2019 - Dr.Michael Sander: Polymers in the underground: on the biodegradation of synthetic polyesters in soilsHide
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Wednesday, 04th December 2019
16:15 o'clock, NWI, H11Polymers in the underground: on the biodegradation of synthetic polyesters in soils
Dr. Michael Sander, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich
Biodegradable plastics have been heavily used in agricultural applications for years, while the biodegradation of these materials in soils remained poorly understood on a fundamental level. This contribution will present highlights on our past and ongoing work on the key steps involved in polyester biodegradation in soils: microbial polymer surface colonisation, polyester hydrolysis by extracellular microbial esterases, and the microbial utilisation of polyester hydrolysis products. The talk will also summarise remaining knowledge gaps on polyester biodegradation in soils and present some ideas of how these can be addressed.Link Homepage: Dr. Sander
Announcement: Poster - 27.11.2019 - Prof. Wolfgang Streit: Microbial Degradation of Plastics: Searching the Needle in the Haystack Hide
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Wednesday, 27th November 2019
16:15 o'clock, NWI, H11Microbial Degradation of Plastics: Searching the Needle in the Haystack
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Streit, Microbiology und Biotechnology, Universität Hamburg
Bacteria as plastic waste disposal? Will microorganisms be able to eat microplastics in the future and thus remove them from the environment? What is behind the microorganisms, what effect they have and what opportunities there are for the reduction of nano- and microplastics will be explained here. Further I will address our latest attempts to identify plastic-degrading enzymes and bacteria by mining global metagenomes.Link Homepage: Prof. Streit
Announcement: PosterPublic Seminar - All interested parties are cordially invited!