CRC Microplastic Seminar Series

Monday 12th June 2023

16:15, ZOOM und Hörsaal: H18, NWII

Dr. Patrizia Pfohl, Colloid Science & Materials Properties, Microplastics & Nanomaterials, BASF SE

Aging of Intentionally Produced Microplastic Particles for Innovative Applications

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment, but their fragmentation and degradation mechanisms are not fully understood, although essential to estimate their fate and impacts. Industry has a responsibility to develop polymers that fit into a sustainable circular economy, so we aim to fill knowledge gaps regarding degradation and fragmentation processes of microplastics in different environmental compartments with the aid of appropriate laboratory set-ups for experimental reproducibility and environmental relevance. To investigate partially biodegraded microplastics occurring in complex environmental matrices, non-destructive extraction protocols with extensive controls are needed to assure particle and polymer stability, homogeneous sampling and appropriate recovery. We did biodegradation tests in combination with the developed extraction protocol for polyurethane (PU) microplastics to reveal which chemical design is needed to improve biodegradability of PU microplastics in the environment. In addition to that we developed an adapted NanoRelease protocol to investigate dry UV aging of polyamide and PU microplastics, as well as the release of micro- and nanoplastic fragments and water-soluble organics. In both studies, microplastic degradation resulted in fragmentation, but degradation strongly depends on the polymer composition and the environmental stresses. Overall, we want to underline the importance of quality control by reference materials used for spiking, extraction efficiency, and systematic comparison against blank controls for microplastic aging, extraction, harmonized data report and analysis.

LinkedIn Profile: Dr. Patrizia Pfohl
Link: Poster

Monday, 15. Mai 2023
16:15, ZOOM lecture hall: H18, NWII

Prof. Dr. Markus Biesalski, Macromolecular Chemistry and Paper Chemistry

Tailor-made functional papers – a complex low-cost material in high-tech applications

Paper has been known for thousands of years for its unique profile of properties: bendable & foldable, high mechanical strength, and its pore structure enabling pump-free fluid transport. Its production and recycling can nowadays be seen as technologically well-optimized. It has an environmentally friendly image and fosters the growing desire of the public for sustainable materials solutions. Despite its classical applications as print, packaging and hygiene paper, it has been in focus for several years in very challenging areas, e.g. in lateral flow tests (LFT), light-weight construction materials (e.g. as a honeycomb core in door leaves or shelves), as well as most recently in paper-based packaging as well as paper-based soft robotics. In this talk I will introduce our recent efforts in understanding and tailoring paper properties by controlled functionalization of the fiber and paper-sheet interfaces. Examples progress from the use of functional wax-polymer coatings to modulate barrier properties to cross-linking of polymers with paper fibers to introduce wet-strength properties in a sustainable fashion and the spatial control of interfacial attachment of polymers inside paper to gain 4D paper-based actuators.

Link to Homepage: Prof. Dr. Markus Biesalski
Link: Poster

Montag, 30. Januar 2023
16:15, ZOOM und Hörsaal: H18, NWII

Dr. Sonja Oberbeckmann, Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Rostock

The microplastic microbiome

Microplastics in the ocean are readily colonized by a broad range of microorganisms. The talk will cover which microorganisms use microplastics as a habitat, how environmental factors drive this colonization, and why biodegradation of plastic in the marine system is overall an unlikely process. We will also discuss whether potentially pathogenic microorganisms are hitchhiking on microplastics. Finally, potential ecological consequences of the microplastic-microbiome-interactions will be presented.

Link to Homepage: Dr. Sonja Oberbeckmann
Link: Poster

Monday, 19. December 2022
16:15, ZOOM and Lecture Hall: H18, NWII

Insights CRC 1357 Microplastic: Formation and degradation of microplastics under simulated environmental conditions and influence of microbial diversity and biofilm formation on degradation mechanisms of microplastic particles in the environment.

The SFB 1357 teams of project C01, Teresa Menzel, Nora Meides and Anika Mauel as well as team C04 Gerasimos Gkoutselis and Stephan Rohrbach give insights into their microplastics research. If plastics or microplastic particles are in our environment, they are exposed to a wide variety of influences such as solar radiation, mechanical stress, biofilm formation and the microbial communities in water and soil. How do macroplastics actually turn into microplastics, and is the plastisphere developed by fungi as a new habitat? We are curious what the PhD students will report!

Monday, 12. December 2022
16:15, ZOOM and Lecture Hall: H18, NWII

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Josef Endres, Head of the Institute for Plastics and Recycling Technology at Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH)

Closing the gap between laboratory and field tests to investigate the aquatic degradability of plastics

The lecture deals with the question of how the gap between laboratory tests and real environmental conditions can be closed for the investigation of the aquatic degradability of plastics. In this context, the associated technical approaches (e.g. "rocking shaker", microCT) as well as first results from them will be presented. The overall objective is to improve the understanding of the relationships between the degradation processes (mechanisms, kinetics, half-life), the environmental conditions (oxygen availability, temperature, salinity, light irradiation, time) and the material parameters (molecular structure, microstructure, specific surface area) for the specific development of aquatically degradable bioplastics.

Link to Homepage: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Josef Endres
Link: Poster

Monday, 5. December 2022
16:15, ZOOM

Prof. Dr. Nelson Odume, Institute for Water Research at Rhodes University, South Africa

How should we consider the role of hydraulic habitats and traits in the study of the distribution and effects of microplastics in riverine systems?

The transport and distribution of microplastics in riverine systems at the reach-scale are mediated by hydraulic characteristics such as depth, flow velocity, surface roughness. These factors interact with MP characteristics such as density, size, polymer type to influence the sedimentation, advection, dispersion, diffusion, settling, re-mobilisation, adsorption, and aggregation of MPs. At the reach scale, pools, riffles, and runs are hydraulic habitats, reflecting a combination of substrate type, depth, and flow velocity. These hydraulic habitats may vary from shallow-fast flowing-, shallow-slow flowing-, to deep-fast flowing- and deep-slow flowing waters, so that MP in rivers tend to settle and potentially re-mobilise in the slow-flowing hydraulic habitats and are transported speedily in the fast-flowing hydraulic habitats. Thus, in relation to MP transport at the reach-scale, the slow flowing hydraulic habitats can be likened to “sink zones”, whereas the fast-flowing hydraulic habitats, the “flush zone”. Viewed this way, rivers are thus made up of patchy series of sink and flush zones for MPs.

Macroinvertebrates, through their trait are adapted to different hydraulic habitats, which may impose on them different levels of exposure to MPs in the sink and flush zones. Drawing on the habitat template concept, and principles of hydro-geomorphology, this talk shed light on the role of hydraulic habitats in the distribution and transport of MPs, and why it is important to consider this important dimension in the ecological study of MPs. This talk also provides insights into how traits may mediate organismal exposure to MPs at the reach scale. 

Link to Homepage: Prof. Dr. Nelson Odum
Link: Poster

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

Monday, 13. June 2022
16:00, Virtual ZOOM or H18, NWII

Prof. 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

Montag, 16. May 2022
16:00, H33, AI und Zoom

Insights 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

Monday, 9. May 2022
16:00, H33, AI und Zoom

Dr.-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

Monday, 4. April 2022
16:00, Virtual ZOOM or H33, AI

Insights CRC 1357 Microplastics: Microplastics is not Microplastics –
When particle properties determine biological effects

The 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

Monday, 21. February 2022
04:00 pm, Virtual ZOOM or H33, AI

Prof. 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

Monday, 24th January 2022
05:00 pm, ZOOM

Prof. 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

Monday, 13th December 2021
5:00 pm, Virtual ZOOM

Spectroscopic Detection of Microplastics
Prof. Dr. Martin Koch, Semiconductor Photoniccs, University Marburg

Several 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

Montag, 15th November 2021
5:00 pm, H33, AI

Assessing origin and fate of airborne (microplastic) particles via molecular-level composition analysis
Prof. Dr. Anke Nölscher, Atmosphärische Chemie, Universität Bayreuth

The 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

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

Monday, 8th November 2021

Microplastics interactions with biomolecules and daphnids
Prof. Dr. Iseult Lynch, Environmental Nanosciences, University of Birmingham

The 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

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.

Link to Homepage: Ulrich Schwaneberg
Link: Posterankündigung

27-29th July 2021
Hotel The Monarch, Bad Gögging

CRC 1357 Retreat, Internal CRC Event

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

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

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

Monday, 24th February 2020
17:00 o'clock, NWIII, H36

Synthesis of functionalized, monodisperse microparticles from different plastic materials
Dr. habil Lars Dähne, Surflay Nanotec GmbH, Berlin

Link zu Homepage: Surflay

Monday, 3rd February 2020
17:00 o'clock, NWIII, H36

Microplastic 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

Monday, 27th January 2020
17:00 o'clock, NWIII, H36

Science 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

Wednesday, 18th December 2019
16:15 o'clock, NWI, H11

Towards 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

Wednesday, 11th December 2019
16:15 o'clock, NWI, H11

Prof. 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.

Wednesday, 04th December 2019
16:15 o'clock, NWI, H11

Polymers 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

Wednesday, 27th November 2019
16:15 o'clock, NWI, H11

Microbial 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: Poster

Public Seminar - All interested parties are cordially invited!