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Project properties |
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| Title | Develop microplastic extraction method from soil |
| Group | Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Nguyen Thuy Dung, Bert-Jan Groenenberg |
| Examiner(s) | Marcel Hoosbeek, Mathilde Hagens or Rob Comans |
| Contact info | Nguyen Thuy Dung (dung.nguyen@wur.nl) |
| Begin date | 2022/11/22 |
| End date | |
| Description | Microplastic (MP) (1 µm – 5 mm) are emerging pollutant due to their ubiquitous occurrence and persistence in the environment, as well as their toxicity to living beings. Polymer-coated fertilizer (PCF) consists of a soluble mineral fertilizer core surrounded by a layer of polymer coating (polyurethane, polyester, alkyd, etc.). PCF is a source of primary MP in soil that has gained more attention due to a recent proposal of restriction on intentionally added MP in products from European Chemical Agency (ECHA). Although soil is recognized as a major sink of MP, there were limited studies on MP in soil compare to other environmental compartment partly due to the lack of a standardized and reliable analytical method. The thesis aim is to develop and testing microplastic extraction method from soil, with the focus on PCF-derived MP. |
| Used skills | - Literature review to understand and develop microplastic extraction method from soil, as well as targeted PCF-derived MP
- Laboratory work to validate the extraction method with appropriate analysis techniques (Microscope/Fourier-transformed Infrared/Nile-red dye) - Laboratory work to refine extraction method where possible - Data processing and writing |
| Requirements | Required courses for MSc thesis Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality. Good laboratory skills. Keen interest to work with microplastic. |