Project duration: 04/2018 – 03/2021
Processed by: rewa, siwawi
Persons in charge: Attaallah Abusafia M.Sc., Dipl.-Ing. Christian Scheid, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heidrun Steinmetz
Funding: BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research)
Project partners: Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Technical University of Chemnitz (TUC), Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics (CSP), Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Department of inorganic chemistry (FHI), Technical University of Munich, Department of Hydrodynamics (TUM), Technical University of Berlin, Department of Environmental Technology, Water Quality Engineering (TUB), SmartMembranes GmbH (SMB), Kreuzinger und Manhart Turbulenz GmbH (KMT), Umwelt- Geräte- Technik GmbH (UGT)
Associated partners: PlasticsEurope Deutschland e.V. (PlasticsEurope), German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (SVEI), Gebr. Kufferath AG (GKD), Westfalia Separator Group GmbH (GEA), German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) Energy, resources and sustainability
Background
Historians in the near future might refer to the past 50 to 60 years of human history as the Plastic Era, in which millions of tons of plastics of all sizes, colors and shapes were annually produced. The occurrence of plastic particles in environment, particulary in marine and limnic environments, is being observed by reasearchers since the 70ths of the last century. Among the observed particle sizes is the size smaller than 5mm in diameter, or what so called ''Microplastic''. Microplastic, which is classified into Primary (direct product of plastic use) and secondary (result of decaying macroplastic) microplastic, has recently grabbed the attention of both scientific and civil societies. Nonetheless, there is currently a lack of reliable data concerning sources and effects of microplastics on environment and human health. In order to fill this knowledge gap, there is a necessity of developing consistent and representative sampling strategies and programs.
Objective
The project aims to develop and test methods for representative sampling of microplastic in different water and wastewater compartments. Consequently, sources and transport paths of microplastics are to be studied in order to construct effective avoidance strategies in the future. The research work of TUK focuses primarily on developing and verifying the sampling practices and strategies to be applied to urban water management systems.
Methodology
The project is divided into five work packages:
§ AP 1: Particle sources and preparation of microplastic systems
§ AP 2: Development of sampling methods in demonstration scale
§ AP 3: Simulation § AP 4: Sampling in real environmental compartments
§ AP 5: Analytical description of microplastic particles
The TUK is working on the quantification of microplastic occurrence and transport in urban wastewater systems (see figure), as well as the application of newly developed sampling procedures in real systems. Nevertheless, the main challenge ahead of this research work is defining an approach to adapt strategies to specific and complex system-boundary-conditions, such as background matrix, pollution dynamics (spatial and temporal) as well as other practical aspects ;e.g. accessibility to sampling point. Furthermore, possible correlations to wastewater parameters, such as TS, GV TOC or COD are to be investigated.
©TUK