Nanoplastics are in the size range <1µm and might either be emitted directly (e.g. from cosmetics) or from bigger plastics by decomposition, UV induced breakdown or physically forced breakdown. As nanoplastics show negative effects on a variety of soil organisms, their occurence might effect soil ecology and fertility. The research about nanoplastics is still at its very beginning due to technical limitations in the analysis of nanoplastics. The preperation of the samples is more sophisticated compared to microplastics and infrared or Raman spectroscopy, which are normally used in microplastic research, are limited to particle sizes >1µm.
We are working on the extraction of nanoplastics from soil samples and methods to analyse nanoplastics. Beside scanning electron microscopy we test scanning transmission X-ray microscopy in combination with near edge X-ray absorption fine structure at the carbon K-edge for the characterisation of nano sized plastic particles.
PhD student: Alexandra Foetisch
Master student: Laure-Hélène Vinot
Supervisor: Dr. Moritz Bigalke, Dr. Montserrat Filella, Dr. Benjamin Watts