Microscopy

Analysis of Microplastics - Sampling, preparation and detection methods

This status report was prepared within the framework of the cross-cutting topic 1 "Analytics and reference materials" of the research focus. It summarizes the contents of the project discussions and coordination within the cross-cutting issue. The organization of this ongoing process of development or elaboration has been supported by several events.

Cross-Cutting Topic 1: Analytics and Reference Materials: Comparative test

This comparative test from cross-cutting topic 1 "Analytics and reference materials" classifies different analytical methods for the identification and quantification of microplastics regarding their informative value and to work out the strengths and limitations of the respective methods. The comparative test was intended to provide the pre-requisites for comparing the analytical results of the individual projects within a given framework.

PLAWES

Microplastic Contamination in the Weser- Wadden Sea – National Park Model System: an Ecosystem-Wide Approach
September 2017
April 2021

In PLAWES, the modelling system of the German national park Weser-Wadden Sea was the first large European river basin that was investigated in detail regarding its microplastic pollution.

Website
http://www.bayceer.uni-bayreuth.de/PLAWES/en/
Project sheet
18_Projektblatt_PLAWES_ENG_2018.pdf

MikroPlaTas

Microplastics in Dams and Reservoirs: Sedimentation, Spread, Effects
January 2018
September 2021

The spread of microplastics in rivers showed that along a given waterway there are sources as well as sinks. Thus, dams and reservoirs constitute important but until now hardly investigated parts of a water system that serve as examples for risk vs. usefulness of sedimentation of microplastics.

Website
https://www.uni-muenster.de/Mikroplatas/en/index.html
Project sheet
16_Projektblatt_MicroPlaTas_ENG_2018.pdf

SubμTrack

Tracking of (Sub)Microplastics of Different Identities - Innovative Analysis Tools for Toxicological and Process-engineering Evaluation
September 2017
June 2021

The methods currently available for the analysis of microplastics in environmental matrices were primarily designed for particles in the size range of 1 μm to 5 mm. Smaller particles below 1 μm were hardly detected. However in contrast to larger particles, these are able to enter cells and have a higher potential for adsorption of pollutants due to their relatively larger surface.

Website
https://www.wasser.tum.de/en/ submuetrack/startseite/
Project sheet
09_Projektblatt_SubµTrack_ENG_2018.pdf

PLASTRAT

Strategies for Reducing the Entry of Urban Plastics into Limnic Systems
September 2017
December 2020

The common element of all investigations in PLASTRAT was the development of solution strategies for sustainable limitation of the spread of plastic residues in the aquatic environment on technical, environmental, scientific and social-ecological levels. The objective consisted of developing a multi-criteria evaluation approach for the environmental compatibility of different types of plastics.

Website
http://www.plastrat.de/project/
Project sheet
07_Projektblatt_PLASTRAT_ENG_2018.pdf
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