Mentors

Animesh Pan & Geoffrey Bothun, Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island

Project Location

University of Rhode Island – Kingston

Project Description

Microplastics and nanoplastics can range from 500 micrometers down to 100 nanometers and are ubiquitous within the environment. In coastal ecosystems, these plastics have been shown to accumulate within the sea surface microlayer, which is a thin gel-like layer containing biological molecules, organic pollutants, microorganisms, and inorganic particles. These components interact with microplastics and nanoplastics, changing the way they transport within ecosystems and how they interact with marine life. Students working on this project will conduct laboratory studies at the University of Rhode Island to determine how microplastics and nanoplastics, synthesized in our Plastics Particle Foundry, interact with model sea surface microlayers composed of lipids, proteins, and pollutants. Adsorption, interfacial, and colloidal properties of the plastics will be determined quantitively using microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. Students will join a collaborative research group, participating in regular group meetings and receiving mentorship from group members.

This project involves lab work

Required/Preferred skills

Seeking a collaborative, creative, and motivated student in science or engineering. Technical skills helpful to the project include basic lab skills such as preparing solutions, using small equipment, and setting up experimental plans. Experience with spectroscopy and microscopy would be helpful, but we are happy to train students in these techniques.

Will the project require transportation to field sites? No

Is this project open to Surf Flex? Yes

In which core facilities might student conduct research? RI Center for Nanoscience & Nanotechnology

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