Presentation Type
Poster
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Till Hanebuth, Marine Science
Major
Marine Science
Presentation Abstract
Microplastics have previously been studied mainly with a focus on beach sands. Little research suggests how to quantify microplastics in highly cohesive, organic-rich, heterogeneous sediment samples from tidal wetlands and marsh systems. Our research goal is to develop and optimize a 3-step microplastic separation line using elutriation, chemical digestion, and density separation. Elutriation uses turbulent flow to physically suspend sediment and separate plastics. Sieves are used to filter outflowing material and collect these microplastics. Chemical treatment is optimized for a fully controlled, mild, yet effective digestion of plant matter. A density separation is refined with saltwater and ZnCl2 solutions of variable densities to further separate plastics and remove the lithic components. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and automated microscopy counting techniques are utilized as a final analytical step for the classification and quantification of the compositional types, shapes, sizes, and preservation stages of the separated microplastics.
Location
Virtual Poster Session 1
Start Date
21-4-2021 12:00 PM
End Date
21-4-2021 2:00 PM
Recommended Citation
McHugh, Nicole and O'Hara, Daniel, "Novel Micro-Plastics Extraction Line: Elutriation, Chemical Digestion, and Density Separation" (2021). Undergraduate Research Competition. 71.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2021/fullconference/71
Novel Micro-Plastics Extraction Line: Elutriation, Chemical Digestion, and Density Separation
Virtual Poster Session 1
Microplastics have previously been studied mainly with a focus on beach sands. Little research suggests how to quantify microplastics in highly cohesive, organic-rich, heterogeneous sediment samples from tidal wetlands and marsh systems. Our research goal is to develop and optimize a 3-step microplastic separation line using elutriation, chemical digestion, and density separation. Elutriation uses turbulent flow to physically suspend sediment and separate plastics. Sieves are used to filter outflowing material and collect these microplastics. Chemical treatment is optimized for a fully controlled, mild, yet effective digestion of plant matter. A density separation is refined with saltwater and ZnCl2 solutions of variable densities to further separate plastics and remove the lithic components. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and automated microscopy counting techniques are utilized as a final analytical step for the classification and quantification of the compositional types, shapes, sizes, and preservation stages of the separated microplastics.