Development of a simple microplastic detection and its application to the preparation of bioplastic composite materials

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K03773
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 18010:Mechanics of materials and materials-related
• Research Institution: Akita Prefectural University
• Principal Investigator: Sakai Eiichi 秋田県立大学, システム科学技術学部, 准教授 (70581289)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): きゅう 建輝 秋田県立大学, システム科学技術学部, 教授 (40244511) ; 張 国宏 秋田県立大学, システム科学技術学部, 特任助教 (20866868)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: マイクロプラスチック / バイオプラスチック / 熱重量測定

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We succeeded in detecting microplastics (MPs) in the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve of spiked soil mixed with akadama soil at an arbitrary ratio of MPs. Furthermore, the MP content in the spiked soil was analyzed with high accuracy using the DTG method, which quantitatively analyzes the constituents by differentiating the TGA curve that shows pyrolysis behavior over time and separating the waveforms. This method was also applicable to bioplastics. The results were related to the evaluation of biodegradability in soil, capturing the initial decomposition behavior to some extent. This knowledge is fundamental for designing bioplastic composites with low environmental impact, although further evaluation over a longer period is needed.

Free Research Field

複合材料工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

一般的なマイクロプラスチックの検出は，薬品を用いた環境中の有機物との分離や濃縮を必要とするなど，高度なテクニックや複雑なプロセスが要求されるが，本研究成果により得られた技術はそれらを必要としない簡便な手法である．したがって，当該分野の発展に寄与するとともに，深刻な地球環境問題で社会問題の一つであるマイクロプラスチック汚染の解決に強く貢献するものである．