The training of early stage researchers for the development of technologies to monitor concentrations of micro and nanoplastics in water for their presence, uptake and threat to animal and human life.

Project Information

MONPLAS

Grant agreement ID: 860775

DOI

10.3030/860775

Project closed

EC signature date 4 September 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 31 March 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 3 908 325,24

EU contribution

€ 3 908 325,24

Coordinated by

ASTON UNIVERSITY
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MONPLAS (The training of early stage researchers for the development of technologies to monitor concentrations of micro and nanoplastics in water for their presence, uptake and threat to animal and human life.)

Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2024-03-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) have recently been found in our soil, tap water, bottled water, beer and even in the air we breathe, with a growing concern about the potential health risks they pose to us. Which is why there was an urgent need for more research on their toxicity and a new EC drinking water directive was published in 2020 with a view an eventual requirement for water companies to measure concentrations of microplastics (MP) for positive release and inspection according to soon to be published ISO standard. The use of existing sophisticated scientific laboratory equipment to do so is prohibitively expensive for many companies across Europe and so there was therefore also a need to develop suitable technologies for robust, easy to use and low cost monitoring instruments, as well as train engineers for method development and operation. Given these multiple technical and analytical challenges, and that global production of plastic, that can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, is expected to triple by 2050; the timely four-year Initial Training Network of MONPLAS was with the following project objectives:
1. to improve our ability to detect, trace the origin, determine the toxicity, and ultimately eliminate MNPs from water
2. to add to the limited data on MPs in water and beverages, as well as develop and standardise a method for the initial data taking (identity and shape) of NPs, so that uptake and effect on animal and human life can be studied through toxicokinetics and toxicity
3. to develop and subsequently commercialise state of the art detection technologies, applications and methodologies through the creation of a multi- and inter- disciplinary network spanning different sectors.

A little over four years later, of which a half took place during COVID19, from leveraging advances in Lab on Chip and Machine Learning, it has successfully addressed all 3 providing:
• Its 14 ESRs with the skills and knowledge to develop state of art technologies that will lead to robust, easy to use and low cost in line instruments for MNP monitoring,three of which have been taken commercially up by its 8 equipment manufacturers and end-users.
• 14 theses already/to be defended as well as 30 peer reviewed publications, four roundtable discussions, two satellite workshops organised and innumerous outreach events to raise popular awareness of MNPs and the interest of women in STEM.
• >15 project proposals to further advance technologies and their applications for MNP monitoring

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

MONPLAS began on 1/1/20 (M1) however, not unexpectedly, recruitment was unavoidably delayed due to the impact of COVID-19, although by M15 all ESRs had begun (some 43% being female) and by the end of the project 52 months of secondments had taken place.

WP3: Its six training workshops and schools covered both technical subjects (from MP sampling, sample preparation and analysis techniques and methodologies, to standardisation in the field and microfluidics, biosensing and COMSOL modelling) and non-technical ones (Citizen Science, Open Science, and public engagement, social media posting and IP exploitation, grant writing, Virtual Research Environments and entrepreneurship). Following the organisation of satellite symposia at two conferences (Micro 2022 and ICCE 2023) ESRs were presented with their Joint Training Certificates, with 3 also receiving ‘Certificates of Excellence’.

Sample manipulation technology development (WP4 – ESRs 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7): Development of various preparation methods for endpoint analysis and relevant spectroscopic techniques, namely FTIR, Raman and PY-GC-MS. Each of these techniques hinge on particular sample preparation requirements and addresses each sample type differently. These types include water, beverages and foodstuffs, all of which require specific preparation methodologies.

Detection technology development (WP5 - 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13): State-of-the-art analytical detection techniques developed for beverage samples containing MNPs, either on a substrate or in a continuous flow. Utilizing established methods such as PY-GC-MS, Raman, UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy, photoluminescence, scattering, and FTIR, alone, or in combination, the goal was to identify and quantify MNPs while enhancing characteristics such as measurement speed and limit of detection to create low-cost, user-friendly, reliable, and robust instrumentation.

Application and procedure development (WP6): Its overall aims were to develop new instrument applications in terms of algorithms and protocols for subsequent benchmarking/trial, study toxicity and research how the plastics are released in drinking water treatment and distribution systems. Three ESRs participated in this work: ESR11 focused on analysis of small MPs and NPs in drinking water; ESR12 focused on the complex data created by chemical analysis in water and its interpretation; ESR14 focused on the fate and impact of MNPs to living cells.

With so much popular interest in MNPs, multiple outreach activities took place including open school days, Girls Days, STEM learning and >100 social media posts. Disseminated results included 29 in peer reviewed papers (including 4 under review), a book chapter and two theses, international conference papers (71) and workshops with other MNP ITN projects. Exploitation of results: 15 new project proposals and three commercialisation ventures including Bruker’s plans to implement developed machine learning algorithms for MP identification and classification from IR hyperspectral images into their software.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Principally the impacts targeted in MONPLAS are the aforementioned objectives, with progress made towards these defined by how it has enhanced the career perspectives and employability of researchers and contributed to their skills development:
• Employability - MONPLAS had a major impact on the skills development for the 14 ESRs’ career prospects, not only being mapped to “The Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training” to ensure high quality, but it also included a unique set of skills focused on delivering translational science underpinned with business, project management and OpenScience-OpenInnovation well placed for future roles in academic, scientific instrument or food safety/quality instrumentation application sectors. Prospective jobs include product quality control in sectors such as those of the MONPLAS end-users i.e. water providers. Subsequently the ESRs next career, or current career moves, have been both varied and notable. Two are already working in industry, four are considering careers in industrial research, four are considering a career only in academic research, one is undecided, whilst the others are considering both industry and academia.
• Advanced technological expertise - MONPLAS drove state-of-the-art research in MNP detection, placing the ESRs with the expertise and exposure to coordinate frontier research leading to multiple publications.
• Inter-sectoral Research - All ESRs had the opportunity to develop links with the non-academic beneficiary (Bruker) and its seven industrial partners through secondments, mentorship and workshop interactions and 2 ESRs have already gone on to work in private companies and a further 4 are considering industrial research only.
• Translating basic research to commercial applications: the eight industrial participants had clear and reachable commercial goals and three commercial innovations have resulted.