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.
