About the Project
Background: There is growing concern regarding the state of the oceans due to marine litter. It is estimated that over 5 trillion pieces of plastic are floating on the surface of the global oceans (Erikson et al. 2014), whilst up to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the seas each year (Jambeck et al. 2015). In the environment plastic debris does not biodegrade but results in the proliferation of microplastic (particles < 5mm) which may be consumed by marine species, and also act as a sorbent for chemicals that pose a further problem to wildlife.
Marine plastic has long been known to sorb and ‘transport’ certain contaminants within the marine environment (Carpenter & Smith 1972). The hydrophobic nature of plastic can encourage pollutants such as PCBs to accumulate on the surface of plastics (Mato et al. 2001). While the same kind of interactions have been found for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Rios et al. 2007), there is still a lack of knowledge regarding other potential contaminants (such as heavy metals and many xenobiotics) and associated impacts on marine biota.
This PhD will seek to exploit the sorption potential of waste marine plastics and evaluate its potential to remove organic and inorganic contaminants from aqueous media. The project will examine the ability of waste plastic to take- up two common classes of contaminant: Organic micro-pollutants (e.g. pharmaceuticals) and heavy metals. Pharmaceuticals are considered an ‘emerging’ class of environmental contaminant relevant in many wastewater scenarios. Since pharmaceutical compounds are ‘selected’ for their ability to produce biological effects, their impact on water quality and non-target organisms is of concern. In addition, as pharmaceuticals are structurally and chemically diverse compounds, they constitute an ideal test group to elucidate various adsorption mechanisms. This project seeks to extend the principle of ‘re-purposing’ low-cost and/or waste material by evaluating the potential of marine waste plastics.
Objective: To evaluate the utility of waste plastic material for the removal of organic micro-pollutants and heavy metals from aqueous media; thus determining the potential for marine waste plastic to be ‘re-purposed’ into a low cost sorbent for the removal of contaminants from wastewater streams.
Initial Approach: The project will involve a number of core objectives:
- Determine the composition of marine plastic litter: Literature review + local coastal site surveys
- Select target suite of contaminants and establish analytical techniques: for the determination of heavy metals/metalloids (Inductively
Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectroscopy, ICP-OES) and pharmaceuticals (liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass
spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
- Physical examination using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX) or Transmission
Electron Microscopy (TEM) will be used to characterise the waste plastics (before and after exposure to target contaminants).
- Batch and column studies to assess sorption of target contaminants by marine plastic waste; and subsequent comparison to other
waste materials (biosorbents) and commercial sorbents.
- Pilot scale studies to evaluate the potential of any advances in ‘real world’ applications.
Supervision: Professor Stuart Gibb and Dr Neil James from the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) of North Highland College UHI will provide Supervision. Prof Gibb has interests in the application of low cost and sustainable materials for the removal of contaminates from waters and wastewaters. Dr James background in marine biological sciences and leads the EU Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme ‘Circular Ocean’ project which seeks to realise the hidden opportunities of discarded fishing nets and ropes in the NPA region.
Training: where the student will receive training in laboratory analytical techniques (e.g. ICP-OES, LC-MS/MS, surface analysis) and sorption studies (batch and column). They will have the opportunity to collaborate with programme partners from the EU NPA Circular Ocean project.
References
Introduction of human pharmaceuticals from wastewater treatment plants into the aquatic environment: a rural perspective:
Nebot, C., Falcon, R., Boyd, K. G. & Gibb, S. W.: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH. 22, 14, p. 10559-10568
Source Apportionment and Risk Assessment of Emerging Contaminants: An Approach of Pharmaco-Signature in Water Systems
Jiang, J. J., Lee, C. L., Fang, M. D., Boyd, K. G. & Gibb, S. W. 15 Apr 2015: PLOS ONE. 10, 4
Biosorption of Hg from aqueous solutions by crab carapace
Rae, I. B., Lu, S. & Gibb, S. : Journal of Hazardous Materials. 164, 2-3, p. 1601-1604
Copper removal from wastewater using spent-grain as biosorbent
Lu, S. & Gibb, S.: BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY. 99, 6, p. 1509-1517
Plastic Pollution in the World's Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea
Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L. C. M., Carson, H. S., Thiel, M., Moore, C. J., Borerro, J. C., Galgani, F., Ryan, P. G. & Reisser, J.: PLoS ONE (2014) 9, e111913
Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean
Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., Narayan, R. & Law, K. L.: SCIENCE (2015) 347, 768-771
Plastic Resin Pellets as a Transport Medium for Toxic Chemicals in the Marine Environment
Mato, Y., Isobe, T., Takada, H., Kanehiro, H., Ohtake, C. & Kaminuma, T.: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (2001) 35, 318-324
Persistent organic pollutants carried by synthetic polymers in the ocean environment
Rios, L. M., Moore, C. & Jones, P. R.: MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN (2007) 54, 1230-1237
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