Characterization of aged microplastics by ultraviolet light simulator

• Grant number: 25/06021-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Kassio Ferreira Mendes
• Grantee: Melissa Morgado Victoria
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/08299-0 - TRACEABILITY OF MICROPLASTICS IN AGRICULTURAL SOILS AND INTERACTIONS WITH RESIDUAL HERBICIDES, AP.R

Abstract

This project aims to study how microplastics (small polyethylene beads) change after aging in an ultraviolet light simulator, which mimics the effects of sunlight, heat and humidity. The material will be analyzed before and after aging to understand how its chemical and physical properties change over time. The analyses will include the composition of elements such as carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, the presence of minerals, and the surface of the microplastics, using techniques such as electron microscopy and spectrometry. The project will help to better understand the impact of microplastics on the environment and their interactions with organic compounds, such as herbicides.