LSU, PNNL Research Team Study Microplastics in the Atmosphere
November 14, 2024
BATON ROUGE, LA – Microplastics are sub-millimeter-sized plastic fragments, similar to or smaller than the thickness of a human hair, that present a relatively new and increasingly prevalent type of environmental pollutant. In fact, they have been widely detected in the air we breathe and at altitudes where clouds form.
In a new paper by LSU Chemical Engineering Professor Bhuvnesh Bharti published in Nature Communications, he and his co-authors detail their work investigating how the weathering of microplastics could impact their ability to take up water and nucleate ice under atmospheric conditions. Their findings reveal a couple of conclusions.
First, that microplastics, like other small atmospheric particles, have the potential to attract water molecules and initiate ice crystal formation under atmospheric conditions. Second, that microplastics are not currently abundant enough in the atmosphere to affect weather patterns, but their behavior in cloud formation and precipitation processes could significantly impact their distribution and deposition across various regions.
“By understanding how weathered microplastics interact with atmospheric water and ice, we gain critical insights into their transport and deposition, which can result in their accumulation in remote areas and sensitive ecosystems, including those that directly support our food chain,” Bharti said. “This project aims to improve our understanding of microplastic behavior in the environment, providing a platform for developing new methods to remove these pollutants and reduce their impact on human health and natural ecosystems.”
Brahana, lead author on the paper, added that the next steps for the project will include investigating how the chemical composition of airborne plastics influences their behaviors, offering new insights into the environmental pathways and potential impacts of their journeys. This understanding of their chemistry and physics will guide the development of innovative strategies for an effective removal from the environment.
Bharti’s co-authors on the paper are Philip Brahana, LSU Engineering Sciences graduate student; Mingyi Zhang, postdoctoral research associate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; and Elias Nakouzi, research scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Nature Communications is a prestigious publication and has an acceptance rate of only 7.7%, receiving more than 50,000 submissions a year. Sufficed to say, having this paper accepted for publication is a large feather in the cap of Bharti and his co-authors.
“Being published in Nature Communications is an honor that highlights the value of our work,” Bharti said. “This achievement was made possible through the support of the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering at LSU and the U.S. National Science Foundation, providing a respected platform to share our findings with the broader scientific community. This publication motivates us further to continue exploring the unknowns in the field of microplastic research.”
The 3D atomic force microscopy measurements and data analysis reported in the article were supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
To read the full paper, click here.
Like us on Facebook (@lsuengineering) or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram (@lsuengineering).
###
Contact: Joshua Duplechain
Director of Communications
225-578-5706
josh@lsu.edu
Latest College of Engineering News
- Meet the LSU Cybersecurity Student Whose Work CISA Calls “Staggering”Last week, LSU cybersecurity graduate student George Buras from Baton Rouge received a shoutout from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, for the “Staggering!” impact his work, and the work of other interns, is having on the nation. Here, Buras explains what he’s working on, and why.
- LSU BAE Professor, Team Work to Create Eyedrop for Retinoblastoma TreatmentBATON ROUGE, LA - Retinoblastoma is a rare, malignant tumor in the retina that mostly affects children under the age of 5 and can lead to blindness or even death if not treated. Since many patients are unable to access current treatments that include chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, LSU Biological and Agricultural Engineering Assistant Professor Qi Cai and a team of LSU researchers are creating an eyedrop gel that will be more accessible to retinoblastoma patients, thanks to a $75,000 Provost Award grant.
- LSU Civil, Environmental Engineering Professor Assesses Impact of Sulphur Mines Salt Dome Cavern Collapse on Well WaterNovember 18, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - The Gulf Coast is home to more than 500 salt domes, and at least 200 of those are located in Louisiana. While salt domes and their caverns can be beneficial, such as being used to hold petroleum reserves, they can also be a possible hazard should the caverns collapse. The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR) currently has its eye on two caverns in Sulphur, La., and have awarded a $156,602 grant to LSU Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Frank Tsai to assess the impact a collapse would have on well water in the area.
- LSU Engineering, Chance Maritime Collaborate on Uncrewed Underwater ResearchNovember 13, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - In an old quarry near Lafayette, La., an uncrewed boat is dropping a remote-controlled robot down to the bottom of a lakebed before retrieving it and returning to shore. If a passerby stumbled upon this scene, he or she might think it was something out of a spy movie. Instead, it's a cutting-edge project that shows how advanced robotic systems can help monitor and protect marine environments, as well as inspect and maintain offshore infrastructure.
- LSU Computer Science Senior Conquers School, Raising Four KidsBATON ROUGE, LA - Though Baton Rouge native Malana Fuentes grew up with the cards stacked against her, she has come out on the other side, hoping to inspire younger generations, including her own kids, that they can do it all if they want it badly enough.
- LSU Computer Science Division Adds World-Class FacultyNovember 4, 2024BATON ROUGE, LA - Over the course of the last year, the LSU Division of Computer Science (CS) and Engineering has bolstered its faculty ranks with nearly a dozen talented academics and researchers with a wide breadth of expertise. It's a development indicative of a rapidly-growing major in the College of Engineering and a priority area for the university as a whole.