Bioplastics in the environment: lifetimes and toxicology (2020–2023)
- Abstract:
- Globally, governments are implementing policies to drive a move to a circular economy. In the process, new materials are being introduced whose potential impacts need to be understood before they are widely used. This project pioneers investigations into the rate and extent of biodegradation of biodegradable plastics in aquatic and soil environments and the associated ecotoxicology of this process. In particular, it aims to quantify the extent to which the surfaces of these materials accumulate environmental pollutants via adsorption and other mechanisms. The outcomes will include conceptual models of biodegradation across environments, including lifetimes and likely impacts, critical information for framing a sustainable plastics industry.
- Grant type:
- ARC Discovery Projects
- Researchers:
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Professor
School of Chemical EngineeringFaculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology -
Professor
School of Chemical EngineeringFaculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology -
Associate Professor in Env Science
School of the EnvironmentFaculty of Science -
Associate Professor
School of Chemical EngineeringFaculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology -
Principal Research Fellow
Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health SciencesFaculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
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- Funded by:
- Australian Research Council
