Degradation and behaviour of plastics and microplastic particles in technical systems of water and waste management (C05+)

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The aim of sub-project C05 is the investigation of an important entry path for plastics from technical plants into the environment as microplastic (MP). Simultaneously a new approach will be explored for improved environmental compatibility of commodity plastics by avoidance or reduction of MP. For this purpose the surface properties of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, nylon, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyisoprene and poly(vinyl chloride) will be modified by accelerators (in situ) for biofilm formation and thereby make the plastic under process conditions available for biodegradation. Following this concept also commodity plastics could become environmentally compatible with regard to MP-particle formation. With this the sub-project C05 reaches out beyond the descriptive studies on MP in technical plants and the environment. The following central questions will be addressed in sub-project C05 with respect to MP-particles in technical plants for waster- and wastewater management: 1. Are in plants special degradation processes occuring? 2. What is the impact of the nature of the material, the composition, the size, the morphology and coatings of plastic particles on degradation processes in the plants? 3. Can the biodegradation be accelerated by controlled modification of particle surface before or in the plants? 4. What ecological consequence will have the spreading of modified particles in environment, in particular to soil?