Contacts:
Supervisor(s):
Prof. Ilaria Degano, Prof. Francesca Modugno
Title of the PhD project:
Analytical investigation of microparticles and microfibres released by agricultural mulch films and disposable wet wipes in the environment.
Abstract of the PhD project:
The intensive everyday usage of plastic materials causes the release of a large amount of microplastics in all environmental compartments. In the last few years, biobased and biodegradable polymers have been proposed as a potential alternative to conventional plastics in terms of environmental impact for a wide range of applications. Interesting benefits could be observed in the production of agricultural mulch films, whose complicated retrieval, recycling, and landfilling could lead to the generation of significant environmental pollution. In response to the increasing market of disposable wet wipes, biodegradable polymers have also been employed to produce flushable wet wipes designed to disintegrate into small pieces and disperse into sewage systems, and claimed suitable to be disposed of through the toilet. However, biodegradation is a complex process influenced by many factors such as the properties of the material and the receiving environment in which it needs to biodegrade. For this reason, the development of reliable analytical methods to assess the lifecycle of bioplastic materials and to monitor their degradation once in the environment is needed.
Spectroscopic analysis has been the most adopted analytical tool for studying polymer degradation, but its evaluation is limited to surface level, preventing bulk analysis. Recently, analytical pyrolysis coupled to mass spectrometry methods are emerging as a promising tool for characterising and quantifying MPs in environmental samples thanks to their high sensitivity, high selectivity and to the relatively simple pretreatment processes required for the analysis.
The project focuses on the development and optimization of analytical protocols for the characterisation of agricultural mulch films and commercial wet wipes composed of biodegradable polymers, related additives, and for the study of their physical-chemical behaviour during degradation processes. Commercial products will be subjected to artificial and natural ageing ang the aged materials will be investigated with a multianalytical approach including mass spectrometric analysis by evolved gas analysis-mass spectroscopy (EGA-MS) and multi-shot pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to study possible alterations of polymeric and additives composition. The research will provide advanced analytical tools and knowledge for a better evaluation of the environmental impacts associated with the use of biodegradable products, in view of supporting monitoring and remediation strategies.
Publications:
• F. Sabatini, T. Nacci, I. Degano, M.P. Colombini, “Investigating the composition and degradation of wool through EGA/MS and Py-GC/MS”, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 135, pp.111-121, 2018.
• K. Chouchene, T. Nacci, F. Modugno, V. Castelvetro, M. Ksibi, “Soil contamination by microplastics in relation to local agricultural development as revealed by FTIR, ICP-MS and pyrolysis-GC/MS”, Environmental Pollution, vol. 303, 119016, 2022.
• M. Mattonai, T. Nacci, F. Modugno, “Analytical strategies for the quali-quantitation of tire and road wear particles - A critical review”, Trends in Analytical Chemistry, vol. 154, 116650, 2022.
• T. Nacci, F. Sabatini, C. Cirrincione, I. Degano, M.P. Colombini, “Characterization of textile fibers by means of EGA-MS and Py-GC/MS”, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 165, 105570, 2022.
• F. De Falco, T. Nacci, L. Durndell, R.C. Thompson, I. Degano, F. Modugno, “A thermoanalytical insight into the composition of biodegradable polymers and commercial products by EGA-MS and Py-GC-MS”, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 171, 105937, 2023.
Oral communications at conferences:
• T. Nacci, F. Sabatini, F. Modugno, I. Degano, Diagnostic campaigns on stage costumes: a new challenge, 6th International Congress Chemistry for Cultural Heritage (ChemCH), Ravenna, 4 – 8 July 2022.
• T. Nacci, D. Roversi, F. Sabatini, I. Degano, B. Ferriani, N. Strada, F. Modugno, Modern heritage textiles: a multianalytical approach to investigate composition and degradation processes of synthetic high fashion textiles from the Nanni Strada Design Studio archives, Plastics Heritage Congress (PHEA), Naples, 17 - 19 October 2022.
• T. Nacci, F. De Falco, F. Vitale, L.J. Durndell, R.C. Thompson, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Studying the composition and photodegradation of wet wipes by thermoanalytical techniques, MICRO2022, online conference, 14 – 18 November 2022.
• T. Nacci, F. Sabatini, F. Modugno, L. Triolo, C. Cirrincione, M. Cimò, B. Ferriani, N. Strada, I. Degano, Modern heritage textiles: an integrated protocol to face new analytical challenges, International Council of Museums – Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC), online conference, 21 – 23 February 2023.
• T. Nacci, Multianalytical approach for the life cycle assessment of biodegradable commercial products, Chemistry for the Future 2023, Pisa, 28 – 30 June 2023.
• T. Nacci, F. De Falco, F. Burgevin, W. Courtene-Jones, A. Buchard, R.C. Thompson, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Studying the fate of biodegradable mulch films in the environment, AGRIFOODPLAST, Piacenza, 10 – 12 September 2023.
• T. Nacci, J. Gambetta Vianna, F. De Falco, R.C. Thompson, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Life cycle assessment of wet wipes by means of chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques, XX Congresso della Divisione di Chimica Ambientale e dei Beni Culturali della Società Chimica Italiana, Ischia, 28 September – 1 October 2023.
Poster communications at conferences:
• T. Nacci, F. Sabatini, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Integrated pyrolysis based approaches for synthetic fibers identification, #RSCPoster Twitter Conference, online conference, 2 - 3 March 2021.
• T. Nacci, F. Sabatini, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Validation of Py-GC/MS to investigate synthetic fibers, Chemistry for the Future 2021, University of Pisa, online conference, 30 June - 2 July 2021.
• T. Nacci, D. Roversi, F. Sabatini, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Characterization of textile fibers by means of analytical pyrolysis coupled to mass spectrometry, XXVII Congresso Nazionale della Società Chimica Italiana, online conference, 14 - 23 September 2021.
• T. Nacci, D. Roversi, F. Sabatini, I. Degano, B. Ferriani, N. Strada, F. Modugno, Multianalytical approach to characterize composition and degradation processes of synthetic high-fashion textiles from the Nanni Strada Design Studio archives, MetroArchaeo 2021, Milan, 20 - 22 October 2021.
• T. Nacci, F. De Falco, F. Vitale, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Investigating the composition and photodegradation of commercial wet wipes by Py-GC-MS and EGA-MS, Chemistry for the Future 2022, University of Pisa, 29 June – 1 July 2022.
• T. Nacci, F. De Falco, F. Vitale, L.J. Durndell, R.C. Thompson, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Wet wipes: a study of the composition, photodegradation, and release of microfibers based on thermoanalytical techniques, XXIX Congresso della Divisione di Chimica Analitica della Società Chimica Italiana, Milazzo, 11 – 15 September 2022.
• F. De Falco, T. Nacci, F. Burgevin, W. Courtene-Jones, A. Buchard, L.J. Durndell, I. Degano, F. Modugno, R.C. Thompson, Assessment of biodegradable plastic fate in the environment, MICRO2022, online conference, 14 – 18 November 2022.
• J. Gambetta Vianna, T. Nacci, F. De Falco, F. Modugno and I. Degano, Degradation processes and leaching of wet wipes by means of chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques, Chemistry for the Future 2023, Pisa, 28 – 30 June 2023.
• T. Nacci, F. De Falco, F. Burgevin, W. Courtene-Jones, A. Buchard, R.C. Thompson, I. Degano, F. Modugno, Assessment of biodegradable plastic fate in the environment: investigating biodegradable mulch films, XXX Congresso della Divisione di Chimica Analitica della Società Chimica Italiana, Vasto, 17 – 21 September 2023.
Other achievements:
...
