CE4Plastics · Capillary electrophoresis as a main pillar for the characterisation of nanoplastics released from single-use and reusable plastic drinking bottles

The advent of plastics to society has entailed a global dependence on this material. Special attention should be paid to nanoplastics, which are present in bottled drinking water due to weathering during usage. From a scientific point of view, it is important to get an insight into the risks that nanoplastics may bring to human health. Analytical Chemistry is called to provide a response to this actual problem with new methodologies to characterise nanoplastics that are released to water from commercial bottles. The main goal of CE4Plastics project is to advance the-state-of-the-art methods for identification and quantification of nanoplastics released to drinking water from single-use and reusable plastic bottles in the short and long-term and raise awareness in the population about nanoplastic risks. The feasibility of capillary electrophoresis to characterise nanoplastic particles will be investigated. Next, bottle weathering during normal usage and its implications in nanoplastic release to bottled water will be assessed. The project will be carried out at Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), in Belgium, with an European researcher resuming his path in research and innovation. CE4Plastics will give him an excellent opportunity to be engaged in a wide range of transferable and scientific skills and to lead a necessary breakthrough to promote nanoplastic separation, quantification and position himself as a leading researcher in the future.