Investigating the ecological and systemic effects of next generation biopolymers in marine systems (5022)

Project description

Marine plastic pollution is a global environmental challenge. One solution for tackling the 'make-use-discard' culture that has encouraged the accumulation of plastic litter is to move away from non-degradable fossil-fuel derived plastic polymers and to design bioplastics derived from organic waste products that degrade rapidly after use. Such third-generation (3G) materials offer tremendous benefits in reducing carbon footprints and preserving natural resources.

Despite this, virtually nothing is known of their fate and behaviour once they reach the marine environment.

Initial reports from freshwater studies suggest low direct toxicity, but other aspects of sustainability such as their effects on ecosystem health and ocean chemistry remain unknown. Polymer degradation can change the chemical properties of the receiving environment (e.g. decreased O2, increased CO2 and decreased pH), and can leach chemical additives used to enhance the polymers' performance in use.

However, these processes are very poorly characterised for 3G bioplastics or for bioplastics in marine systems. Aims and objectives

This project will explore the effects of novel biopolymers derived from organic waste materials on marine ecology and seawater chemistry. This knowledge is crucial for designing materials with minimal ecological impacts. We will also use systems thinking approaches for looking at the ecological (environmental), social, and economic effects of the introduction of these bioplastics.

This PhD will take a holistic approach that includes experimental exposure studies, detailed chemical analysis, field work and systems modelling to explore the following research questions: 1. What is the behaviour and fate of the biopolymers in natural marine waters? 2. What are the effects on seawater carbonate chemistry of endogenous chemicals and the release of carbon from biomass?

3. Do these materials enter the marine food web and what are their direct (uptake, effect on chemical signalling) and indirect (e.g. via influence on water chemistry parameters) effects on individuals and ecosystems? 4. What are the systemic effects of 3G bioplastics? Training

This project will suit a student with a passion for marine environmental issues and an interest in sustainability and systems thinking. You will join an expert team of marine biologists, environmental and materials chemists and systems thinkers and will benefit from interdisciplinary training in a wide range of highly employable skills.

Project structure

The student will be based largely at the University of Exeter working within their state-of-the-art aquarium facilities and the Centre for Circular Economy. They will also have full access to the research facilities available at Plymouth Marine Laboratory providing them with all the infrastructure required for the project.

The project will be supervised by Dr Ceri Lewis and Prof Tamara Galloway at the University of Exeter, and Dr Helen Findlay at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and Dr Adil Bakir at Cefas, with input from innovative materials experts at Materiom.