Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Assessment of bioavailability of microplastics in soils and their remediation through biochars prepared from locally available agro-horti refuse in Assam, North East India |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Focus area : | Agriculture |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. sudip Mitra, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Assam |
Timeline Start Year : | 2024 |
Timeline End Year : | 2027 |
Contact info : | sudipmitra@yahoo.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | Microplastics (MPs) are a growing concern due to their recalcitrant nature and ability to fragment into nano and micro particles. The literature mainly discusses the impacts of MPs on soil ecosystems, human health, and soil properties. However, field-based studies on microplastics embedded in soil systems, particularly in the Indian context, are scarce. The fluorescence guided staining method is a new, cheaper, and nearly accurate method for microplastic identification. However, the changes in microplastic characteristics and soil properties during long-term exposure are not well discussed. There is no study on biochar-based immobilization of MPs in the Indian context. The objectives of this study include collecting and screening MPs from a municipal solid waste dumping site near a Ramsar site in Guwahati, mapping their distribution, determining their fate, and immobilizing MPs through biochar prepared from locally available agro-wastes. The study proposes testing Nile Red for microplastic detection due to its good affinity towards a wide range of MPs, massive adsorption on plastic, shorter incubation time, and nontoxic behavior. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Latha Rangan, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, Assam |
Total Budget (INR): | 48,12,000 |
Organizations involved