Impact of Recycling and Coating on Nanoplastic Emission from Textile Products at Loughborough University

Textile products emit hundreds of thousands of nano-size particles every time they are washed. This emission can be optimized by optimizing pre-washing, used detergents, used drying methods, and total wash cycles.

The project will first investigate the optimized conditions for nanoplastic emissions from textile products, which are produced from raw plastics (for example: Polyester). The second phase of the project will investigate the optimized conditions for nanoplastics from textile products produced from recycled plastics (for example: polyester from PET), and from textile products coated with fire retardants or similar agents.

Textile products, especially plastic-based ones, are one of the least recycled plastics and have one of the worst impact on global plastic pollution. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the optimum wash/usage conditions for plastic-based textile products and understand the impact of recycling and coating for accurate life cycle and environmental impact analyses.

This PhD project will be a part of EU Horizon Project” SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN FRAMEWORK FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHEMICALS AND MATERIALS”, which was awarded to Dr Sarp and the consortium he has been working with.

Nanoplastic emissions will be determined by a novel nanoplastic detection method developed by Dr. Sarp and his team in 2020. The analytical method will be based mainly on nanofiltration and pyro-GC-MS, however other particle and water analyses and pretreatment methods will also be used.

This project is one of five PhDs in Resilient Infrastructure. The successful candidate will be part of a growing community of doctoral and post-doctoral researchers and academics who are extending the boundaries of knowledge and delivering transformative solutions to real-world problems. The other projects in Resilient Infrastructure are:

• Progressive collapse analysis of steel structures
• Performance-based optimization of novel lightweight steel frame systems for resilient modular constructions
• Climate change-resilient geotechnical infrastructure
• Assessment of moisture-induced damage effects in timber buildings

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.

The School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering’s studentship competition offers the chance for UK and International applicants who are interested in undertaking a PhD to have their full-time studies paid for.

The studentship is for 3 years and provides a tax-free stipend of £18,622 per annum (2023/24 rate) for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees.

Studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who have applied to advertised projects starting with the reference ‘ABCE24’.