Microplastic mobility and retention in soil and groundwater

Summary

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The project investigates the mobility and retention of small microplastic particles (<5mm) in the vadose zone of soils (topsoils), through a set of experimental, numerical and theoretical developments. The project is a collaboration between USyd’s School of Civil Engineering and the School of Life and Environmental Sciences (SOLES), and between the University of Sydney and Imperial College, London.

Supervisor

Professor Abbas El-Zein.

Research location

Civil Engineering

Synopsis

Microplastics are emerging contaminants that have been detected in the human body as well as a wide range of ecosystems, including soils. Evidence is mounting of their negative health and ecological impacts. The goal of this project is to improve our understanding of the ability of soils to filter through microplastics and prevent their migration into the hydrosphere. Project outcomes include a better understanding of fluxes of microplastics from soil into neighbouring water bodies (aquifers, rivers and oceans) and the development of microplastic filtering solutions.

Three PhD thesis positions are available within the project:

Microplastics mobility in soil at pore scale: microfluidics and pore-network models.
Microfluidics experiments will be conducted to investigate the interaction between microplastic particles and water/air/solid phases. Pore-network models, based on computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method, will be developed to predict microplastic transport at the pore scale, and experimentally validated.
Soil column studies of microplastics transport in unsaturated soil.
Soil column laboratory experiments will be conducted to investigate the mobility of microplastics in unsaturated soil layers, under multiple wet-dry cycles. The investigation will allow a better understanding of the conditions under which microplastics are retained by soils under different environmental and material conditions.
Multi-scale models of microplastic transport in unsaturated soils.
Multi-scale computational models, based on discrete and continuum methods, as well as artificial intelligence, will be developed and experimentally validated to predict transport of microplastics in unsaturated soils.

Offering:

A scholarship for 3.5 years at the RTP stipend rate (currently $41,753 in 2025). International applicants will have their tuition fees covered.

Successful candidates must:

Have completed an undergraduate degree in engineering or science with first-class honours or equivalent, and are expected to have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Previous research experience is desirable.

How to apply:

To apply, please email abbas.elzein@sydney.edu.au with a subject header of "PhD Microplastics-Soil Project 2025" and include the following:

CV showing qualifications and any past research experience (including a small section of past research experience as part of undergraduate or postgraduate studies, as well as details of any publications).
Academic transcipts
Applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds, must also provide information about English proficiency including a summary of scores from English proficiency exams.

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Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3593