Our Work

We conducted a bibliometric and visualization-based analysis to identify global research patterns, emerging hotspots, and governance gaps related to microplastics in soil. Our team translated complex academic methods such as citation mapping and trend clustering into a clear, accessible format suitable for international policy audiences.

As part of the project, we also reached out to international professors and CEOs to broaden the perspective and ensure our findings reflected global scientific and industry insight.

This work was presented at the KIN Plastic In Humans Expert Lightning Talks, organized for INC5.2 focal points, where we spoke alongside leading researchers and industry innovators. Our lightning talk highlighted the global scale of the issue and outlined pathways for actionable solutions, contributing to broader discussions on establishing a Plastic Removal Fund during United Nations General Assembly Week and upcoming World Bank engagements.

We tested how different nutrient substrates affected the electricity-generating performance of microbial fuel cells using Bacillus coagulans, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and mixed cultures in Glenelg silt loam soil. Across five substrates, sodium lactate produced the strongest electrical output, while substrate choice had a greater effect on performance than the bacterial species alone. Native soil microbes also generated higher peak power than the inoculated systems, suggesting strong natural adaptation within the MFC environment.

As part of the project, we connected these findings to future work involving Ideonella sakaiensis, a plastic-degrading bacterium with potential for energy-producing bioelectrochemical applications. This connection allowed us to frame the study as an early step toward systems that can both break down plastic waste and generate usable power, offering a possible pathway for alternative energy solutions linked to plastic remediation.

This study investigated the relationship between population density and microplastic concentration in local water sources in Northern Virginia. Water samples were collected from the Potomac River, Lake Anne, and the Occoquan Reservoir, with distilled water used as a control. A total of 60 water samples were filtered using membrane filters and analyzed under a microscope at 100× magnification to count microplastic particles. These counts were used to calculate microplastic concentrations in particles per cubic meter, allowing comparisons between bodies of water surrounded by different population densities. The hypothesis predicted that areas with higher population density would show higher concentrations of microplastics due to increased plastic use and waste.

The results showed that the Potomac River had the highest average microplastic concentration, supporting the hypothesis. Lake Anne showed the lowest concentration, aligning with its lower population density. However, the Occoquan Reservoir displayed unexpectedly high microplastic levels despite being surrounded by a less densely populated area, indicating that factors such as runoff, human activity, and water management also influence microplastic distribution. Overall, the findings suggest that population density contributes to microplastic pollution, but it is not the only factor affecting microplastic concentration in freshwater environments.

We conducted an experiment to explore how sucrose affects the biodegradability of a gelatin-based bioplastic. Bioplastic samples were created with increasing sucrose concentrations and then buried in soil for seven days. The samples with sucrose showed significantly greater weight loss than the control group, and the highest sucrose levels produced the most degradation, suggesting that sucrose can accelerate breakdown even without sunlight.

These findings highlight the potential for more sustainable bioplastic formulations that degrade more efficiently in landfill-like conditions.

Paper: Effect of Sucrose Concentration on the Biodegradability of Gelatin-Based Bioplastics Under Soil Burial Conditions — David Alfert, Max Alfert (December 14, 2022).