Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 41: Biopolymers, Biomaterials and Bioinspired Functional Materials II (joint session CPP/BP)

CPP 41.7: Talk

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 18:30–18:45, ZEU/0255

Hetero-aggregation of microplastic particles — Thomas Witzmann¹, Anja F. R. M. Ramsperger², Hao Liu², Yifan Lu³, Holger Schmalz², Lucas Kurzweg⁴, Tom C. D. Börner⁴, Kathrin Harre⁴, Andreas Greiner², Christian Laforsch², Holger Kress², Christina Bogner³, Stephan Geckle², Andreas Fery¹, and •Günter K. Auernhammer¹ — ¹Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden, Germany — ²Universität Bayreuth, Germany — ³Universität zu Köln, Germany — ⁴Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden, Dresden

Microplastic particles (MPP) in the environment are surrounded by a layer known as an 'eco-corona'. This is made up of natural organic matter (NOM), such as biomolecules, humic substances, and other natural molecules. NOM substantially alters the surface properties of MP particles, thereby influencing their interaction with other surfaces in an aqueous environment and their aggregation behaviour. We studied the interactions of eco-corona-covered MP particles on the nanoscale using colloidal probe-AFM. Measurements were performed at different ionic concentrations to mimic changing environmental conditions. We found that the eco-corona can pull on the silica colloidal probe via polymer bridging. This mechanism leads to aggregation and, consequently, sedimentation in the environment. By comparing our AFM results with experiments and simulations at different length scales, we consistently found that this type of heteroaggregation is conducive to stable aggregate formation and retains MPPs in sediments.

Keywords: Microplastics and Nanoplastics; CP-AFM; Polymer bridging