| Abstract Scope |
Microplastic pollution is an emerging environmental concern, particularly in agricultural systems where plastic particles can accumulate in soil and alter soil processes and ecosystem function. This project develops a novel approach for investigating microplastic transport through soil by incorporating gadolinium oxide (Gd₂O₃) into microplastic particles and tracking their movement through a porous-media column using neutron tomography. Gadolinium’s high neutron absorption cross-section provides strong contrast for neutron imaging, enabling 3D visualization of microplastic transport within soil. Because this technique is non-destructive, it allows particle movement to be monitored under repeated wetting and drying cycles, mimicking agricultural watering cycles. Due to the approximately 50-µm spatial resolution of neutron radiography, the experimental system is scaled for effective visualization of the microplastics. This approach enables characterizing microplastic transport in soil under controlled conditions. Future experiments will examine the effects of soil pH, organic matter content, and bioturbation on microplastic transport rates and trajectories. |