The Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment (DICMA) is taking part in the Manta River Project supported by the Autorità distrettuale del fiume Po (Po Basin Authority). The project aims to identify and classify microplastics and their potential concentration along the whole watercourse, through recurring monitoring samples.

Samplings of the small plastic particles ( from one millimetre to micrometrical dimensions) will be carried out in the next four months by the researchers of Sapienza University, led by Silvia Ferranti. The team will test the hyperspectral imaging analysis, a new technique successfully used in the past.

The project, presented a few weeks ago in Monticelli d'Ongina (PC), will involve several strategic areas of the watercourse, such as Isola Serafini (PC), Boretto (RE), Pontelagoscuro (FE) and Delta Po di Goro. It will also involve Arpae Emilia Romagna - Struttura oceanografica Daphne and l’Agenzia interregionale per il fiume Po (Aipo).

The project's final purpose is to gather essential data for subsequent analyses on the potential effect of microplastics on our food chain.