Making invisible plastics visible

Every year, millions of tons of plastic enter our environment, and they don’t just vanish. Instead, they break down into micro and nanoplastics, tiny particles now found in our oceans, food, and even the air we breathe. They’re practically everywhere, but we can barely detect them. The problem? While we can track larger plastics, we lack methods to identify and measure particles smaller than a few micrometers.

That’s where the research of chemist Géraldine Dumont (VITO - ULG) comes in. Using a technique called pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, she's developing ways to trap, break down, and analyze these tiny particles - even those in the nanometer range. By studying their unique “fragmentation fingerprints,” she can identify which plastics are present and how much of each type exists in a sample.

Her research is helping us understand how big the problem of plastic pollution is. A crucial step, as Géraldine explains: "The better we measure, the better we can protect our environment".