T LE.A.CH

T LE.A.CH: Ageing of tire wear particles and the release of additives in the soil

The degradation of tire wear defines how long the tire wear is present in the environment and how it accumulates over time. However, the decomposition of larger particles into smaller and smaller particles during ageing is also relevant, as small particles can have a higher toxicity. In addition, toxic additives can be released into the environment during ageing and endanger the environment. The ageing of tire abrasion is therefore a very important building block for understanding the long-term effects on the environment. The project is divided into four sub-projects. In the first project, tire particles are incubated under realistic conditions (temperature with annual variation) and with plant growth in the soil and the decomposition of the tire abrasion into smaller particles, the changes to the surface and the release of potentially toxic additives are investigated. In the second part of the project, ageing in different soils (different pH, different land use) and under different climatic conditions (temperature and humidity) will be investigated. In sub-project three, tire abrasion is extracted from soils along roads and examined for ageing. In addition, pieces of tires are buried in the soil in order to investigate ageing under realistic conditions and using high-resolution methods. Finally, in sub-project four, the leaching of toxic organic additives from tire abrasion, their uptake by plants and the effects on plant growth and the activity of soil organisms will be investigated.

PhD student: Mostafa Sadeghi, Julian Bornemann
Supervisors: Prof. Dr Moritz Bigalke
Funding: UNISCIENTIA Stiftung