Plastic-based and bio-plastic disposable materials inevitably become contaminants in our ocean ecosystems. Plastics will biodegrade and microbial ecosystems will begin to colonize them. Researchers from Memorial University in St. John's Newfoundland and Laborador use the Agilent endstation at the Mid-IR beamline to image petroleum- and bio-based plastics. The biochemical impacts of the materials are shown, providing insights into their enviornmental impacts and helping to inform recycling policy changes.Read the paper!Cao, Yiqi; Zhang, Baiyu; Song, Xing; Dong, Guihua; Zhang, Yuanmei; Chen, Bing. Polyhydroxybutyrate Plastics Show Rapid Disintegration and More Straightforward Biogeochemical Impacts than Polyethylene under Marine Biofragmentation. Environ Sci Technol 2024, 58(32). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c04639.

Clubroot is of serious concern to the agricultural community of Western Canada. Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada use the Agilent endstation at the Mid-IR beamline to compare susceptible and resistant varieties of canola roots which have been innoculated with clubroot. These researchers use FTIR microspectroscopy mapping to better understand the innoculation pathway and identify key genes expressed in the cell walls of resistant varieties of canola.Read the paper!Jiangying Tu; Li Qin; Chithra Karunakaran; Yandou Wei; Gary Peng. Lignin accumulation in cell wall plays a role in clubroot resistance. Front. Plant Sci., 2024, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1401265

Biochar is a form of charcoal - formed from pyrolysis of plant material. This carbon-rich material is a key player in soil health - benefiting both nutrient cycling and microorganisms. However, biochar breakdown processes - and its affinity to bind with environmental pollutants - make the long-term utilization of this fertilizer an environmental risk. Synchrotron FTIR analysis using the Bruker endstation analyzed surfaces of biochar, identifying functional group changes with typical uses of biochar and its interractions with pollutants. This study contributes to understanding the aging and contaminant distribution processes of biochar in the natural environment.Read the paper! Shen, Jian; Huang, Guohe; Yao, Yao; Zhang, Peng; Rosendahl, Scott. Surface Alteration on Biochar in Long-Term Application: Insights into Pyrolysis, Freeze-Thaw Aging, and Dissipation. Surf. Interfaces 2024, 104118. 10.1016/j.surfin.2024.104118.