Micro(knowledge) transfer webinar for sampling, laboratory instruments and analytical techniques

On December 4^th, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., the first Micro(knowledge) transfer webinar for sampling, laboratory instruments and analytical techniques (D 2.2.2.) was successfully held. The webinar was organized and led by SO2 leader PP8 Eurofins, with support from SO1 leader PP12 FAU, who delivered a presentation during the webinar and assisted with answering questions during the Q&A section, and LP, who supported PP8 Eurofins by drafting the invitation, sending the invitations to relevant parties, managing registration and sending access links to registered participants. Nearly 120 participants were present for the webinar.

The webinar started with a presentation delivered by PP8 Eurofins representative Dr Gábor Bordós in which the MicroDrink project has been presented and participants were familiarized with the project’s main goals, and the importance of harmonization of the sampling and analytical methodologies was emphasized. After this brief introduction, Dr Mohammad Al-Qadi, representative from PP12 FAU, presented on the state of microplastics research in Danube region countries participating in the project. Dr Al-Qadi outlined the status of sampling procedures and analytical methods that are currently used in Danube region countries. The lack of legislation and standardization across the EU and wider was emphasized, as well as the difficulties in conducting further research due to limited availability of instruments and equipment and high costs of equipment and analyses. Dr Al-Qadi also outlined the primary analytical methods (FTIR and Raman spectroscopy), including the advantages and disadvantages of each, and concluded the section with recommendations for improvements in further research campaigns.

Dr Bordós continued the webinar with a more detailed overview of microplastics sampling methods, including the system used in the project. Several videos of on-site sampling were shown and explained, including the video of the MicroDrink project’s joint sampling conducted at Fejérvíz, Hungary. The system used in the project was further described in the context of the recently accepted Delegated Commission Decision supplementing the EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184.

The event ended with a Q&A section, during which several questions were posed and answered by the speakers. The webinar was recorded and published on the MicroDrink YouTube channel.