From waste to wisdom: How Joseph’s microplastics research is building a circular future

Our PhD Profiles series spotlights our emerging researchers and the awesome discoveries they are making in the field of materials science.

In this article, we speak to graduate researcher Joseph Acquah whose passion for the environment has led to study how microplastics move through landfill waste-management systems – and what we can do create a healthier environment. 

 

 

What inspired you to start a career in your field?  

My early years of involvement with local community organisations served as an inspiration for my current career path. On the weekends, we organised neighbourhood “clean-up drives” in the community and along nearby riverbanks as part of my responsibilities. These efforts were encouraging, but they were also enlightening. A few weeks after our community worked together to clean up a place, I witnessed it being consumed by plastic waste all over again. During a communal waste-sorting workshop, there was a particular moment that completely changed my life. I realised that while our hands were willing, we were fighting a lost battle against the materials themselves. We were not addressing the science behind why these things continued to exist in our soils and streams, instead, we were treating the symptoms by collecting the trash. That community-level frustration turned into a professional drive. I wanted to understand the interaction of these wastes, so I could help build systems where the waste never reaches the riverbank in the first place.  

What area of research do you specialise in?  

I specialise in the fate and transport of microplastics within waste management systems, specifically focusing on how these particles migrate from landfill bodies into leachate and surrounding terrestrial environments. It also covers the broad range of Solid Waste and Plastic Waste Management, with a specific focus on Climate Change mitigation and Water Quality.

I am particularly interested in how we can move from “take-make-waste” approaches toward a sustainable Circular Economy by developing innovative approaches for waste reduction and resource recovery.  

Why is your research important and how can it make a difference?  

This research provides the scientific evidence needed for regulators to revise landfill design regulations. By understanding the transport and interactions of microplastics, we can help landfill operators implement better containment methods. A real-world example is the development of best-practice guidance that ensures modern landfills act as a robust environmental safeguard, preventing the “leakage” of microplastics into surrounding agricultural lands.  

What are some of the key findings of this research?  

We are discovering that microplastics are not just “inert” fillers; they may interfere with the water holding capacity of clayey soils. In GCL systems, the mobility of microplastics can alter the physical properties of bentonite, the active ingredient in the liner and the last line of defence in the barrier.  One important outcome of my research is that bentonite barriers fluid loss and water uptake behaviour may not be affected by microplastics at environmentally relevant levels. At these concentrations, they can change the microstructure of the clay and impact its capacity to hold onto contaminants like microplastics, but they do not substantially impair the barrier overall hydraulic performance. This implies that rather than a physical failure of the barrier itself, the immediate risk is mainly associated with pollutant transfer.  

What makes you passionate about this area?  

One of the “wicked problems” of our time is the global plastic crisis. I am passionate about the “invisible” side of pollution. I am motivated by the pressing need to solve environmental issues that endanger human health and our ecosystems.

What keeps me interested every day is the possibility for sustainable innovation to transform a waste or pollution issue into a circular resource.  

While large plastic waste is visible, the migration of microplastic into groundwater through landfill barriers is a hidden threat.  Solving the complex interactions between these particles and natural materials like bentonite is a challenge that has profound implications for global health.  

Why did you decide to join the Deakin Institute for Frontier Materials?  

The Deakin Institute for Frontier Materials is a world-class hub for materials innovation. Combating microplastic pollution requires more than just better waste management, it requires “frontier” thinking to understand material interactions at a high level. The Institute offers the collaborative environment and advanced infrastructure needed to develop the next generation of sustainable materials and remediation solutions or technologies.  

What motivates you in your research?  

The mere fact that we can effectively treat every litre of leachate keeps thousands of plastic particles out of the food chain. The idea of a sustainable future motivates me. It gives me a strong sense of purpose to know that my research on microplastic-bentonite interactions can result in cleaner groundwater and more effective landfills.

My goal is to leave behind a healthier environment than the one we live in now.    

What techniques and parts of your research do you have fun with?  

Microstructural analysis is what excites me the most. It’s remarkable to watch how a little piece of plastic physically fits into a clay structure using advanced imaging. The “detective work” of locating the plastics inside that complex structure and figuring out what is happening in the clay’s protective properties is what makes the lab work truly exciting.  

 Where do you see this research going?  

I see this research leading to a universal protocol for investigating microplastics and phthalates in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. We are moving toward “smart” landfill designs where liners are specifically engineered not just to hold waste, but to act as active shields against emerging contaminants.