S-STEM/TRAIN Scholar Jasmine Patricio

Problem or observation:  Increasing amount of microplastics debris in both marine and freshwater systems has become an emerging issue affecting aquatic life. Research question: Is there a way to dissect microplastics from the seven known plastics? Background information: Micro Plastics are plastics particles smaller than 5.0 mm in size. There are two main ways microplastics are formed and enter the body of water: primary and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics consist of manufactured raw plastic material; virgin plastic pellets, scrubbers, and microbeads that enter the ocean via runoff from land. Secondary microplastic occur when larger plastics items enter a beach or ocean and undergo mechanical, photo and/ or biological degradation. The degradation breaks larger pieces into progressively smaller plastic fragments which eventually become undetectable to the naked eye. Microplastics have many use; personal care product such as exfoliants in

Chart of different types of plastics Examples: SPI Code: Density: Made With: Medicine jars, peanut butter jars, combs, bean bags, and rope 1 1.38 g/cm^3 Polyethylene Terephthalate Containers for, mik, motor oils,shampoo & conditioners, soap bottles, detergents, and bleach 2 0.97 g/cm 3 High Density Polyethylene Pipes, and tiles 3 1.3–1.45 g/cm^3 Polyvinyl chloride Plastic cling wrap, sandwich bags, squeezable bottles, and plastic grocery bags 4 Range of 0.910–0.940 g/cm 3 Low-density polyethylene Plastic diaper, tupperware, margarine containers, yogurt bottles, syrup bottles, prescription bottles, stadium cups 5 0.855 g/cm 3 , amorphous 0.946 g/cm 3 , crystalline Polypropylene Coffee cups, plastic food boxes, plastic cutlery, packing foam, packing peanuts 6 0.96–1.04 g/cm 3 Polystyrene Baby bottles, large, compact discs, medical storage containers 7 Acrylic : 1.18 g/cm³ Nylon : 1.15 g/cm³ Polylactic Aci

Welcome new S-Stem students and welcome to the best experience you will obtain through out your second semester at Phoenix College. This will be my third time returning to S-Stem and it has been the best experience I have had through out college days by far. I am currently working on a new lab this semester and am so happy to be working with WAESO, because it means more experience and outside knowledge that I have not had before. My current interest is biology and doing research projects, and more into depth with that. I am working on my associates in science while at Phoenix College. Then I hope to go to ASU  where I want to work on my bachelors in biology . I have had the best experience here at S-stem, I have met new friends and limited my interest to what I wanted to because before I was so all over the place and didn't even know what I wanted to major in. Josh, Cori, and Matt are great advisers and I look forward to working with them in the future more.