The Port of Castelló and UJI will research the biodegradation of plastic materials in marine environments
ScienceVila Real

The Port of Castelló and UJI will research the biodegradation of plastic materials in marine environments

El Periódico Mediterráneo - General28 August 2026 at 11:32

The Port Authority of Castelló and the UBE Chair of Sustainable Plastics at Universitat Jaume I signed a collaboration agreement for the development and validation of research and development projects related to the behavior and biodegradability of plastic materials in open environments.

This collaboration agreement's main objective is to advance research on how plastic materials degrade and biodegrade in marine environments, contributing to a better understanding of the environmental impacts of these materials.

The two institutions will work together on the validation of R&D projects that allow for a more in-depth study of plastic biodegradation processes under real open-environment conditions.

This partnership between the port sector and the academic field aims to generate scientific knowledge that can help develop more sustainable solutions for the management of plastic waste in marine environments.

Related articles

Science

Sines Port among strategic points for the entry of non-indigenous marine species in Portugal

A scientific study led by MARE and ARNET identified Sines Port as one of the strategic zones for the entry of non-indigenous marine species in Portugal, accounting for 231 confirmed species in national waters, an increase of about 75% compared to the 133 identified a decade ago. The research, published in Marine Pollution Bulletin and involving 31 researchers from 11 universities, points to navigation as the main pathway of introduction, through ballast water and organisms attached to ship hulls. In mainland Portugal, 39% of species originate from the North Pacific. Researchers warn of the need for monitoring and prevention in port areas such as Sines, due to intense shipping activity and its inclusion in major international routes.

Alentrium28/08/26, 12:49
Science

Leiriense Rui Santos captured photograph of partial lunar eclipse

Leiriense Rui Santos managed to capture in photography the partial lunar eclipse that occurred during the early hours of Friday, the 28th. The astronomical phenomenon, less common than total eclipses, was documented by this amateur photographer, recording the different phases of the Moon's eclipse.

Região de Leiria28/08/26, 12:09
Science

Partial lunar eclipse darkened 96% of the Moon's surface during the early morning of this Friday

A partial lunar eclipse obscured 96% of the Moon's surface during the early morning of this Friday. The phenomenon, which occurs only during a full moon when Earth positions itself between the Sun and the Moon, projected Earth's shadow onto the natural satellite.

Now28/08/26, 12:07
Science

What species is this: Epitonium clathrus

A reader found a marine animal on a beach on the Alentejo coast in August 2026, which released a purple ink when disturbed. Expert Gonçalo Calado identified it as Epitonium clathrus, a marine gastropod mollusk from the family Epitoniidae, classified by Linnaeus in 1758. This species is widely distributed across the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, lives in sandy sediment in sub-littoral zones, and migrates to shallower waters in spring and summer to reproduce. Its brownish shell can reach up to four centimeters in height.

Wilder28/08/26, 12:03