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Impact of Microplastics on Sulfate Formation via Different Oxidation Pathways
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Researchers found that both PVC and polystyrene microplastics accelerate sulfate formation in atmospheric media under hydrogen peroxide and ozone oxidation pathways by promoting free radical generation and adsorbing sulfur intermediates, with PVC preferentially adsorbing oxidized sulfur and polystyrene showing stronger affinity for reduced sulfur species.
In this paper, the effects of microplastics on sulfate formation under different oxidation paths in atmospheric media were studied. Based on two typical oxidation pathways of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3), the regulation of microplastics on sulfate formation mechanism was investigated. The effects of pH value, microplastic dosage and the ratio of S (IV) to oxidant on the promotion of sulfate formation by microplastics were analyzed. The promotion mechanism was discussed by measuring the active species such as hydroxyl radical (•OH) and superoxide radical (•O2-), combined with material characterization methods. The results showed that both polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) could promote the formation of sulfate in different degrees under the oxidation conditions of H2O2 and O3, and showed different rules under the influence of the above factors. Both of them can promote the decomposition of H2O2 and O3 to generate free radicals, and the formation mechanism of sulfate is driven by adsorption and free radical reaction. In terms of adsorption characteristics, PVC is more likely to adsorb S (VI), while PS shows a stronger adsorption tendency for S (IV).
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Researchers found that sulfide- and UV-induced aging of microplastics differentially alter their ability to bind environmental contaminants, with sulfide treatment particularly enhancing chromium adsorption through thiol group formation and both processes increasing PET adsorption capacity through particle flattening.
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This study found that hydrogen sulfide causes physical fragmentation and chemical transformation of microplastics via radical oxidation and sulfide addition reactions, with implications for how microplastics are altered in anaerobic environments like wastewater treatment systems.
Investigating the impact of microplastics on sulfur mineralization in different soil types: A mechanism study
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This study used soil microcosm experiments to investigate how polystyrene and polyphenylene sulfide microplastics affect sulfur mineralization in different soil types, revealing mechanisms by which MPs alter soil physicochemical properties and microbial activity.
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