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1H and 19F NMR Toolbox for Examining Interactions between Fluorinated Compounds and Polystyrene Nanoparticles
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Researchers used a suite of NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy techniques to study how PFAS "forever chemicals" bind to polystyrene nanoplastics, testing whether the fluorine in PFAS molecules influences how strongly they stick to plastic. Surprisingly, fluorination had little effect on binding strength for the compounds tested — aromatic molecules and aliphatic alcohols behaved similarly whether or not they contained fluorine. The work advances understanding of how two major classes of emerging contaminants — nanoplastics and PFAS — interact in the environment.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) are both emerging environmental pollutants, yet the interactions between the two are rarely studied on a fundamental level. Here we use a suite of NMR techniques to examine binding between polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNP) and fluorinated compounds or nonfluorinated analogues, with the aim of understanding how fluorination influences the strength of binding. In addition, we have compared the different NMR techniques in terms of reproducibility and ease of use. We find that fluorination does not have a significant effect on binding for aromatic compounds or aliphatic alcohols. However, we have established a toolbox of both quantitative and qualitative NMR techniques that can be used to examine binding between a large receptor and fluorinated compounds either with or without NMR-observable hydrogen atoms.
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1H and 19F NMR Toolbox for ExaminingInteractions between Fluorinated Compounds and Polystyrene Nanoparticles
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Researchers applied a suite of 1H and 19F NMR techniques to examine binding interactions between polystyrene nanoparticles and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), finding that fluorination does not significantly influence binding strength and evaluating the reproducibility of different NMR methods for studying MNP-contaminant interactions.
Molecular-Scale Insights into the Interactions between Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Polyethylene
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics can strongly attract and hold onto toxic "forever chemicals" called PFAS, which are already found in drinking water and food. This means microplastics in our environment could act like sponges that collect these harmful chemicals and potentially transport them to new places, including into our bodies. The research helps explain why these two types of pollution might work together to create bigger health risks than either one alone.
Insight into the effect of natural aging of polystyrene microplastics on the sorption of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in seawater
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Naturally aged polystyrene microplastics showed different sorption behavior for nine PFAS compounds compared to virgin microplastics, with environmental aging altering the physicochemical properties that determine how strongly microplastics bind these 'forever chemicals' in seawater.
Review of Recent Computational Research on the Adsorption of PFASs with a Variety of Substrates
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This review summarizes recent computer modeling research on how PFAS, sometimes called "forever chemicals," stick to various materials, which could help develop better cleanup methods. While focused on PFAS rather than microplastics, both are persistent environmental pollutants that resist breakdown and accumulate in the body. Understanding how these chemicals interact with surfaces at the molecular level could lead to more effective ways to remove them from contaminated water and soil.
Adsorption of perfluoroalkyl substances on microplastics under environmental conditions
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Researchers examined the capacity of three types of microplastics to sorb 18 perfluoroalkyl substances from freshwater and seawater. They found that perfluorosulfonates and sulfonamides had the strongest tendency to adsorb onto microplastics, with polystyrene showing greater affinity for these chemicals than polyethylene. The study suggests that microplastics in aquatic environments can concentrate harmful PFAS compounds, potentially increasing exposure for organisms that ingest them.
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