We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Transport of functionalized nanoplastics in goethite-coated saturated porous media: Synergistic effect of polyacrylamide coupled with solution chemistry
AI summary Read the abstract
A common soil conditioner used in farming, called polyacrylamide, can make tiny plastic particles move more easily through soil and potentially into groundwater — meaning the products we use to improve crops might actually help pollution spread further and faster than expected. This matters because these nanoplastics could end up contaminating water supplies, and the study found that factors like soil acidity and the type of plastic surface (positively vs. negatively charged) all change how far and fast this contamination can travel.
Polyacrylamide (PAM) is extensively applied to farmland as both a pesticide spray adjuvant and soil conditioner, resulting in co-exposure with widely detected micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs). However, the mechanism by which PAM influences transport behavior of MNPs in soil is still poorly understood. We systematically investigated the influence of PAM coupling physicochemical factors (pH and anion) on the migration behavior of functionalized nanoplastics (PSNPs-COOH and PSNPs-NH) within goethite-coated (FOS) saturated sand columns. Experimental results revealed that PSNPs-NH (45.05 ± 1.28% to 97.71 ± 0.13%) demonstrated superior mobility compared to PSNPs-COOH (16.10 ± 0.05% to 93.44 ± 2.01%) across all conditions. PAM enhances the transport of PSNPs in FOS through hydrogen bonding and surface modification. pH-dependent transport shows non-linear patterns, with maximum mobility at pH 7.0. Under anionic conditions, SO exhibits a stronger retention effect than NO due to enhanced charge shielding and hydrophobic interactions, which is consistent with the Hofmeister series. The molecular specificity of phosphate ions is demonstrated by their distinct forms and varying interaction modes of interaction with the medium and PSNPs. Quantum chemical calculations revealed binding energies of -17.84 kcal mol for PSNPs-COOH-PAM and -7.67 kcal mol for PSNPs-NH-PAM complexes, indicating stronger interactions between PSNPs-COOH and PAM. These findings provide crucial insights into the fate and transport of functionalized NPs in agricultural soils and groundwater systems, highlighting the complex interplay among surface functionalization, mineral coatings, and dissolved polymers in controlling the mobility of NPs.
More Papers Like This
Effects of particle size and surface chemistry on plastic nanoparticle transport in saturated natural porous media.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how the size and surface chemistry of plastic nanoparticles affect how they move through soil and are taken up by plants. They found that smaller particles and those with certain surface charges moved more readily through soil and were more likely to enter plant roots. The results indicate that nanoplastic contamination of agricultural soils could lead to plant uptake and potential transfer into the food chain.
Mechanisms of nanoplastics transport and retention in biochar-blended porous media: Role of surface interactions and hydrodynamic conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
Biochar is often added to soil to improve farmland and clean up pollution, but this study found that it can sometimes make tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) move through soil more easily instead of trapping them—potentially letting them reach groundwater we may eventually drink. The effect depends heavily on the type of biochar used, water acidity, and dissolved salts and organic matter, with some biochars (like cow dung-based) blocking plastic movement while others (like wheat straw-based) let it pass through more freely. This matters because it shows that choosing the wrong soil treatment could unintentionally increase nanoplastic cont
Effects of Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids on the Transport of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Saturated Goethite-Coated Sand Columns
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined how low-molecular-weight organic acids — common root exudates in soil — affect the transport of polystyrene nanoplastics through porous media. Organic acids altered nanoplastic surface charge and aggregation state, significantly changing how far particles could migrate through soil.
Influence of solution chemical properties and porous medium surface coatings on the transport and retention behavior of polystyrene microplastics.
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) move through sand and soil under different water conditions—like varying acidity, salt levels, and natural organic matter—to understand whether these particles get trapped underground or flow freely into groundwater. They found that water chemistry dramatically changes plastic mobility: more salt or iron-rich minerals in soil trap more plastic, while more natural organic matter or higher pH lets plastic travel farther. This matters because groundwater is a source of drinking water, and knowing what conditions help microplastics spread (or get filtered out naturally) can help protect water supplies from plast
Effects of low-molecular-weight organic acids on the transport of polystyrene nanoplastics: An insight at the structure of organic acids
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how seven common soil organic acids affect nanoplastic movement through sand, finding that dibasic acids (with multiple acid groups) significantly enhance transport by making particle surfaces more negatively charged and hydrophilic, while most monobasic acids have little effect — with implications for predicting nanoplastic migration in agricultural soils.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.