We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
[Effect of Ageing on the Adsorption of Triclosan by Microplastics of Different Types and Particle Sizes].
AI summary Read the abstract
As microplastics break down in the environment over time ("aging"), their surfaces get rougher and can actually soak up more of triclosan—an antibacterial chemical found in some soaps and personal care products. This matters because it means aged microplastics could act like tiny sponges, carrying triclosan around in water and soil and potentially into our food and bodies, with smaller plastic particles and certain plastic types (like polyamide, used in things like nylon) picking up the most.
In order to investigate the effect of aging on the adsorption of triclosan （TCS） by microplastics （MPs） of different types and particle sizes， the physicochemical properties of polyamide （PA）， polybutylene terephthalate （PBT）， polylactic acid （PLA）， and polyvinyl chloride （PVC） with particle sizes of 50 μm and 200 μm， as well as their adsorption of TCS， were analytically determined under aging at 0， 30， and 90 d. The results showed that the surface roughness of MPs increased significantly. The results showed that aging significantly increased the surface roughness of the MPs. After 90 d of aging， the surface oxygen percentage of all MPs except PVC50 increased compared with that before aging， with the increase being more significant for the small-sized MPs. Further， the hydrophilicity of PBT showed a tendency of increasing and then decreasing with aging time， but the hydrophilicity of the rest of the MPs was enhanced with the increase in aging time. At the same aging level， the adsorption property of PA was stronger than that of other MPs. At 30 d of aging， the adsorption property of MPs on TCS was increased compared with that before aging. However， after 90 d of aging， the adsorption property of PBT and PLA showed a decreasing trend compared with that at 30 d of aging. MPs with smaller particle size had higher adsorption capacity due to more available adsorption sites， while the growth rate of adsorption of larger particle size PA， PLA， and PVC was higher than that of smaller particle size after aging compared with that before aging， whereas PBT had the opposite trend. The study confirms that material properties， surface functional group evolution， and hydrophilic interaction-dominated adsorption mechanism jointly affect the MPs-TCS interaction， and the results provide theoretical support for the risk assessment of MPs-TCS composite contamination.
More Papers Like This
Environmental Adsorption/Desorption Behavior of Antimicrobial Contaminants and PFAS on Virgin and Weathered Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles floating in water (microplastics) can act like sponges, soaking up harmful chemicals such as triclosan (a common antibacterial), certain antibiotics, and "forever chemicals" (PFAS) — and how much they absorb depends on the plastic's type and how weathered it is. Concerningly, some plastics release a good chunk of these chemicals back out later, meaning microplastics could help ferry pollutants through waterways and potentially into our bodies. This matters because it shows microplastics aren't a one-size-fits-all pollution problem — some types pose a bigger risk than others for spre
The sorption behavior of triclosan on microplastics: aging effects and mechanisms
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how environmental aging processes change the ability of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene microplastics to absorb the antimicrobial compound triclosan. They found that aging increased sorption capacity for polyethylene but decreased it for polypropylene, with polystyrene showing mixed results depending on the aging method. The changes were driven by modifications to surface chemistry, particularly the introduction of oxygen-containing functional groups that alter hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.
Adsorption behavior of triazine pesticides on polystyrene microplastics aging with different processes in natural environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that microplastics that have aged in the environment absorb pesticides more effectively and quickly than fresh microplastics, and the pesticide-loaded particles are more toxic to bacteria. This means that as microplastics weather outdoors, they become better carriers for agricultural chemicals, potentially increasing the combined health risks when these contaminated particles enter food or water supplies.
Adsorption behavior of triclosan on polystyrene nanoplastics: The roles of particle size, surface functionalization, and environmental factors
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how triclosan, an antimicrobial compound common in personal care products, adsorbs onto polystyrene nanoplastics of different sizes and surface chemistries, finding that smaller particles and functionalized surfaces (with carboxyl or amine groups) bind more triclosan, with pH and salinity further modulating uptake — suggesting nanoplastics can serve as mobile carriers for this contaminant.
UV and chemical aging alter the adsorption behavior of microplastics for tetracycline
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that UV and chemical aging significantly increased microplastics' capacity to adsorb tetracycline, with biodegradable PBAT showing more dramatic changes in surface properties and adsorption behavior compared to conventional plastics like polystyrene and polyethylene.
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.