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Dispersion of spilled oil and formation of oil-containing agglomerates under the action of acid-corroded microplastics
Summary
When microplastics in the ocean get "corroded" by acidic conditions, they behave differently than fresh plastic when mixed with spilled oil—breaking down oil less effectively and forming looser, less stable clumps with it. This matters because it means acid-damaged microplastics may keep spilled oil floating and spreading longer instead of helping it sink and settle, potentially prolonging environmental contamination and making cleanup harder after real-world oil spills.
The composite pollution of marine oil spill and microplastics (MPs) has become a significant global marine environmental issue. Corrosion due to exposure to acidic environment can change the surface characteristics of MPs, which in turn affects the transport and fate of spilled oil. Although previous studies have mainly examined how ultraviolet-aged MPs influence oil spill behavior, the effects of acid-corroded MPs have rarely been explored. In this study, two typical types of MPs and three types of crude oils were selected, and an acetic acid solution was used to simulate the acidic environment, aiming to systematically investigate the influence mechanism of acid-corroded MPs on oil dispersion and the formation of MPs-oil agglomerates (MOA). The results indicated that acid corrosion significantly changed the surface physicochemical properties and interfacial behavior of MPs. The inhibitory effect of acid-corroded MPs on oil dispersion became weaker than that of fresh MPs, and acid-corrosion of MPs was not conducive to oil sedimentation. The type of crude oil also influenced the transport patterns of the composite pollutants, which was related to crude oil viscosity, asphaltene content, and the strength of intermolecular interactions. The effect of aged MPs on the morphological structure of MOA primarily occurred during the initial aging stage. Fresh MPs tended to form compact and regular agglomerates. However, due to the decreased oil agglomeration capacity of aged MPs, the formed MOA became loose and irregular. The findings of this study reveal the behavioral patterns and key mechanisms underlying the influence of acid-corroded MPs on the transport and fate of spilled oil, providing scientific support for the risk assessment of marine composite oil-MPs pollution.