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Evaluating a Novel High-Resolution X-Ray Computed Tomography Method for Quantifying Tire and Road Wear Particle Morphology
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Scientists used a detailed 3D scanning technique to look inside tiny tire wear particles found in roadside soil, the biggest source of microplastic pollution on land. They found these particles vary widely in structure, some are dense while others are full of tiny pores that could trap chemicals or microbes, helping researchers better understand how these pollutants behave and persist in the environment.
Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) are the largest source of microplastics in terrestrial environments and accumulate particularly in roadside soils. Despite growing recognition of their ecological impacts, their internal structure remains poorly understood. We present a novel workflow for isolating and three-dimensionally characterizing environmentally derived TRWP using high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (µCT). Roadside soils collected adjacent to national roads in central Germany underwent sequential density separation. Three TRWP identified by optical microscopy and two artificial tire wear particles were analyzed by µCT at 0.97 µm voxel resolution, enabling quantification of surface, volume, and pore-network morphology. Particles showed highly heterogeneous structures, ranging from dense and compact to extremely porous. Particle volume (0.011-0.042 mm³) and surface area (0.342-0.924 mm²) varied relatively little due to particle selection, whereas porosity, dominated by pores < 10 µm, ranged from 1.85 to 49.97%, including internal and external pores. Some particles displayed density gradients and denser outer layers, likely reflecting mineral incorporation. TRWP generally exhibited more complex surface textures than artificial particles. These results demonstrate µCT as a powerful tool for revealing TRWP internal architecture, improving morphological characterization and understanding of environmental behavior, potential microbial habitats, and long-term additive release in soil ecosystems.
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Segmented Tiff Stacks and µCT results of five Tire Wear Particles
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Researchers used high-resolution X-ray computed tomography to generate detailed three-dimensional morphological data for natural and artificial tire and road wear particles, producing segmented image stacks that enable quantitative characterization of particle shape and internal structure.
Segmented Tiff Stacks and µCT results of five Tire Wear Particles
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used high-resolution X-ray computed tomography to generate detailed three-dimensional morphological data for natural and artificial tire and road wear particles, producing segmented image stacks that enable quantitative characterization of particle shape and internal structure.
Three-Dimensional Real Contact Area at the Tire–Asphalt Interface Revealed by Synchrotron X-Ray CT
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Scientists used powerful X-ray imaging to see exactly how tire rubber actually touches the road surface, discovering that contact happens only in scattered patches, not evenly across the whole tire, and even the asphalt itself bends and shifts under pressure. This matters because tire wear is a major source of microplastic pollution that ends up in our air, water, and food, so understanding exactly how and where tires grind against roads could help engineers design tires and pavements that shed fewer harmful particles into our environment.
Microplastic detection and characterization in different matrixes by computed tomography
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Scientists tested a new way to find and measure tiny plastic bits (microplastics) hiding in soil, using detailed 3D X-ray scans paired with computer prediction models. The method worked really well in simpler soils like sand, but struggled in complex, muddy environments like mangrove soil—showing that better tools are still needed to accurately track microplastic pollution in the varied environments where our food grows and ecosystems function. This matters because reliably detecting microplastics in soil is a key step toward understanding how much of this pollution ends up in our food and water supply.
High resolution X-ray microtomography as a tool for observation and classification of individual microplastics
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Researchers investigated X-ray microtomography (microCT) as a non-destructive tool for characterizing microplastics embedded in sediment, demonstrating that the technique could provide detailed internal and external morphological data to help classify individual particles based on structure and composition.
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