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Mechanism of dynamic interaction between aging microplastics and heavy metal ions under different hydrodynamic environments
Summary
This study investigated how weathered microplastics interact with lead in water under different flow conditions and found that aged microplastics absorb 34% more lead than fresh ones. The aging process creates rough surfaces and new chemical groups on the plastic that help capture heavy metals, but fast-moving water can knock the metals loose again. These findings matter because they show that weathered microplastics in rivers and oceans can act as carriers for toxic heavy metals, potentially bringing them into the food chain.
The composite pollutants produced by aged microplastics (MPs) as carriers of heavy metals in aquatic environments pose serious hazards to ecology and human health, and the interaction behavior between aged MPs and heavy metals directly determines the formation. This study analyzes the aging process of polyethylene (PE) MPs and explores the interaction behavior of aged PE with Pb(II) under hydrodynamic influence. Results show that the adsorption capacity does not reach adsorption equilibrium at low energy levels, whereas it releases Pb(II) at high energy levels. Under optimal energy levels, the adsorption efficiency reaches a maximum of 2.25 mg/g, which is 34 % higher than that of original PE-MPs. The aged PE surface exhibits a gully-like structure with some areas appearing flaky; the specific surface area is 60 % higher; also new oxygen-containing functional groups are generated. Electrostatic interactions , surface complexation, and van der Waals forces contribute to enhancing the adsorption efficiency. Dynamic simulations further show that a considerable difference exists in the coincidence between the distribution of PE particles and the concentration distribution of Pb(II). And the impact of high speed water flow on adsorption efficiency is notable under the same adsorption time. The research results provide a fundamental reference for the removal of composite pollutants in water. • Interaction behavior experiment of aged PE with Pb(II) is conducted. • Simulated analysis of distribution behaviors of PE with hydrodynamic affected. • The binding mechanism of composite pollutants was clarified.