We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Heterogeneous aggregation of microplastics and mineral particles in aquatic environments: Effects of surface functional groups, pH, and electrolytes
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how microplastics clump together with soil and rock minerals in water, finding that positively charged minerals bound to plastic particles nearly three times more effectively than clay minerals, and that low pH and calcium ions dramatically accelerated aggregation. Understanding these dynamics helps predict where microplastics will settle or stay suspended in rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
Microplastics (MPs) aggregation critically governs their environmental transport, yet interactions with mineral surfaces remain underexplored. In this study, polyethylene (PE) MPs were employed as model particles to prepare both pristine PE and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated PE (B-PE). The heterogeneous aggregation of these particles with inorganic minerals (goethite, hematite, pyrite, magnetite) and clay minerals (kaolinite, montmorillonite) was systematically investigated under varying pH conditions (3.0, 6.0, 9.0) and ionic strengths (NaCl 5–300 mmol/L, CaCl2 1–50 mmol/L). Results demonstrated that positively charged inorganic minerals exhibited significantly stronger heterogeneous aggregation with negatively charged PE, exhibiting aggregation capacities 2.97 times higher than those of negatively charged clay minerals. The introduction of oxygen-containing functional groups such as COOH and OH on the B-PE surface not only enhanced electrostatic attraction but also facilitated ligand exchange and hydrogen bonding, further improving aggregation efficiency. At pH 3.0, removal efficiencies of PE and B-PE for inorganic minerals exceeded 90 %, while aggregation was nearly completely inhibited at pH 9.0. With increasing NaCl concentration, the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of B-PE decreased by 29.6 %–42.6 % compared to pristine PE. Moreover, Ca2+ ions exhibited a stronger promoting effect on aggregation via cation bridging than Na+ ions. These findings reveal the synergistic regulatory effects of mineral type, protein coating, and environmental factors on microplastic-mineral heterogeneous aggregation, providing a theoretical foundation for predicting the transport and fate of microplastics in complex natural aquatic environments, as well as for developing biomolecule-based sustainable remediation strategies.
More Papers Like This
Influence of typical clay minerals on aggregation and settling of pristine and aged polyethylene microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how common clay minerals affect the aggregation and settling behavior of pristine and aged polyethylene microplastics in water. They found that high salt concentrations promoted the settling of microplastics when clay minerals were present, and that electrostatic repulsion was the dominant force governing interactions between plastics and clay particles. The findings provide new insights into how microplastics are transported and deposited in natural water systems.
Investigating Particle Composition and Aquatic Chemistry Impacts on Microplastic Aggregation Behavior Through the Use of Nanopolymer-Nanoparticle Composites
AI summary Read the abstract
This study used metal-tagged nano-polymer particles to investigate how particle composition and aquatic chemistry (pH, ionic strength) affect microplastic aggregation and transport in water. Different minerals in the water column influenced whether microplastics stayed dispersed or clumped together. The findings improve predictions of microplastic behavior and fate in natural water environments.
Aggregation kinetics of microplastics in aquatic environment: Complex roles of electrolytes, pH, and natural organic matter
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that the aggregation behavior of polystyrene microplastics in water was strongly influenced by pH, ionic strength, and the presence of natural organic matter, with divalent cations like calcium and magnesium promoting aggregation. Understanding aggregation kinetics is critical for predicting how microplastics partition between suspended and settled states in natural water bodies.
Heteroaggregation and deposition behaviors of carboxylated nanoplastics with different types of clay minerals in aquatic environments: Important role of calcium(II) ion-assisted bridging
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined how nanoplastics interact with common clay minerals found in water, which affects how far the plastic particles can travel through the environment. Calcium and other positively charged ions act as bridges that cause nanoplastics to clump together with clay and settle out of water more quickly. Understanding this process is important because it determines whether nanoplastics stay suspended in drinking water sources or settle into sediments where they can affect bottom-dwelling organisms.
Aggregation of microplastics and clay particles in the nearshore environment: Characteristics, influencing factors, and implications
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how microplastics interact with natural clay particles in coastal waters, examining how factors like salinity, pH, and particle properties influence their aggregation behavior. They found that microplastics readily form clusters with clay particles, which changes how they settle and move through nearshore environments. Understanding this aggregation process is important for predicting where microplastics end up in coastal ecosystems and their potential exposure to marine organisms.
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.