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Comparison of microplastics heteroaggregation with MoS2 and graphene oxide nanosheets: Dependence on the configuration and impacts on aquatic transport
Summary
This study examined how microplastics aggregate with two types of 2D nanosheets (molybdenum disulfide and graphene oxide) in water, finding that the shape of the resulting aggregate strongly controls whether microplastics sink or keep moving through aquatic systems. Understanding these interactions matters because nanomaterial contamination is increasingly co-occurring with microplastics in waterways, and their combined behavior affects how far and deep microplastics travel.
Understanding the behavior and fate of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environment is crucial for assessing their potential risks. This study investigated the heteroaggregation behaviors of MPs with representative 2D nanosheets, MoS and graphene oxide (GO), under various conditions, focusing on the transport behavior of the resulting aggregates. It was found that the destabilization capabilities of 2D nanosheets are notably stronger than those of well-reported nanoparticles. More importantly, the deposition and transport of MPs are highly dependent on the configuration of the resulting aggregates. MoS nanosheets conformally coat MPs, forming compact and colloidally stable complexes that completely alter the MPs' surface to the negatively charged MoS. The interaction resulted in high mobility and minimal deposition in environmental matrices. In contrast, GO nanosheets bridge MPs into large clusters, reducing transport and increasing deposition. This difference in aggregate configuration is attributed to the distinct interactions between the nanosheets and MPs: rigid MoS nanosheets adhere via strong van der Waals forces, while GO, with oxygen functional groups on its edges and surfaces, folds and crosslinks between particles upon adsorption. These findings underscore the critical role of 2D materials in shaping the environmental fate of MPs, advancing our knowledge on the aggregation process.