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Influence of UV wavelength variations on tetracycline adsorption by polyethylene microplastics in aquatic environments
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Exposure to UVC, UVB, and UVA light at different wavelengths differentially altered the surface chemistry of polyethylene microplastics and their subsequent adsorption capacity for the antibiotic tetracycline. Shorter UV wavelengths caused more extensive surface oxidation, increasing tetracycline adsorption by up to several fold and changing the antibiotic's environmental fate.
The effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on structural changes is a significant concern, particularly regarding the weathering and aging effects on microplastics (MPs). This research focused on examining how various UV light wavelengths (UVC, UVB, and UVA) influence the adsorption behavior of aged polyethylene (PE) MPs toward tetracycline (TC). To explore the adsorption mechanism in detail, adsorption kinetics were studied under different UV light wavelengths. PE MPs exposed to UV light exhibited a slower adsorption rate in the following order: virgin PE > PE MPs/UVA > PE MPs/UVB > PE MPs/UVC. The study also evaluated changes in the adsorption mechanism with prolonged UVC irradiation. The Langmuir model was used to determine the adsorption capacity of virgin PE MPs, which was found to be 1.497 × 10 mmol·g. Notably, the adsorption capacity decreased to 0.260 × 10 mmol·g after 1 day, 0.326 × 10 mmol·g after 3 days, and 0.514 × 10 mmol·g after 7 days. Surface characterization analysis revealed that UV irradiation led to the formation of new oxygenated functional groups (OFGs), such as carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, on the PE MPs surface due to the generation of OH radicals. Additionally, surface melting caused by irradiation increased hydrophobicity, resulting in reduced TC adsorption capacity, as TC is hydrophilic. Overall, this study provides a fundamental comparison of the effects of different UV light wavelengths on PE MPs.
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Researchers studied how sequential UV aging of polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene microplastics, which mimics natural weathering, affects their ability to adsorb the antibiotic tetracycline under different water chemistry conditions. They found that aged microplastics adsorbed significantly more tetracycline than pristine particles, with the effect varying by water type and plastic polymer. The study suggests that as microplastics weather in the environment, they may become increasingly effective at carrying antibiotic contaminants.
[Effect of Aging on Adsorption of Tetracycline by Microplastics and the Mechanisms].
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Researchers aged polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics under UV-254 irradiation and analyzed changes in color, surface morphology, and functional groups, finding that UV aging altered the physical and chemical properties of both MPs and significantly affected their adsorption capacity and mechanism for the antibiotic tetracycline.
Influencing Mechanisms of Exogenous and Endogenous Dissolved Organic Matter on the Adsorption of Tetracycline on UV ‐Light Aged Microplastics
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Researchers investigated how humic acid and microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) influence tetracycline adsorption onto UV-aged polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics, finding that UV aging increased surface area and functional groups on the plastics while dissolved organic matter altered adsorption capacity through competitive and facilitative mechanisms.
Adsorption of levofloxacin by ultraviolet aging microplastics
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Researchers studied how ultraviolet aging changes the ability of common microplastics to adsorb the antibiotic levofloxacin. The study found that UV-aged polystyrene, polyamide, and polyethylene microplastics all showed significantly enhanced adsorption capacity compared to their unaged counterparts, suggesting that weathered microplastics in the environment may carry higher pollutant loads.
UV and chemical aging alter the adsorption behavior of microplastics for tetracycline
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