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Enhanced immobilization of trace nickel by nanoplastic-Fe-Mn oxide complexes in sedimentary systems
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Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics act as nucleation sites for iron-manganese oxide mineral growth in marine sediments, producing smaller particles with greater surface area that adsorb trace nickel far more efficiently than oxides formed without plastic present.
Fe/Mn oxides are widely distributed mineral components in marine sediments and act as significant scavengers of trace metals. The emergence of plastic-rock complexes has led to an increasing recognition that plastics may influence the environmental behavior of minerals. Plastics, especially nanoplastics, can affect the formation of Fe/Mn oxides and their ability to immobilize heavy metals. In this study, the role of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) in the mineralization of FeMn oxides and their effects on the immobilization of heavy metals (using Ni(II) as an example) at the trace concentrations in the environment were investigated. Characterization analysis indicated that PS NPs not only adsorb Fe and Mn ions from the environment through electrostatic attraction (the force that draws together objects with opposite electrical charges) but also serve as a substrate for the heterogeneous nucleation and growth of FeMn oxides. The large specific surface area of the PS NPs provides a site for the growth of FeMn. This results in smaller particle sizes and larger specific surface areas for the generated FeMn oxides. Consequently, Fe-PS-Mn@SiO exhibits significantly greater adsorption efficiency for Ni(II) under various environmental conditions (such as different pH and salinity) compared to Fe-Mn@SiO. Additionally, Fe-PS-Mn@SiO remained stable under sunlight at 60 °C over 1.5 years. These findings presented new insights into the impact of NPs on mineral formation and environmental behavior, expanding our understanding of the actual fate of NPs in sediment environments.
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Unveiling the crucial role of iron oxide transformation in simultaneous immobilization of nanoplastics and organic matter
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Researchers tracked how nanoplastics become trapped during the transformation of dissolved iron into crystalline iron oxide minerals, finding that polystyrene nanoplastics become physically encased within forming crystals while humic acid stabilizes the system, creating a durable iron oxide-nanoplastic-organic matter composite that sequesters particles in sediments.
Polystyrene nanoplastics facilitate the Fe(II)-catalyzed ferrihydrite transformation into goethite and hematite under sedimentary conditions
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Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics significantly accelerate iron mineral transformation in sediments, speeding up the conversion of ferrihydrite into goethite and hematite by reducing surface charges on the mineral and enhancing electron transfer—an overlooked interaction that alters iron geochemistry and influences how nanoplastics behave in aquatic sediments.
Charge mediated interaction of polystyrene nanoplastic (PSNP) with minerals in aqueous phase
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with common soil and sediment minerals, finding that positively charged iron oxide minerals (goethite and magnetite) strongly adsorb nanoplastics via electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding, while negatively charged clay minerals do not — providing mechanistic insight into how nanoplastics may accumulate in iron-rich soils and sediments.
Oxidative Roles of Polystyrene-Based Nanoplastics in Inducing Manganese Oxide Formation under Light Illumination
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Researchers demonstrated that polystyrene nanoplastics can generate reactive oxygen species under light illumination, driving the oxidation of dissolved manganese into manganese oxide minerals and revealing a previously unrecognized geochemical role of plastic debris.
Microplastics existence affected heavy metal affinity to ferrihydrite as a representative sediment mineral
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Researchers found that the presence of polystyrene microplastics altered how heavy metals adsorb onto ferrihydrite sediment mineral, with certain microplastic-to-mineral ratios enhancing lead, chromium, and cadmium adsorption, indicating that microplastics can change heavy metal fate and mobility in contaminated sediments.
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