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Polyethylene microplastic pollution changes the electrical resistance and thermal conductivity of loess soil
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Adding polyethylene microplastics to loess soil altered its electrical resistance and thermal conductivity in a nonlinear way, with opposing effects of increased particle resistance and electrostatic charge reduction balancing at 6–8% PE content.
While plastics provide convenience, they also endanger the safety of the natural environment. Microplastic pollution caused by plastic aging has become an urgent concern in public places. In order to study the effects of microplastics on soil physical properties, the electrical resistance and thermal conductivity of soils containing different polyethylene and moisture content were tested. The results show that polyethylene have two effects on soil electrical resistance: one is that the plastic particles increase electrical resistance, and the other is that the electrostatic field carried by the plastic particles reduces electrical resistance. The effect of the two factors is balanced by the content of polyethylene at 6-8%. When the polyethylene content of the soil was 6% and 10%, the coefficients of electrical resistance variation were 0.89, 0.67, 0.85, 0.96, 0.97, 0.99 and 0.95, 0.68, 0.71, 0.93, 0.95, 0.96, respectively. Polyethylene alters soil properties by affecting water distribution through hydrophobicity. The water content gradually increases to 10%, the liquid conduction area inside the soil increases, and the higher the soil's ability to conduct electricity and heat. The results can provide theoretical reference for evaluating and controlling soil microplastic pollution.
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