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The distribution of pristine and aged low density polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in soil aggregate fractions

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2024
Patria Novita Kusumawardani, Diana Paola Trujillo Amaya, Nick Krekelbergh, Yin Liu, Yin Liu, Steven Sleutel, André G. Skirtach, Stefaan De Neve

Summary

Researchers investigated how pristine and aged low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics distribute across soil aggregate size fractions, examining whether weathering alters interactions between plastic particles and the soil matrix. The study found that aging significantly modified microplastic surface properties and changed their redistribution patterns within aggregate fractions compared to pristine particles.

Polymers
LDPE PE PET

Several studies have evaluated the effect of microplastics (MPs) on soil aggregate formation and stability, typically using high MP concentrations without considering the effects of aging. However, studies regarding the distribution of microplastics within soil aggregate fractions are still limited. Aging or weathering significantly impacts MP surface properties, potentially altering their interaction with the soil matrix. This study aimed to investigate the redistribution of both pristine and artificially weathered MPs, added in a small concentration, across soil aggregate fractions during soil aggregation. Two soil types (silt loam and loam) were treated with organic matter (OM) to promote aggregation over a 2-month incubation period with the addition of 0.1 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559402/document

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