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Linking UV aging of polymers and microplastics formation: An assessment employing various characterization techniques
Summary
This study used environmental assessment tools to model how UV aging of plastic polymers drives microplastic formation in marine environments. The analysis identified polymer-specific degradation rates and environmental conditions that accelerate the conversion of plastic debris into microplastics.
The unbridled increase in plastic pollution, notably in marine environments, raises concerns about its impacts on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Annually, about 13 Mts of plastics enter the oceans, breaking down into microplastics (MPs) due to various environmental stresses. Despite the influence of numerous physicochemical mechanisms in nature, the UV component of solar weathering significantly affects the leaching and fragmentation of plastics into MPs. However, research on plastic weathering characteristics remains limited. To enhance the understanding of plastic degradation and address research gaps, this study investigates the physicochemical properties of several commonly used commercial polymers in the form of thin films (e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (PA), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)), following UV exposure over specific intervals. The resulting photodamage was initially examined using Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which indicated oxidation signs, whereas changes in crystallinity during weathering were assessed using X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyses. Additionally, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and contact angle measurements revealed significant morphological and hydrophilicity differences throughout aging. A notable deterioration in mechanical properties was observed, suggesting that UV irradiation reduces plastic performance and promotes fragmentation, potentially leading to MP formation. The relative abundance of pyrolysis products varied throughout the UV simulation experiments, as shown by Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) analysis, whereas the quantity of pyrolytic marker compounds which are extensively used in MP analysis, also fluctuated with the photo-aging period. This highlights the critical need to explore aging processes and comprehensive analytical approaches in commonly used polymers, as there are significant risks to the reliability of MP quali-/quantitative in real environmental samples. Acknowledgements The research work was supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) under the 3rd Call for HFRI PhD Fellowships (Fellowship Number: 6567). Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559525/document