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Molecular Weights of Dissolved Organic Matter Significantly Affect Photoaging of Microplastics
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This study found that dissolved organic matter in natural water significantly speeds up how quickly microplastics break down under sunlight, with smaller organic molecules having the strongest effect. The breakdown process generates reactive chemical species that attack the plastic surfaces. This is important because it means microplastics in natural waters may fragment into smaller, potentially more harmful nanoplastics faster than lab studies using pure water would suggest.
The fate of ubiquitous microplastics (MPs) is largely influenced by dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic environments, which has garnered significant attention. The reactivity of DOM is reported to be greatly regulated by molecular weights (MWs), yet little is known about the effects of different MW DOM on MP aging. Here, the aging behavior of polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) in the presence of different MW fulvic acids (FAs) and humic acids (HAs) was systematically investigated. Under ultraviolet (UV) illumination, O/C of PSMPs aged for 96 h surged from 0.008 to 0.146 in the lower MW FA (FA<1kDa) treatment, suggesting significant PSMP aging. However, FA exhibited a stronger effect on facilitating PSMP photoaging than HA, which can be attributed to the fact that FA<1kDa contains more quinone and phenolic moieties, demonstrating a higher redox capacity. Meanwhile, compared to other fractions, FA<1kDa was more actively involved in the increase of different reactive species yields by 50-290%, including •OH, which plays a key role in PSMP photoaging, and contributed to a 25% increase in electron-donating capacity (EDC). This study lays a theoretical foundation for a better understanding of the environmental fate of MPs.
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Hydrophilic Fraction of Dissolved Organic Matter Largely Facilitated Microplastics Photoaging: Insights from Redox Properties and Reactive Oxygen Species
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This study investigated how dissolved organic matter in natural water affects the breakdown of microplastics by sunlight. The water-soluble fraction of organic matter was most effective at speeding up microplastic aging by generating reactive oxygen species that attack the plastic surface. This matters because faster breakdown of microplastics in the environment creates smaller, potentially more dangerous nanoplastic particles that can more easily enter living organisms.
Significant contribution of different sources of particulate organic matter to the photoaging of microplastics
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Researchers discovered that particulate organic matter from different natural sources can significantly accelerate the aging of microplastics when exposed to UV light. Organic matter from peat soil showed the strongest effect, generating reactive oxygen species that broke down plastic surfaces more quickly. The study suggests that natural organic matter in the environment plays a larger role in microplastic degradation than previously recognized.
Dissolved Organic Matter Enhanced the Aggregation and Oxidation of Nanoplastics under Simulated Sunlight Irradiation in Water
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Dissolved organic matter was found to enhance both the aggregation and photooxidation of nanoplastics under simulated sunlight in water, with humic substances promoting particle clustering and accelerating surface oxidation. The results indicate that organic matter content in natural waters strongly influences nanoplastic fate and transformation.
Photo-induced leaching behaviors and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter from microplastics and terrestrial-sourced particles
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Researchers studied how light exposure causes microplastics and terrestrial particles to leach dissolved organic matter, and how this leachate behaves in the environment. The study found differences in the biodegradability of leachate from plastic versus natural sources, suggesting that microplastic-derived organic matter may persist differently in aquatic ecosystems.
Photochemistry of microplastics-derived dissolved organic matter: Reactive species generation and organic pollutant degradation
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Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter released from degrading polystyrene and PVC microplastics behaves when exposed to sunlight in water. They found that sunlight breaks down the aromatic compounds in this plastic-derived material and generates reactive chemical species, though at lower rates than natural organic matter. Despite this, these reactive species significantly accelerated the breakdown of co-existing pollutants, suggesting that degrading microplastics may act as unexpected natural catalysts in aquatic environments.
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