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Investigation of the adsorption behavior and adsorption mechanism of pollutants onto electron beam-aged microplastics
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Researchers used electron beam technology to age microplastics and then studied how this aging changed the particles' ability to adsorb pollutants from water. They found that electron beam-aged microplastics had significantly higher oxygen content on their surfaces and were more effective at capturing certain contaminants. The study suggests that as microplastics degrade in the environment, they may become more efficient carriers of pollutants.
Microplastics, as an emerging pollutant, are widely distributed worldwide. Extensive research has been conducted to address the issue of microplastic pollution; however, effective methods for microplastic treatment are still lacking. This study innovatively utilizes electron beam technology to age and degrade microplastics. Compared to other treatment methods, electron beam technology can effectively promote the aging and degradation of microplastics. The Oxygen - carbon ratio of aged microplastics reached 0.071, with a mass loss of 48 % and a carbonyl index value of 0.69, making it the most effective method for short-term aging treatment in current research efforts. Theoretical calculations and experimental results demonstrate that a large number of oxygen-containing functional groups are generated on the surface of microplastics after electron beam irradiation, changing their adsorption performance for pollutants. Theoretical calculations show that an increase in oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface leads to a gradual decrease in hydrophobic pollutant adsorption capacity while increasing hydrophilic pollutant adsorption capacity for aged microplastics. Experimental studies were conducted to investigate the adsorption behavior and process of typical pollutants by aged microplastics which conform to pseudo-second-order kinetics and Henry model during the adsorption process, and the adsorption results are consistent with theoretical calculations. The results show that the degradation of microplastics is mainly due to hydroxyl radicals generated by electron beam irradiation, which can break the carbon chain of microplastics and gradually degrade them into small molecular esters and alcohols. Furthermore, studies have shown that microplastics can desorb pollutants in pure water and simulated gastric fluid. Overall, electron beam irradiation is currently the most effective method for degrading microplastics. These results also clearly elucidate the characteristics and mechanisms of the interaction between aged microplastics and organic pollutants, providing further insights for assessing microplastic pollution in real-world environments.
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Researchers developed a novel electron beam combined with oxidant treatment to artificially age microplastic surfaces, achieving rapid generation of oxygen-containing functional groups that enhanced pollutant adsorption capacity while also initiating plastic degradation.
Adsorption mechanism of hexavalent chromium on electron beam-irradiated aged microplastics: Novel aging processes and environmental factors
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Researchers used electron beam irradiation as a novel method to age polypropylene microplastics and then studied how these aged particles adsorb hexavalent chromium from water. They found that aging dramatically increased the microplastics' ability to bind chromium by generating oxygen-containing functional groups on their surfaces. The study highlights that weathered microplastics in the environment may have a significantly greater capacity to concentrate heavy metal pollutants than fresh plastic particles.
Changes in electron distribution of aged microplastic and their environmental impacts in aquatic environments
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This study examines how microplastics change at the molecular level as they age in water, finding that sunlight and chemical processes rearrange the electron structure on their surfaces. These aged microplastics develop persistent free radicals and oxygen-containing groups that make them more reactive, increasing their ability to absorb pollutants and potentially spread antibiotic resistance genes. The findings suggest that weathered microplastics in the environment may be more chemically active and potentially more harmful than fresh ones.
Investigation into the characteristics of electron beam-aged microplastics and adsorption behavior of dibutyl phthalate
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Electron beam irradiation was used to age polyethylene microplastics in a controlled manner, and the resulting aged particles showed altered surface chemistry and enhanced adsorption capacity for the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate.
Modulating oxidative capacity to simultaneously enhance microplastics aging and reduce adsorption performance: A novel approach to environmental remediation
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Researchers developed a method that modulates oxidative capacity during microplastic aging to simultaneously generate oxygen-containing surface groups—which increase pollutant adsorption—while degrading the plastic particles, combining aging and degradation in a single process.
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