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Characterization of the microplastic photoaging under the action of typical salt ions of biological nitrogen removal processes
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Photoaging — the breakdown of plastics under UV light — of PVC microplastics was significantly slowed in the presence of bicarbonate and nitrate ions commonly found in wastewater treatment systems. Paradoxically, aged PVC particles leached more contaminants and more readily adsorbed nitrogen compounds than fresh particles, with leaching increasing as particles got smaller. Understanding how wastewater chemistry alters the aging and behavior of microplastics is critical for improving the ability of treatment plants to remove and manage plastic particles before they are released into waterways.
Microplastics (MPs) are one of the most prevalent and diverse contaminants, and wastewater treatment plants are significant MP aggregators. Controlling the pollution caused by microplastics requires an understanding of how they age. The properties of the MPs photoaging process under the influence of salt ions typical of biological nitrogen elimination processes were disclosed in this work. The aging process of polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs) was greatly slowed down by greater HCO and NO concentrations, according to a comparison of the carbonyl index changes that occurred during photoaging. The carbonyl index had a negative correlation with the thermal stability of the photo-aged PVC-MPs, and aging accelerated the elimination of chlorine from the water. The samples were aged by UV radiation after 36 h at 40 °C, and the amount of chlorine eliminated was 10.13 times greater than that of the original MPs samples. It was discovered that the leachate concentration of aged MPs dramatically increased with decreasing particle size and was positively connected with the level of aging by comparing the concentration of leachate for two particle sizes (1 mm and 100 m). Photoaging caused MPs to become rougher, which in turn improved the NO-N, NH-N, and NO-N adsorption by PVC-MPs.
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Researchers found that common inorganic anions in natural water significantly influence the photoaging of polystyrene microplastics under sunlight, with nitrate and bicarbonate accelerating degradation while chloride and bromide had varying effects on aging mechanisms.
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UV aging of polyester (PET) microfibers accelerates faster in seawater than in freshwater, driven by reactive ions like nitrate, bromide, and chloride. This matters because faster aging in marine environments means PET microfibers — the most abundant microplastic in aquatic systems — break down more rapidly into smaller, potentially more bioavailable nanoplastic fragments in the ocean.
The fate, impacts and potential risks of photoaging process of the microplastics in the aqueous environment
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This review examines how ultraviolet light from sunlight causes microplastics in water to age and change their physical and chemical properties, including surface texture, chemical structure, and water-repelling ability. Researchers found that photoaged microplastics become better at carrying other pollutants and may pose greater environmental risks than fresh plastics. The study highlights that aged microplastics can also increase biological toxicity and human exposure risks compared to their original form.
Elucidating the characteristic of leachates released from microplastics under different aging conditions: Perspectives of dissolved organic carbon fingerprints and nano-plastics
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Researchers investigated how different aging conditions affect the release of dissolved organic carbon and nanoplastics from PVC and polystyrene microplastics over 130 days. The study found that UV aging and high temperatures promoted the release of nanoplastics and altered the chemical characteristics of leached substances, with UV-aged treatments producing smaller, rougher nanoparticles that may pose greater ecological risks.
The Aging Behavior of Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics by UV/Sodium Percarbonate Oxidation: Efficiency and Mechanism
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Researchers investigated how UV-activated sodium percarbonate breaks down PVC microplastics, finding effective dechlorination and fragmentation after 35 hours of treatment. The study identified hydroxyl and carbonate radicals as the primary agents driving the aging process, providing insights into how advanced oxidation could be used to treat microplastic-contaminated wastewater.
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