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Influence of UV exposure time and simulated marine environment on different microplastic degradation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2023 8 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Luana Freire da Silva, Luana Freire da Silva, Andreia Neves Fernandes Andreia Neves Fernandes Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Sanye Soroldoni, Felipe Kessler, Andreia Neves Fernandes Andreia Neves Fernandes Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Andreia Neves Fernandes Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Andreia Neves Fernandes Andreia Neves Fernandes Andreia Neves Fernandes Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Andreia Neves Fernandes Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Felipe Kessler, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Andreia Neves Fernandes Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Andreia Neves Fernandes Andreia Neves Fernandes Andreia Neves Fernandes Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Felipe Kessler, Andreia Neves Fernandes Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Andreia Neves Fernandes Andreia Neves Fernandes Felipe Kessler, Andreia Neves Fernandes Andreia Neves Fernandes Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Felipe Kessler, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Andreia Neves Fernandes Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Grasiela Lopes Leães Pinho, Andreia Neves Fernandes

Summary

Researchers examined how UV radiation and saltwater conditions affect the degradation of polypropylene, polystyrene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate microplastics. The study found that each polymer type responded differently to photodegradation, with changes in surface properties, crystallinity, and chemical bond formation varying by material. Evidence indicates that saline marine conditions can intensify certain degradation processes, suggesting that multiple environmental factors must be considered when assessing microplastic breakdown.

Polymers

PP PS

Study Type Environmental

This study investigated the influence of environmental factors (UV radiation and salinity) in the degradative process of microplastics (MPs). MPs derived from polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) were subjected to accelerated photodegradation while being submerged in distilled water or artificial seawater. Depending on the polymer, changes in surface properties, new functional chemical group formation and oxidative index, and thermal characteristics of samples were observed. After photodegradation experiments, EVA-MPs samples showed an increase in their thermal resistance, besides the changes in their surface. PP-MPs crystallinity index increased upon exposure to UV radiation. PS samples showed a higher carbonyl and hydroxyl index after 30 h of UV exposure. The methodology exploited applies to any location in the world and can be comparable once considering the total ultraviolet index (UVI). The saline medium increases the crystallinity index of PP and EVA-MPs samples and intensifies the formation of new carbonyl and hydroxyl bonds in EVA-MPs samples. The results showed that several environmental factors should be considered in interpreting MPs photodegradation.

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