We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Laboratory simulated aging of polystyrene particles and characterization of the resulting nanoscale plastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Lab experiments accelerating the aging of 500 nm polystyrene particles using heat and probe sonication found that 97% underwent structural changes, with 40% showing ring-opening reactions that chemically transform the polymer. The results help explain why polystyrene — abundant in global production — appears underrepresented in environmental microplastic surveys: weathering may render it chemically unrecognizable. Understanding how plastics transform during environmental aging is essential for accurately assessing exposure risks and the true fate of plastic pollution.
Plastics are increasingly produced and used worldwide for their easy accessibility and cost-effectiveness. However, improper plastic disposal has led to ecosystem pollution due to their slow degradation in the natural environment. While worldwide polystyrene (PS) production is estimated at around 21 million tons (8% of all polymer types), the observed PS in recovered plastics from environmental samples does not align with this production volume. Therefore, we hypothesize that the chemical composition of PS might undergo alternations during natural weathering, resulting in fewer identifiable PS components in extracted waste or other environmental samples. To test this hypothesis and comprehend the potential fate and behavior of PS after aging, we conducted lab-accelerated aging processes on pristine PS particles. Through thermal aging and probe sonication, the size distribution of 500 nm polystyrene particles (PS500) was reduced to around 200 nm, as measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). We further examined the morphology of processed PS500 using atomic force microscopy (AFM), which confirmed changes in shape and size. In total, 97% of PS500 experienced distinct structural changes, whereas 40% of the particles exhibited a ring-opening reaction arising from the conjugated C=C bond breakage, followed by the C-H bond breakage after the laboratory-accelerate aging process; the remaining particles went through chemical changes to different extents. These physical and chemical changes resulting from the simulated aging process contribute to our understanding of the potential destiny of microplastics, underscoring the significance of weathering factors in micro/nanoplastics research.
More Papers Like This
Preparation of Polystyrene Nanoparticles with Environmental Relevance Using a Gradual Degradation Method.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers prepared polystyrene nanoparticles of environmental relevance using a gradual degradation method that simulates natural weathering conditions, finding that nanofragment size evolved dynamically from below 250 nm at 3 days to 300-500 nm at 6 days before forming two sub-200 nm peaks at 9 days.
Aging Processes Dramatically Alter the Protein Corona Constitution, Cellular Internalization, and Cytotoxicity of Polystyrene Nanoplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that aging processes such as UV and ozone exposure dramatically alter how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with blood plasma proteins, form protein coronas, and enter cells. The study suggests that environmentally aged nanoplastics may have different biological effects than pristine particles, which has important implications for accurately assessing the health risks of real-world nanoplastic exposure.
Exploring polystyrene weathering behavior: From surface traits to micro(nano)plastics and additives release
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers systematically studied how polystyrene weathers under UV light and mechanical stress, tracking the release of microplastics, nanoplastics, and chemical additives over time. They found that weathering progressively altered the surface properties of the plastic and increased the release of smaller particles and potentially harmful additives. The findings help predict how polystyrene products break down in the environment and what secondary pollutants they generate.
Reconstructing the Environmental Degradation of Polystyrene by Accelerated Weathering
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted long-term accelerated weathering experiments on polystyrene and characterized changes in surface chemistry, morphology, and particle size distribution over time, providing empirical data on fragmentation kinetics and chemical transformation needed to model environmental residence times.
Effect of UV-exposure on size, morphology, and chemical structure of polystyrene nanospheres in suspension
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how UV exposure changes the size, morphology, and chemical structure of polystyrene nanospheres in suspension, simulating environmental weathering of nanoplastics. The study characterized how UV aging alters particle properties in ways relevant to their biological and environmental fate.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.