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Photoaging process and mechanism of four commonly commercial microplastics
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Researchers exposed four common commercial microplastic types to UV light to simulate photoaging on soil surfaces and studied changes in their properties and chemical leachates. The study found that PVC and polystyrene underwent more dramatic physical and chemical changes than polypropylene and polyethylene, with aging creating cracks that facilitated the release of dissolved organic matter and chemical additives. These findings suggest that aged microplastics may pose greater environmental risks to soil and groundwater than pristine ones due to increased leaching of complex organic compounds.
Microplastics (MPs) are the widespread emerging pollutants in the terrestrial systems, and photo-oxidation is an effective process for aging MPs on land. Here, four common commercial MPs were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light to simulate the photo-aging of MPs on soil, and the changes in surface properties and eluates of photoaging MPs were studied. Results revealed that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) exhibited more pronounced physicochemical changes than polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) during photoaging on the simulated topsoil, due to the dechlorination of PVC and the debenzene ring of PS. Oxygenated groups accumulated in aged MPs were strongly correlated with dissolved organic matters (DOMs) leaching. Through analysis of the eluate, we found that photoaging altered the molecular weight and aromaticity of DOMs. PS-DOMs showed the greatest increase in humic-like substances after aging, whereas PVC-DOMs exhibited the highest amount of additive leaching. The chemical properties of additives explained their differences in photodegradation responses, which also accounted for the greater importance of chemical structure of MPs to their structural stability. These findings demonstrate that the extensive presence of cracks in aged MPs facilitates DOMs formation and the complexity of DOMs composition poses a potential threat to soil and groundwater safety.
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Contaminant release from aged microplastic
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Researchers exposed recycled plastic granules of polyethylene, PVC, and polystyrene to simulated aging conditions including UV radiation and high temperatures. They found that aging significantly increased the rate at which chemical additives leached from the plastic particles into water, with UV exposure having the greatest effect. The study highlights that weathered microplastics in the environment may release harmful chemicals at much higher rates than fresh plastic materials.
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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Releasing characteristics of toxic chemicals from polystyrene microplastics in the aqueous environment during photoaging process
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This study revealed that as polystyrene microplastics age under UV light, they release a growing number of toxic chemicals including organic compounds and heavy metals into surrounding water. The rate of chemical release increased dramatically with aging time, meaning that weathered microplastics in the environment are more chemically hazardous than fresh ones, with implications for water quality and human exposure.
Insights into photoaging behaviors and mechanisms of biodegradable and conventional microplastics in soil
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Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics break down when exposed to light in soil environments. They found that biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) aged faster than conventional polyethylene, with both types developing surface cracks and chemical changes over time. The study provides new insights into how different plastic types weather in soil, which affects their environmental persistence and potential toxicity.
Molecular properties of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics during photoaging process
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Researchers studied the molecular properties of dissolved organic matter that leaches from polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET microplastics during UV-driven photoaging. They found that PET released the most dissolved organic carbon, and that aging transformed protein-like components into humic-like substances. The leachate contained antioxidants, plasticizers, and antimicrobial agents, suggesting that aging microplastics release a complex mix of chemicals into aquatic environments.
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