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The Ultraviolet Irradiation Aging Characteristics of Microplastics in Soil under the Action of Biochar
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Researchers characterized how microplastics change physically and chemically under ultraviolet irradiation aging, documenting surface cracking, yellowing, and shifts in chemical functional groups. These aging signatures are important for understanding the environmental fate and increased toxicity of weathered microplastics.
Microplastics (MPs) coexist with biochar (BC) in soil. However, studies of the effects of BC application on MP aging in soils are few. Therefore, this study investigated the BC-mediated aging behavior of persistent microplastics (PMPs) and biodegradable microplastics (BMPs). Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was used as the aging method, and four BC concentrations were applied to soil containing PMP-polyethylene (PE) and BMP-polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), which was analyzed to assess the effects of different BC concentrations on MP aging behavior in soil. The results revealed that the addition of BC accelerated the surface aging of PE and PBAT. Changes in carbonyl index (CI) and hydroxyl index (HI) indicated that high BC concentrations promoted UV-irradiation aging of PE and PBAT. Overall, 2 and 4% BC play a positive role in the formation of -OH groups in PE and PBAT. PE was susceptible to electrophilic attack, whereas PBAT underwent both electrophilic and nucleophilic attack.
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The UltravioletIrradiation Aging Characteristicsof Microplastics in Soil under the Action of Biochar
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Researchers investigated how biochar application at four concentrations affects UV-induced aging of both persistent polyethylene microplastics and biodegradable PBAT microplastics in soil, finding that biochar modulates the aging behavior and physicochemical transformation of microplastics under ultraviolet irradiation.
Interactions between white and black carbon in water: A case study of concurrent aging of microplastics and biochar
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Researchers investigated the concurrent aging of microplastics and biochar in water under UV light, finding that their interaction significantly altered dissolved organic matter release and fluorescence properties, affecting their environmental behavior.
The impact of microplastic weathering on interactions with the soil environment: a review
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This review examines how weathering — exposure to UV light, moisture, and physical forces — changes the surface properties of microplastics and affects their interactions with soil. Weathered microplastics behave differently in the environment, potentially altering soil structure and the movement of water and nutrients.
Recent advances on microplastic aging: Identification, mechanism, influence factors, and additives release
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This review found that environmental aging transforms microplastic surface properties through abrasion, chemical oxidation, UV irradiation, and biodegradation, altering their environmental behavior and ecological risk. Aging also triggers the release of toxic plastic additives, but significant gaps remain between laboratory aging simulations and real-world conditions.
Effects of photoaging on structure and characteristics of biofilms on microplastic in soil: Biomass and microbial community
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Scientists studied how sunlight aging changes the way bacteria colonize microplastics in soil, finding that weathered plastics attracted different bacterial communities than fresh plastics. Aged microplastics initially supported less biofilm growth but developed bacteria with greater ability to break down carbon compounds. This research helps explain how microplastics behave differently in real-world soil conditions versus lab settings, which matters for understanding how plastics affect agricultural land and the food grown in it.
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