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Evaluation Method for Microplastics Deterioration Degree Using UV-Irradiated Polyethylene Model Sample
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This Japanese study developed an evaluation method to estimate the UV degradation history of microplastic particles using UV-irradiated polyethylene as a model. Carbonyl index (FT-IR), molecular weight (SEC), and microhardness were combined as degradation indicators, and field-collected microplastics were compared against these calibrated benchmarks to estimate outdoor UV exposure time. The approach offers a practical tool for assessing where and how severely plastics have degraded before entering the environment as microplastics.
近年，マイクロプラスチック（MPs）による環境問題が大きく取り上げられ，環境中におけるMPsの生成メカニズムについて研究が進められている．プラスチックが環境中のどこで，どの程度の劣化履歴（紫外線など）を受けてMPs化しているのかを把握することがMPs流出抑制につながると考えられるが，劣化履歴を調べる方法は確立されていない．MPsは微量，微小であることから劣化状態の解析手法が限られるが，フーリエ変換赤外分光法（FT-IR），サイズ排除クロマトグラフィー（SEC）及び微小硬度計を用いることで劣化状態の評価手法を構築した．本研究では，UV照射したポリエチレンをモデル試料として適用し，カルボニルインデックス，分子量及び硬度から劣化の指標を得た．次に，環境中から採取したMPsを指標と比較することでMPsの屋外曝露(ばくろ)年数を推定した．
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