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Roles of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter on the photodegradation of organic micropollutants
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Researchers discovered that dissolved organic matter released from weathered microplastics significantly inhibits the photodegradation of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole in water, primarily through light screening effects, suggesting microplastic pollution may slow the natural breakdown of pharmaceutical contaminants.
Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) is ubiquitous in water environment and exhibits photosensitivity. However, little is known about the effects of MP-DOM on the photodegradation of organic micropollutants in natural water. In this study, we investigated the effect of MP-DOM derived from two typical plastics, i.e., polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene (PE), on the photodegradation of a typical organic micropollutants sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in a simulative natural water system. MP-DOM exerted a significant inhibition on the SMX photodegradation, mainly attributed to the direct photolysis inhibition of SMX caused by the inner filter effect and the complexation effect. Despite the enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation with the increase of their steady-state concentration by 41.1 - 160.7 %, PS-DOM exhibited high oxidation resistance, causing an inhibition on the photodegradation of SMX probably through transferring electrons to the SMX intermediates. This study helps to deepen the understanding of microplastic photochemical behavior in natural water.
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Effects and mechanisms of aged polystyrene microplastics on the photodegradation of sulfamethoxazole in water under simulated sunlight
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Researchers found that aged polystyrene microplastics inhibited the photodegradation of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole in water, with inhibition increasing proportionally to the aging degree due to light-scattering effects and reactive oxygen species quenching.
The impact of dissolved organic matter on the photodegradation of tetracycline in the presence of microplastics
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Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter affects the photodegradation of the antibiotic tetracycline in the presence of polystyrene microplastics under simulated sunlight. The study found that both dissolved organic matter and microplastics enhanced tetracycline breakdown, but humic acid had the most pronounced accelerating effect regardless of whether microplastics were present.
Characteristics and mechanisms of dissolved organic matter leached by photodegradation of polyethylene microplastics: role of adsorbed antibiotics
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Researchers investigated how UV-driven photoaging of polyethylene microplastics and their interactions with the antibiotic ofloxacin affect the release of dissolved organic matter in water. They found that UV exposure significantly increased DOM release from pristine microplastics, while antibiotic-adsorbed microplastics initially released different molecular weight compounds before converging to similar patterns. The study reveals that aging microplastics and their co-contaminants create complex secondary pollution dynamics in aquatic environments.
Composition and photodegradation transformation of Dissolved Organic Matter from microplastics versus natural sources: impacts on copper (Cu) and tetracycline (TC) binding behaviors.
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Researchers compared photodegradation and pollutant-binding behavior of dissolved organic matter from HDPE and PLA microplastics versus natural leaf-litter sources, finding that microplastic-derived DOM loses aromaticity faster under UV and shows weaker copper and tetracycline binding after photodegradation, potentially increasing free antibiotic concentrations and antibiotic-resistance risks in contaminated waters.
Characteristics of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter and its binding with pharmaceuticals unveiled by fluorescence spectroscopy and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy
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Researchers characterized dissolved organic matter released by microplastics during UV-driven aging and examined how it interacts with pharmaceutical compounds. They found that aged polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene microplastics release fluorescent organic substances that can bind with antibiotics like chloramphenicol and carbamazepine. The study suggests that microplastic degradation byproducts may influence the environmental fate and transport of pharmaceutical pollutants in water.
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