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Experimental investigations on polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics’ degradation. A review
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Researchers conducted experiments to study the physical and chemical behavior of polyethylene and PET microplastic particles under different environmental conditions. The study contributes to understanding how these plastics persist and transform in the environment.
Abstract A topic of high interest, the plastic degradation in the environment, is approached in this work, to serve for future research. The problem of plastics pollution became critical with the exponential development of plastic materials industry in last decades. Soil and water are primarily polluted, then degradation to microplastics leads to spatial distribution of plastic debris in all ecosystems. Slow natural degradation and pollutants accumulation on the plastic particles are responsible for environment unbalancies. This work follows the new research about the induced degradation methods, abiotic and biotic, pointing out the most notable results. Most research took place in laboratories, but promising results of some biotic methods will hopefully lead to industrial scale-up.
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Researchers tested how sunlight, water, and physical wear work together to break down PET microplastics, the type commonly found in plastic bottles and food packaging. Over 60 days, combined UV light and water exposure caused significant chemical degradation of the plastic surfaces. This matters because as microplastics break down in the environment, they release smaller fragments and potentially harmful chemicals that are easier for organisms to absorb.
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Researchers reviewed the mechanical and thermal properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics, which persist in the environment for many years due to their resistance to degradation. The study examines how these widely produced plastics become microplastic pollutants distributed throughout freshwater and ocean environments, and discusses their potential impacts on living organisms.
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This study examined the degradation pathways and rates of various plastic polymers in environmental settings, addressing the gap between labeled biodegradability and actual environmental persistence. Understanding how different plastics fragment and degrade is essential for predicting their long-term fate as microplastics in soil and aquatic environments.
Accelerated photoaging of microplastic - polyethylene terephthalate: physical, chemical, morphological properties and pesticide adsorption
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Researchers subjected polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics to accelerated photoaging under simulated sunlight, characterizing changes in surface chemistry, crystallinity, and mechanical properties over time. Photoaging increased surface oxidation, reduced molecular weight, and enhanced the release of plastic additives, suggesting aged PET microplastics present greater chemical hazard than pristine particles.
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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.