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Degradation and Fragmentation of Microplastics
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This review examines the degradation and fragmentation mechanisms that generate secondary microplastics from ocean plastic debris, covering photo-oxidation chemistry, environmental weathering rates, and how different polymer types break down under marine conditions.
The degradation of plastics in the ocean environment is especially interesting because it is believed to be the primary mechanism leading to fragmentation that generates secondary microplastics from plastic macro-litter. Degradation processes are generally classified according to the primary causative agent. Natural weathering of plastics on land environments is quite a slow process even under harsh exposure conditions of a sandy beach. This chapter reviews the chemistry of photo-oxidation of common polymers found in the ocean environment, especially those that float in seawater. The ocean environment consists of several zones that are very different in their ability to promote natural weathering of plastic litter. The first paper on photo-degradation of plastics in seawater was presented in the United States at a symposium held by the Society of Plastics Industry in 1987 and included preliminary data on the photodegradable polyethylenes.
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A systematic study of UV dose, humidity, and temperature effects on six polymer types found that photo-oxidation is the primary driver of microplastic fragmentation and release of secondary nano-sized particles, with the relationship between weathering conditions and fragmentation rates varying by polymer type.
From Macro to Micro Plastics; Influence of Photo-oxidative Degradation
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This study used simulated UV aging to investigate how photo-oxidative degradation of common plastics drives fragmentation from macro to micro scale, characterizing the surface property changes and structural breakdown that generate microplastic particles in the environment.
Weathering and fragmentation of plastic debris in the ocean environment
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This review investigates how plastic debris breaks down into microplastics in the ocean through weathering driven by UV radiation and oxidation. Researchers found that beach environments are far more effective at fragmenting plastics than the open ocean surface, since floating plastics experience less UV exposure and oxidation. The study suggests that most secondary microplastic generation likely occurs on shorelines rather than in the open sea.
Fragmentation des plastiques : effet de l’environnement et de la nature du polymère sur la taille et la forme des fragments générés
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This study reviews the fragmentation of plastics in ocean environments, examining how environmental conditions (UV, mechanical abrasion, temperature) and polymer composition affect the rate and pathway by which macroplastics break down into microplastics. Understanding fragmentation dynamics is essential for predicting microplastic generation rates and long-term fate in marine systems.
A Mini Review on Recent Insight into Degradation of Environmental Plastics
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This mini-review summarizes current knowledge on how plastics break down in the environment to form microplastics, covering mechanical, photochemical, thermal, and biological degradation pathways, and identifies key gaps in understanding how environmental conditions and plastic properties influence degradation rates.
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.