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Modifications of ultraviolet irradiation and chlorination on microplastics: Effect of sterilization pattern
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Researchers found that both UV irradiation and chlorination used in drinking water treatment alter the surface properties, size distribution, and chemical composition of microplastics, with combined treatments producing greater modifications and potentially increasing the release of plastic additives and adsorbed contaminants.
Chlorination and ultraviolet disinfection in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) may be highly destructive for microplastics (MPs). Investigating the effect of sterilization patterns on MPs behavior modifications can provide useful information to evaluate their potential risk to drinking water safety. In this study, aged polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were applied, and five well-designed sterilization patterns with low and high doses disinfection were performed. Especially, a combining sterilization pattern including ultraviolet disinfection, low-dose chlorination and high-dose chlorination was designed to simulate the actual disinfection processes in environmental engineering systems. Different sterilization patterns contributed various chlorinated and oxidized modifications on the MPs surface, resulting in distinct effects on their sinking and adsorption performance. After combining sterilization (180 mJ cm UV-C irradiation +9675 mg min L chlorination), the adsorption capacities of ciprofloxacin by PET and PVC were slightly improved, and the one by PS was inhibited. Yet, PET, PVC and PS tend to sink (>95%) after this combining sterilization, implying that these MPs would be retained in DWTPs or water supply pipes. For PE, even though it maintained floating on water, its adsorption of ciprofloxacin was inhibited by combining sterilization (K reduced from 0.142 L g to 0.069 L g). In general, multiple sterilization patterns can enhance the sinking and inhibit the adsorption performance of MPs, reducing their potential to become vectors of organic contaminants and risk to drinking water users.
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Researchers exposed low- and high-density polyethylene microplastics to chlorine and UV/H2O2 at drinking-water-relevant doses and found that surface changes and cytotoxicity increases reported in earlier studies occurred only at far higher doses than used in practice.
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Researchers studied how UV light and common water disinfection chemicals break down microplastics in water and found that different treatment methods produce different types of dissolved organic matter from the plastic. Some treatment combinations, particularly UV with chlorine, created byproducts that could form harmful disinfection byproducts when water is later chlorinated. This is important because it means water treatment processes might unintentionally create new toxic compounds from the microplastics already present in water.
Transformation of microplastics during UV-LED based water disinfection: Mechanistic insights and environmental implications
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Researchers investigated how UV-based water disinfection treatments transform the physical and chemical properties of common microplastics like polystyrene, polyethylene, and PVC. They found that treatment created surface cracks, reduced water repellency, and generated various breakdown compounds, some of which showed toxicity to aquatic organisms. The study highlights that while UV disinfection effectively treats pathogens, it may inadvertently create new environmental risks by altering microplastics in the water supply.
Insight into the effect of UVC-based advanced oxidation processes on the interaction of typical microplastics and their derived disinfection byproducts during disinfection
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Scientists found that UV-based water treatment processes, while intended to clean drinking water, caused microplastics to release more organic matter and form more disinfection byproducts during chlorination. Up to 42% of the toxic byproducts formed were absorbed back onto the microplastic surfaces, creating contaminated particles. This concerning finding suggests that some common water treatment methods could unintentionally make microplastic contamination in drinking water more hazardous.
Disinfection impacts: Effects of different disinfection treatments on common polymer types to guide the identification of polymers of concern in the water industry
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Researchers tested how common water disinfection methods, including chlorination and chloramination, affect seven types of plastic particles at different doses and pH levels. They found that both treatments caused measurable physical and chemical changes to the polymers, with some plastics showing significant surface degradation and chemical alterations. The findings suggest that water treatment processes may unintentionally transform microplastics in ways that could affect their environmental behavior and potential health impacts.
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