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Comparing the sorption of pyrene and its derivatives onto polystyrene microplastics: Insights from experimental and computational studies
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This study examined how pyrene — a cancer-associated compound found in diesel exhaust and other combustion products — and several of its chemical derivatives adsorb onto polystyrene microplastics from water. Polystyrene strongly absorbed several pyrene derivatives, meaning microplastics could transport these carcinogenic chemicals into organisms that ingest the particles. The findings support the concern that microplastics act as vectors for toxic organic pollutants.
In this study, the sorption behaviors and mechanisms between polystyrene microplastics (micro-PS) and 4-rings polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pyrene (Pyr) and its derivatives (S-Pyr), including 1-methylpyrene (P-CH), 1-hydroxypyrene (P-OH), 1-aminopyrene (P-NH), 1-pyrenecarboxylic acid (P-COOH) were investigated at neutrality. The results revealed that the sorption rates of micro-PS for S-Pyr were higher than those for parent Pyr. Meanwhile, -CH could slightly facilitate the sorption, whereas -OH, P-NH, and P-COOH intensively inhibit the sorption of S-Pyr onto micro-PS. The sorption capacities of Pyr/S-Pyr increased with decreasing size of micro-PS. Besides, the effects of salinity and temperature on the sorption characteristics of micro-PS for Pyr/S-Pyr depended on their substituents. Combined with experimental and computational methods, it could be concluded that the main sorption mechanisms were possibly hydrophobic interaction, π-π interaction and pore-filling. The observations reported here could improve predictions of environmental behaviors and bioavailability of PAHs and micro-PS.
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