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The effect of UV exposure on conventional and degradable microplastics adsorption for Pb (II) in sediment

Chemosphere 2021 84 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Siqun Tang, Siqun Tang, Siqun Tang, Yougong Li, Guan Yin, Siqun Tang, Siqun Tang, Weicheng Cao, Guan Yin, Siqun Tang, Juan Li, Yougong Li, Biao Song, Biao Song, Juan Li, Biao Song, Biao Song, Jilai Gong, Jilai Gong, Jilai Gong, Jilai Gong, Jilai Gong, Yougong Li, Biao Song, Jilai Gong, Yougong Li, Biao Song, Biao Song, Biao Song, Biao Song, Biao Song, Biao Song, Biao Song, Jilai Gong, Biao Song, Biao Song, Biao Song, Weicheng Cao, Biao Song, Biao Song, Biao Song, Biao Song, Biao Song, Juan Li, Biao Song, Weicheng Cao, Biao Song, Zhe Cai Juan Li, Siyuan Fang, Siyuan Fang, Weicheng Cao, Weicheng Cao, Biao Song, Jilai Gong, Weicheng Cao, Siqun Tang, Siqun Tang, Biao Song, Weicheng Cao, Siqun Tang, Siqun Tang, Biao Song, Zeng‐Ping Chen, Jilai Gong, Yougong Li, Yougong Li, Biao Song, Biao Song, Zeng‐Ping Chen, Zeng‐Ping Chen, Jun Ye, Zhe Cai

Summary

Researchers studied how UV aging affects the ability of conventional polyethylene and degradable polylactic acid microplastics to adsorb lead ions from aquatic sediment. They found that UV aging increased the surface area and oxygen content of both plastic types, enhancing their capacity to adsorb heavy metals. The study suggests that weathered microplastics in the environment may be more effective carriers of heavy metal contamination than pristine particles.

Polymers

PE PLA

Study Type Environmental

Plastic discharged into the environment would break down into microplastics (MPs). However, the possible impact of MPs on heavy metals in the aquatic sediment remains unknown. In order to evaluate the potential role of MPs as carriers of coexisting pollutants, the adsorption capacity of lead ions from sediment onto aged degradable and conventional MPs were investigated as a function of lead ions concentration, contact time, temperature, MPs dosage, aging time, and fulvic acid concentration. MPs were exposed to UV to obtain aged polyethylene (A-PE) and aged polylactic acid (A-PLA). The aging treatment increased the oxygen content, specific surface area and hydrophilicity of MPs. The adsorption capacity of A-PE for Pb(II) in sediment increased from 10.1525 to 10.4642 mg g with the increasing aging time. However, the adsorption capacity of A-PLA for Pb(II) in sediment decreased from 9.3199 to 8.7231 mg g with the increasing aging time. The adsorption capacity of MPs in sediment for Pb(II) was in the following order: A-PE > PLA > PE > A-PLA. Fulvic acid could promote the adsorption of Pb(II) by MPs in sediment. These results indicated that the aging process of the plastics in the environment would affect its role as a carrier of coexisting pollutants.

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