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The effect of Ozonation on the chemical structure of microplastics
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Ozone treatment of microplastics in water caused oxidative changes to polymer surfaces including carbonyl group formation and surface cracking, which altered hydrophobicity and potentially increased the capacity of treated particles to adsorb contaminants, suggesting that ozonation in water treatment may chemically transform rather than eliminate microplastic hazards.
Abstract Microplastics are not susceptible to microbial degradation, thus often end up in aquatic ecosystem. Moreover, microplastics cause danger to aquatic biota and human. Effective technological solutions to degrade microplastics in wastewater treatment plants are desirable. Biodegradation is one of the most applied techniques, but takes a long time. This study evaluates the ozonation as pre-treatment to transform the chemical structure of polyethylene microplastics into more susceptible to biodegradation. The process was done by using a corona-discharge ozonator and batch reactor, varied pH value (6, 7, 8, 10, 12), ozone flowrate (1, 3, 5 L/min), and contact duration (1, 2, 3 hours). The study was begun by quantification of OH radicals and dissolved ozone, ozonation of microplastics, evaluation of ozonation by gravimetric weight loss including the change of microplastics chemical structure through FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared). The results revealed chemical structure changes of polyethylene after ozonation confirmed by the appearance of carbonyl bonds and the loss of weight. The optimum operating condition appeared at pH 12 with 5 L/min ozone flowrate, resulted in 0.0482% weight loss and carbonyl bond intensity reached 104.556% after 3 hours ozonation.
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Researchers examined how ozone treatment in water systems changes the physical and chemical properties of six common types of microplastics. They found that ozonation altered surface roughness, wettability, and chemical composition of the plastics, with some types being more affected than others. The findings are important because these changes could influence how microplastics interact with other pollutants and organisms in treated water.
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Researchers investigated the reactivity of four model microplastic types with ozone, examining how ozone treatment affects the physicochemical properties of microplastics as a potential water treatment strategy for degrading plastic particles.
Physicochemical changes in microplastics and formation of DBPs under ozonation
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Researchers examined physicochemical changes in thermoplastic polyurethane and polyethylene microplastics during ozonation water treatment, finding that the process can alter microplastic morphology and potentially generate disinfection byproducts.
Surface modification of polyethylene microplastic particles during the aqueous-phase ozonation process
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Researchers examined the surface modification of polyethylene microplastics during aqueous-phase ozonation, finding that increasing ozone dosage and exposure time progressively increased carbonyl and hydroxyl functional groups on the particle surface. FTIR and XPS analysis showed ozonation altered the surface chemistry of polyethylene microplastics in ways that could change their environmental fate and pollutant adsorption capacity.
Effect of ozonation on the morphological characteristics and adsorption behavior of polystyrene microplastics in aqueous environments
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Researchers exposed polystyrene microplastics to ozone treatment and found that the aging process made the particles smaller, more negatively charged, and better at absorbing pollutants from water — meaning weathered microplastics in the environment may carry more harmful chemicals than fresh ones.
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