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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Marine & Wildlife Nanoplastics Sign in to save

Aggregation and Deposition Kinetics of Polystyrene Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Aquatic Environment

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 2021 40 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Ling Liu Ling Liu Ling Liu Ling Liu Ling Liu Ling Liu Ling Liu Jian Song, Ling Liu Min Zhang, Jian Song, Ling Liu Wei Jiang, Ling Liu Wei Jiang, Wei Jiang, Ling Liu Ling Liu

Summary

Researchers measured aggregation and deposition kinetics of 50 nm and 500 nm polystyrene particles under varying ionic strength and pH conditions, finding that both particle sizes aggregated rapidly at elevated salt concentrations and that the smaller nanoplastics were more mobile in column experiments.

Polymers

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) attract widespread attention due to their final threats to human health. Here, 50 nm and 500 nm polystyrene particles (PS50 and PS500) were selected as the typical NPs and MPs, respectively. Their aggregation kinetics was monitored, and their deposition was investigated on silica and alumina surfaces using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). PS500 has higher critical coagulation concentration (CCC) values than PS50, because of the weaker Brownian diffusion, less particle number and lower collision chance. PS50 has smaller values of critical deposition concentration (CDC) than PS500, indicating the stronger adsorption on silica. Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) calculations explain that PS500 has weaker attachment on silica and slower deposition rate on alumina than PS50. Our results demonstrate that solution chemistry, particle size and mineral surfaces determine the transport and distribution of plastic particles together.

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