We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Investigations into the Reactivity of Microplastics in Water
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how hydroxyl radicals — naturally occurring reactive molecules in water — chemically transform microplastics, finding that radiation-generated radicals can break plastic bonds and alter their surface properties. Understanding microplastic chemical reactivity in water is important for predicting how environmental degradation changes their biological effects.
Microplastics, plastic pieces less than 5 mm in size, are a significant part of the plastic pollution in surface waters. Given the massive, global extent of this pollution, it is important to understand the chemical reactivity of microplastics in water. This study used radiation chemistry techniques to explore the transformations of plastics in water. Adsorption experiments were also conducted with microplastics and other model water contaminants. When water mixtures are exposed to gamma radiation, radicals that are prominent in nature, namely the hydroxyl radicals (●OH), are created. The reported irradiation experiments were done to simulate stagnant waters. Water mixtures containing either polyethylene (PE) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in closed containers were exposed to different irradiation dose rates and doses. Caffeine, dodecane, and benzophenone, commonly occurring pollutants, were used as model compounds in microplastics adsorption experiments. Infrared and Raman spectroscopies, along with GC-MS and LC-MS, were the main techniques used to assess the changes to the microplastics. A few compounds, such as dodecane and 2-dodecanone, were detected in the water/PE mixtures after exposure to the radicals. The surface chemistry of the microplastics was mostly unchanged, even after high doses of irradiation. Adsorption experiments showed that caffeine does not adsorb to PE or PET, dodecane strongly adsorbs to PE, and benzophenone partly adsorbs. The natural ●OH-mediated breakdown of caffeine was not affected by the presence of PE. Even though benzophenone adsorbs to PE, the degradation rate of benzophenone in solution did not change in the presence of PE microplastics.
More Papers Like This
Fate and environmental behaviors of microplastics through the lens of free radical
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how free radicals influence the fate and environmental behavior of microplastics, including surface degradation, chemical release, and changes in crystallinity and water affinity. The study found that while free radicals can cause weathering and fragmentation of microplastics in the environment, high concentrations of free radicals with strong oxidation potential can also be harnessed to effectively degrade microplastic pollutants.
Kinetic study of microplastic reactivity with hydroxyl radicals: Insights into photochemical fate and transformation products
AI summary Read the abstract
Sunlight and natural chemical reactions in water can slowly break down common plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene (found in bags, bottles, and packaging), but this process also creates new byproducts, including smaller plastic fragments and other chemical compounds. This matters because it shows that microplastics don't just sit unchanged in the environment—they transform into other substances over time, and scientists still need to figure out whether these breakdown products are more or less harmful to human health than the original plastic.
Contribution of free hydroxyl radical to the formation of micro(nano)plastics and release of additives during polyethylene degradation in water
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that hydroxyl radicals generated from hydrogen peroxide in water significantly accelerate the degradation of polyethylene and the formation of micro- and nano-sized plastic particles. The study, conducted over 620 days, demonstrates that naturally occurring reactive oxygen species in aquatic environments may contribute to the generation and spread of secondary microplastics.
Overview of the environmental risks of microplastics and their controlled degradation from the perspective of free radicals
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how free radicals contribute to both the aging and controlled degradation of microplastics in river and lake water systems. Researchers analyze pollution distribution patterns and propose a novel approach using interfacial modification of materials to precisely control free radical generation for breaking down microplastics. The study offers insights into more effective strategies for reducing microplastic contamination in freshwater environments.
Long-term phototransformation of microplastics under simulated sunlight irradiation in aquatic environments: Roles of reactive oxygen species
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined the long-term photodegradation of polystyrene microplastics under simulated sunlight in aquatic conditions, finding that reactive oxygen species — particularly hydroxyl radicals and singlet oxygen — were the primary drivers of surface oxidation and fragmentation into nanoplastics.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.