We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Photo aging and fragmentation of polypropylene food packaging materials in artificial seawater
AI summary Read the abstract
Photo-aging and fragmentation of two common polypropylene (PP) food packaging materials with different additive contents were studied under artificial accelerated weathering. Additive composition significantly influenced the rate of photochemical aging and fragmentation into microplastic particles, with implications for how packaging design affects microplastic generation in the marine environment.
Plastic litters in marine environment usually contain varied types and contents of additives that can significantly affect the photochemical aging and fragmentation process of microplastics (MPs). This study investigated the photo aging process of two common polypropylene (PP) food packaging materials (i.e., meal box and tea cup) in artificial seawater within 12 d of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Results revealed that the aging of both plastic materials were critically inhibited compared with pure PP, indicating that PP food packaging materials in natural seawater may share longer aging time than pure ones. GC-MS analysis revealed that antioxidant Irgafos 168 (tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite) was the dominant additive in these plastic materials. Photo reaction between Irgafos 168 and hydroperoxide species on the surface of MPs to prevent the formation of hydroxyl radical was the possible mechanism for the inhibiting effects. After antioxidant was exhausted, its photo degradation products could become the dominant contributor to influence the aging process of MPs. This is the first work exploring the role of antioxidant on the aging process of PP MPs in simulated ocean environment. The findings could be of great help for unraveling the effect of antioxidants on the aging-related environmental risk of hydrocarbon plastics in ocean environment.
More Papers Like This
Fragmentation of nano- and microplastics from virgin- and additive-containing polypropylene by accelerated photooxidation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured how quickly polypropylene plastic breaks down into micro and nanoplastics under simulated sunlight over a period equivalent to about 2.7 years outdoors. They found that additives in plastic initially slow fragmentation but that mechanical stress plays a major role in producing microplastics. The study provides valuable data on how everyday plastics generate huge numbers of tiny particles as they weather in the environment.
Influence of thermooxidative degradation on the in situ fate of polyethylene in temperate coastal waters.
AI summary Read the abstract
Polyethylene films were artificially aged to four levels of thermooxidative degradation, then deployed in seawater cages off the Swedish coast for 12 weeks to track in-situ degradation and fragmentation. The study found that pre-weathering significantly accelerated further deterioration in the marine environment, with implications for how plastic debris breaks down into microplastics.
Critical effect of iron red pigment on photoaging behavior of polypropylene microplastics in artificial seawater
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that iron red pigment additives in polypropylene microplastics significantly accelerated their photoaging in artificial seawater, causing surface cracking and rapid iron release. Plastic additives can dramatically alter how microplastics degrade in the environment, affecting both their physical fragmentation into nanoplastics and their chemical toxicity.
Degradation of polypropylene : proportion of microplastics formed and assessment of their density.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified the proportion of microplastics generated during UV-driven degradation of polypropylene and assessed changes in chemical composition caused by photooxidation. The study found that UV exposure progressively fragments polypropylene and alters its surface chemistry, affecting subsequent environmental behavior and toxicity.
Fragmentation of polypropylene into microplastics promoted by photo-aging; release of metals, toxicity and inhibition of biodegradability
AI summary Read the abstract
This study showed that when polypropylene plastic ages in sunlight, it fragments into microplastics much faster and releases metal contaminants that were originally added during manufacturing. The resulting particles and chemical leachates were toxic to aquatic organisms and resistant to biodegradation, meaning aged plastics in the environment are more hazardous than fresh ones.
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.