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.
Sign in to save
Photo-aging of polyvinyl chloride microplastic in the presence of natural organic acids
Water Research2020
297 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.
Chao Wang
Chao Wang
Sijia Liang,
Chao Wang
Sijia Liang,
Chao Wang
Bing Wu,
Zhanghao Chen,
Xin Jin,
Chao Wang
Sijia Liang,
Yong Sik Ok,
Zeyu Xian,
Sijia Liang,
Zeyu Xian,
Zhanghao Chen,
Yong Sik Ok,
Sijia Liang,
Bing Wu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Bing Wu,
Xin Jin,
Chao Wang
Chao Wang
Yong Sik Ok,
Sijia Liang,
Chao Wang
Chao Wang
Bing Wu,
Bing Wu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Chao Wang
Cheng Gu,
Chao Wang
Yong Sik Ok,
Bo Pan,
Sijia Liang,
Cheng Gu,
Zhanghao Chen,
Bing Wu,
Bing Wu,
Xin Jin,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Bo Pan,
Bo Pan,
Chao Wang
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Bing Wu,
Bing Wu,
Xin Jin,
Xin Jin,
Xin Jin,
Zhanghao Chen,
Zeyu Xian,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Zeyu Xian,
Cheng Gu,
Zeyu Xian,
Cheng Gu,
Zeyu Xian,
Cheng Gu,
Bo Pan,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Chao Wang
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Zhanghao Chen,
Yong Sik Ok,
Chao Wang
Cheng Gu,
Bing Wu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Bing Wu,
Bing Wu,
Bing Wu,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Chao Wang
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Bing Wu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Cheng Gu,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Yong Sik Ok,
Chao Wang
Summary
Researchers described a new photo-aging pathway for polyvinyl chloride microplastics in aquatic environments involving low-molecular-weight organic acids. The study found that natural organic acids and their iron complexes significantly accelerated the degradation of PVC microplastics under sunlight through hydroxyl radical generation, revealing how environmental conditions influence microplastic weathering.
In this study, a new photo-aging pathway in the aquatic environments and the underlying transformation mechanism were described for polyvinyl chloride microplastic (PVC-MP). Our results indicated that the photo-aging of PVC-MP was strongly dependent on particle size and the aging reaction could be facilitated in the presence of low-molecular-weight organic acid (LMWOA) and LMWOA-Fe(III) complex under simulated and natural sunlight irradiation and ambient conditions. The hydroxyl radical (OH•) generated from the photolysis of LMWOA or its ferric complexes played a dominant role in enhancing PVC-MP degradation. In situ Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopic techniques and theoretical calculations further confirmed that C-Cl bond cleavage and formation of polyene and carbonyl underwent on the PVC-MP surface, especially in the presence of LMWOA and LMWOA-Fe(III). Moreover, PVC-MP surface oxidation also led to the increase of the specific surface area and affinity towards water as indicated by the results of scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller tests and contact angles for water, which would further enhance the adsorption of polar contaminants on PVC-MP and thus increase the health risk of PVC-MP on aquatic organisms.