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Adsorption of arsenite to polystyrene microplastics in the presence of humus
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Polystyrene microplastics adsorb arsenic more effectively when humic acid is present in the water, because the organic matter forms a coating on the plastic surface that attracts more arsenic ions. This finding suggests that microplastics can serve as vectors for the toxic metalloid arsenic in natural water environments.
Polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) are detrimental in aqueous environments. This study found that humus, mainly comprising humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA), can facilitate the adsorption of As(iii) by PSMPs. The phenolic hydroxyl groups provided by HA contribute to the transport of As(iii). HA interacts with the PSMPs to form a π complex, providing more sites on the microplastics for As(iii) adsorption, while reducing the time required to reach adsorption equilibrium. Increased temperatures in aqueous environments destroy the hydrogen bonds contributing to the adsorption process, thus causing desorption. Increases in pH and ionic strength reduce the adsorption of As(iii) by increasing charge repulsion and microplastic agglomeration, and the co-existing NO3- and PO43- ions inhibit the removal of As(iii) in the solution. Our combined results indicate that the migration of PSMPs after As(iii) adsorption in the presence of HA and FA requires further research attention.
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Arsenic adsorption by carboxylate and amino modified polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics: kinetics and mechanisms
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Researchers found that functionalized polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics can adsorb arsenic from water, with carboxylate-modified particles showing higher capacity than amino-modified ones, and that salinity and humic acids inhibit adsorption, confirming microplastics can alter arsenic behavior in ecosystems.
As(III) adsorption onto different-sized polystyrene microplastic particles and its mechanism
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Researchers studied how arsenic adsorbs onto polystyrene microplastic particles of different sizes prepared by ball milling. They found that smaller particles with greater surface area adsorbed more arsenic, with hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attraction driving the process. The study indicates that microplastics in the environment could serve as carriers for arsenic contamination, with adsorption influenced by pH, temperature, and the presence of other ions.
[Adsorption Characteristics of Arsenic on UV-aged Polypropylene Microplastics in Aqueous Solution].
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This study examined how UV weathering (aging) changes the ability of polypropylene microplastics to adsorb arsenic from water, finding that aged plastic had rougher surfaces and more oxygen-containing groups, which enhanced arsenic adsorption. Environmental factors like pH and dissolved organic matter also influenced how much arsenic stuck to the plastic. Because aged microplastics bind more arsenic, they could carry this toxic heavy metal into aquatic food webs more effectively than pristine plastic particles.
Arsenic adsorption by functionalized polystyrene microplastics: kinetics and mechanisms
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This study investigated arsenic adsorption characteristics for As(III) and As(V) onto two functionalized 80–82 nm polystyrene microplastics—carboxyl-modified (PS-COOH) and amine-modified (PS-NH2). PS-COOH achieved higher maximum adsorption capacities of 0.57 mg/g for As(III) and 0.37 mg/g for As(V), with hydrogen bonding, hydroxyl complexation, and electrostatic forces identified as key mechanisms via pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm modeling. Adsorption was significantly inhibited by increasing salinity and humic acid, confirming that microplastics can alter the environmental behavior of arsenic in aquatic ecosystems.
Interface adsorption characteristics of microplastics on multiple morphological arsenic compounds
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Researchers studied how polystyrene and PET microplastics adsorb different forms of arsenic, a toxic element commonly found in contaminated water. They found that polystyrene had a much higher capacity to bind arsenic compounds than PET, and that the arsenic-loaded microplastics were more toxic to organisms than either pollutant alone. The study highlights that microplastics can act as carriers for toxic heavy metals, amplifying their environmental harm.
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