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New Insights into the Aging Behavior of Microplastics Accelerated by Advanced Oxidation Processes
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Advanced oxidation treatments (heat-activated persulfate and Fenton reaction) were used to accelerate aging of polystyrene and HDPE microplastics, and the resulting surface oxidation was quantified using a new O/C ratio parameter correlated with natural freshwater aging rates. The study provides a standardized parameter for comparing microplastic weathering across studies and linking lab aging experiments to natural environmental conditions.
In the environment, microplastics are subjected to multiple aging processes; however, information regarding the impact of aging on the environmental behavior of microplastics is still lacking. This study investigated the alteration properties of polystyrene and high-density polyethylene microplastics by heat-activated K2S2O8 and Fenton treatments to improve the understanding of their long-term natural aging in aquatic environments. Our results indicated that the O/C ratio was an alternative parameter to the carbonyl index (CI) to quantitatively describe the surface alteration properties of microplastics. The correlation model of the O/C ratio or CI versus alteration time was developed and compared by natural alteration of microplastics in freshwater samples. Moreover, the regression equation of the equilibrium adsorption capacity of altered microplastics versus the O/C ratio and average size was proposed. This study is the first effort in differentiating the relationships between the alteration properties and alteration time/adsorption capacity of microplastics, which would be helpful for predicting the weathering degree and accumulation of hydrophilic antibiotics onto aged microplastics in aquatic environments. This research develops promising strategies to accelerate the aging reactions using advanced oxidation processes, which would provide further information to assess the microplastic pollution in actual environments.
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This study systematically investigated the roles of UV irradiation, oxygen, temperature, and physical abrasion in the photoaging of polystyrene microplastics in freshwater. UV irradiation and mechanical abrasion were identified as the dominant aging factors, and their combined effect caused more extensive surface oxidation and fragmentation than either alone.
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UV photo-oxidation and physical abrasion are the most practical laboratory methods for simulating microplastic weathering; aging increases surface area and oxygen-containing functional groups, altering pollutant adsorption behavior and potentially increasing environmental risks.
Fenton-based aging of low-density polyethylene microplastics and their adsorptive interactions with ofloxacin: kinetics and isotherm studies
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Scientists found that when plastic bags (LDPE) break down in water treatment processes designed to remove pollutants, the resulting microplastic fragments actually become better at soaking up antibiotics like ofloxacin from water. This matters because these "weathered" microplastics could act like tiny sponges, ferrying antibiotics and other contaminants through our water systems and potentially into our bodies, meaning cleanup efforts might unintentionally make microplastic pollution more harmful rather than less.
Progress on the photo aging mechanism of microplastics and related impact factors in water environment
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This review examined the photo-aging mechanisms of microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that solar UV radiation drives oxidation reactions that alter surface chemistry, fragment particles further, and enhance their capacity to adsorb and release co-occurring pollutants.
Aging mechanism of microplastics with UV irradiation and its effects on the adsorption of heavy metals
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Researchers aged polystyrene microplastics using UV irradiation under three conditions (air, pure water, seawater) and found that aging changed surface chemistry and increased the microplastics' capacity to adsorb heavy metals, with seawater aging producing the most pronounced surface oxidation.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.