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The effect of polymer aging on the uptake of fuel aromatics and ethers by microplastics
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Researchers found that UV weathering and aging of microplastics significantly increased their sorption of fuel-related aromatic contaminants (BTEX) and ethers compared to virgin plastics. The results suggest that aged microplastics in the environment, which have higher surface oxidation, accumulate higher concentrations of fuel-related contaminants than fresh plastic particles.
Microplastics are increasingly entering marine, limnic and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide, where they sorb hydrophobic organic contaminants. Here, the sorption behavior of the fuel-related water contaminants benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (BTEX) and four tertiary butyl ethers to virgin and via UV radiation aged polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) pellets was investigated. Changes in material properties due to aging were recorded using appropriate polymer characterization methods, such as differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and microscopy. Pellets were exposed to water containing BTEX and the ethers at 130-190 μg L for up to two weeks. Aqueous sorbate concentrations were determined by headspace gas chromatography. Sorption to the polymers was correlated with the sorbate's K and was significant for BTEX and marginal for the ethers. Due to substantially lower glass transition temperatures, PP showed higher sorption than PS. Aging had no effect on the sorption behavior of PP. PS sorbed less BTEX after aging due to an oxidized surface layer.
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Researchers examined how pristine and heat-aged microplastics of four polymer types adsorb hazardous aromatic hydrocarbons, finding that aging significantly altered adsorption capacity. The results demonstrate that weathered microplastics may act as more effective pollutant vectors than pristine particles in aquatic environments.
Simultaneous sorption behaviors of UV filters on the virgin and aged micro-high-density polyethylene under environmental conditions.
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Researchers studied how UV filter chemicals from sunscreens adsorb onto both virgin and aged high-density polyethylene microplastics. They found that aged, weathered microplastics had greater capacity to accumulate UV filter compounds than fresh plastic due to changes in surface chemistry. This suggests that environmental aging of plastics increases their ability to transport chemical contaminants.
Sorption of organic compounds by aged polystyrene microplastic particles
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Researchers tested the sorption of organic compounds by aged polystyrene microplastic particles and found that weathering increased their sorption capacity, meaning environmental aging makes microplastics more effective at accumulating and transporting pollutants.
Evaluating the effect of different modified microplastics on the availability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
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Researchers investigated how weathering processes alter the ability of polyethylene microplastics to affect the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, finding that etching and UV aging increased surface oxygen groups, specific surface area, and pore volume. Free PAH concentrations decreased with increasing microplastic concentration for most hydrophobic PAHs, and UV aging only slightly altered sorption coefficients compared to pristine microplastics.
Aging of microplastics increases their adsorption affinity towards organic contaminants
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Researchers found that microplastics that have been weathered by sunlight and environmental exposure absorb significantly more chemical pollutants than fresh microplastics, with up to a 4.7-fold increase in adsorption. Ultraviolet exposure changes the surface chemistry of the plastics, making them stickier for contaminants. This matters because most microplastics in nature are weathered, meaning they may be carrying more toxic chemicals into the food chain than laboratory studies using new plastics would suggest.
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