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Sorption of non-polar organic compounds by micro-sized plastic particles in aqueous solution
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This study measured the sorption of non-polar organic compounds by micro-sized plastic particles in aqueous solution, finding that different polymer types varied significantly in their ability to accumulate hydrophobic contaminants.
The presence of microscale polymer particles (i.e., microplastics) in the environment has become a major concern in recent years. Sorption of organic compounds by microplastics may affect the phase distribution within both sediments and aqueous phases. To investigate this process, isotherms were determined for the sorption of seven aliphatic and aromatic organic probe sorbates by four polymers with different physico-chemical properties. Sorption increased in the order polyamide < polyethylene < polyvinylchloride < polystyrene. This order does not reflect the particle sizes of the investigated microplastics within the aqueous dispersions, indicating the influence of additional factors (e.g., π-π-interactions) on the sorption of aromatic compounds by polystyrene. Linear isotherms by polyethylene suggested that sorbate uptake was due to absorption into the bulk polymer. In contrast, non-linear isotherms for sorption by PS, PA, and PVC suggest a predominance of adsorption onto the polymer surface, which is supported by the best fit of these isotherms using the Polanyi-Manes model. A strong relationship between the sorption coefficients of the microplastics and the hydrophobicity of the sorbates suggests that hydrophobic interactions are of major importance.
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This study measured the sorption of a suite of hydrophobic organic chemicals onto different types of marine plastic debris and found that sorption capacity varied widely by polymer type and chemical. The results provide a comparative dataset that helps predict which plastic types are most likely to act as significant vectors for toxic chemical transport in the ocean.
Sorption of five organic compounds by polar and nonpolar microplastics
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Polar and biodegradable microplastics, including polyurethane and polycaprolactone, showed significant sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants, with hydrogen bonding playing a greater role than for conventional nonpolar plastics. The findings extend understanding of how a wider range of plastic types can act as vectors for environmental pollutants.
Sorption of organic compounds by microplastic
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This German thesis studied how common microplastic polymers like polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyamide sorb and accumulate hydrophobic organic contaminants, investigating the mechanisms that make plastics effective carriers of pollutants. Understanding sorption behavior is key to assessing how microplastics transport toxic chemicals into marine food webs.
Microplastics and organic contaminants: Investigation of the sorption process on different polymer types
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Researchers investigated sorption of organic contaminants onto microplastics collected from environmental samples, finding that real-world MPs had different sorption capacities than laboratory-prepared particles due to surface aging, biofouling, and co-sorption of natural organic matter.
Evaluating the potential of microplastics and natural organic matter for sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants based on selected properties
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This review compared how microplastics and natural organic particles in the environment sorb hydrophobic chemical pollutants, finding that particle properties such as size, surface area, and age all influence their capacity to act as contaminant carriers. The authors conclude that microplastics are just one of many particulate types competing to carry pollutants in aquatic systems.
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