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The partition behavior of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA) on microplastics
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This study examined the sorption of PFOS and FOSA — two persistent fluorinated chemicals — onto polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC microplastics and found that sorption capacity varied by polymer type and was influenced by pH, salinity, and organic matter. The results suggest microplastics could act as transport vectors for these persistent pollutants in marine environments.
Microplastics have been recognized as transport vectors for heavy metals and organic pollutants to marine animals. Thus, the sorption behavior of contaminant on microplastic is crucial to their transport in marine system. In this study, the sorption behavior of PFOS and FOSA (two perfluorochemicals) on three kinds of microplastics (PE, PS, and PVC) are reported. The isotherm study showed that the sorption of PFOS and FOSA on microplastics is highly linear, and it indicated that partition by hydrophobic interaction is the predominant sorption mechanism. The Kd values of FOSA on three kinds of microplastics are all higher than those of PFOS, and the reason is attributed to their different functional groups. The Kd value of FOSA on three types of microplastics followed the order as: PE>PVC>PS. Such finding may indicate that the molecule composition and structure of microplastics play important roles in their sorption processes of organic pollutants. The PFOS sorption levels on PE and PS particles were increased with the increase of NaCl and CaCl2 concentrations, while the ion concentrations have no effect on FOSA sorption. The study on the pH effects on PFOS and FOSA sorption indicated FOSA could partition under various pH conditions on three types of microplastics while PFOS sorption on PE and PS were favored with lower pH.
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Researchers examined the capacity of three types of microplastics to sorb 18 perfluoroalkyl substances from freshwater and seawater. They found that perfluorosulfonates and sulfonamides had the strongest tendency to adsorb onto microplastics, with polystyrene showing greater affinity for these chemicals than polyethylene. The study suggests that microplastics in aquatic environments can concentrate harmful PFAS compounds, potentially increasing exposure for organisms that ingest them.
Influence of microplastics on the photodegradation of perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA)
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Polystyrene microplastics had the highest adsorption capacity for the PFAS compound perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA) among four tested polymers, and PS-adsorbed FOSA showed accelerated photodegradation compared to dissolved FOSA under UV irradiation. The results suggest that microplastics can simultaneously concentrate and transform PFAS compounds in sunlit surface waters.
Sorption and desorption kinetics of PFOS to pristine microplastic
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Researchers investigated how the persistent pollutant PFOS sorbs onto polyethylene microplastic particles of different sizes over six months. They found that smaller microplastic particles adsorbed more PFOS due to their greater surface area, and that PFOS could be released from the microplastics under simulated fish gut conditions. The findings suggest that microplastics may act as carriers of chemical pollutants into the digestive systems of aquatic organisms.
Mechanistic Insights into PFAS Adsorption on Microplastics: Effects of Contaminant Properties and Water Chemistry
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Researchers investigated how two widely detected PFAS compounds, PFOS and PFOA, adsorb onto five common types of microplastics in aquatic environments. The study found that contaminant properties and water chemistry significantly influence adsorption behavior, confirming that microplastics can serve as carriers for PFAS transport in waterways.
Adsorption of PFAS onto secondary microplastics: A mechanistic study
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Researchers investigated how PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) adsorb onto secondary microplastics under different water chemistry conditions. Results showed that PFAS adsorption depended on both the chemical structure of the PFAS compound and the ionic composition of the water. These findings help explain how microplastics in real-world aquatic environments can concentrate and transport PFAS, a group of persistent health-relevant pollutants.
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