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Size and Structure-Dependent Molecular Fingerprint Transformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter in Sunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles

Environmental Science & Technology 2025 3 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 48 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Yanjun Liu, Zhao Liang Chen, Zekun Zhang, Mengyang Liu, Zhao Liang Chen, Mengyang Liu, Kmy Leung, Ding He, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Zhao Liang Chen, Zhao Liang Chen, Ruanhong Cai, Tanveer M. Adyel Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Zekun Zhang, Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Kmy Leung, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Mengyang Liu, Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Yanjun Liu, Yuanbi Yi, Yuanbi Yi, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Mengyang Liu, Kmy Leung, Tanveer M. Adyel Ruanhong Cai, Tanveer M. Adyel Ruanhong Cai, Mengyang Liu, Tanveer M. Adyel Ming Ye, Ming Ye, Yanjun Liu, Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Tanveer M. Adyel Tanveer M. Adyel Mengyang Liu, Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Tanveer M. Adyel Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Mengyang Liu, Meng Yan, Tanveer M. Adyel Kmy Leung, Mengyang Liu, Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Mengyang Liu, Ding He, Tanveer M. Adyel Kmy Leung, Tanveer M. Adyel Kmy Leung, Ding He, Tanveer M. Adyel Meng Yan, Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Kmy Leung, Tanveer M. Adyel

Summary

This study examined how the size and structure of microplastics influence the photochemical transformation of MP-derived dissolved organic matter under UV irradiation, finding that inherent plastic properties determine the molecular character of DOM released and its effects on ocean carbon cycling.

Polymers

PE PP

Study Type Environmental

Microplastics (MPs) widely pollute marine environments, where the release of MPs-derived dissolved organic matter (MPs-DOM) induced by UV irradiation has been widely documented. However, the effect of MPs' inherent properties on photochemical transformation of MPs-DOM and its implication for oceanic carbon cycles remain poorly understood. Herein, we conducted 180 day artificial weathering experiments under sunlit seawater using polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) with different sizes as models, investigating the temporally dynamic features of MPs-DOM. Results showed that PP can release more MPs-DOM than PE, and concentrations of MPs-DOM derived from small-sized MPs (∼250 μm) were 2-6 times higher than those of large-sized MPs (∼5 mm). Spectroscopy and ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrum further revealed that protein-like substances can be persistently produced from MPs with lower photochemical activity (i.e., PE and large-size PP), while DOM derived from MPs with higher photochemical activity (i.e., small-size PP) could be gradually transformed from biolabile components to biorecalcitrant molecules. Furthermore, the persistently accumulated molecules were matched and projected onto an aquatic DOM database, and their relative intensity exhibited a gradually increasing trend across the river-to-ocean continuum at the molecular level. This work reveals the structure-reactivity relationships for MPs-DOM transformation and highlights MPs' potential impact in marine organic carbon cycles.

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