Insights into adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of aged polypropylene (PP) microplastics for Mn(II) ions: Critical effect of different valence cations coexisting in water solution

Alkaline aging significantly affects Mn(II) adsorption capacity of polypropylene microplastics in water environments: Critical roles of natural organic matter and colloidal particles

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Alkaline aging of polypropylene microplastics dramatically increased their capacity to adsorb manganese(II) from water compared to pristine or acid-aged MPs, due to surface hydroxylation and carboxylation introduced by NaOH treatment. Natural organic matter (humic acid) generally reduced adsorption by competing for surface sites, while kaolin colloidal particles had varying effects depending on concentration.

Adsorption Performance and Mechanism of Naturally Aged Polyethylene(PE) Microplastics on Cadmium Ions (Cd2+) in Water

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River-aged polyethylene microplastics showed increased surface roughness, altered functional groups, and enhanced adsorption capacity for cadmium ions compared to pristine particles, with aging duration influencing both the kinetics and isotherms of metal binding. These results confirm that environmental weathering transforms microplastics into more effective heavy metal carriers, increasing the risk of combined plastic-metal toxicity in aquatic ecosystems and food chains.

Insights into the Properties and Adsorption–desorption Behaviors of Aged Microplastics with Different Colors

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Researchers aged black tire wear particles and white polyethylene microplastics under UV light in the presence and absence of algal organic matter, finding that aging increased their adsorption capacity for the antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride, with the degree of aging and adsorption behavior differing by particle color and composition. This reveals that weathered microplastics in real aquatic environments act as amplified vectors for antibiotic transport, posing compounded risks to aquatic ecosystems and potentially human health through contaminated water sources.

Simultaneous adsorption of Pb2+ and tetracycline onto pristine and aged polypropylene microplastics

Aging Characteristics and Adsorption Properties of Microplastics: Research Progress

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Tiny plastic bits (microplastics) don't just sit unchanged in the environment, sunlight, weather, and other natural forces break them down over time, and this "aging" process actually makes them better at soaking up toxic substances like heavy metals. This review pulls together existing research to show that aged microplastics may pose a bigger contamination risk than fresh ones, which matters because these particles can end up in our water, food, and eventually our bodies. Understanding how this works helps scientists better predict the real-world risks microplastics pose to human health.