Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

UV-weathering affects heteroaggregation and subsequent sedimentation of polystyrene microplastic particles with ferrihydrite

UV weathering of polystyrene microplastics significantly altered their surface properties, increasing heteroaggregation with ferrihydrite iron colloids and accelerating particle sedimentation compared to pristine PS—demonstrating that environmental weathering substantially changes microplastic fate and removal in aquatic systems.

2025 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 4 citations
Article Tier 2

UV-weathering affects heteroaggregation and subsequent sedimentation of polystyrene microplastic particles with ferrihydrite

Researchers studied how UV weathering alters the heteroaggregation and sedimentation behaviour of 1-micrometre polystyrene microplastic particles with ferrihydrite (an iron oxy-hydroxide common in natural waters). They found that UV weathering changed the surface charge and properties of polystyrene particles, significantly affecting their aggregation with ferrihydrite at neutral pH and their subsequent removal from the water column by sedimentation.

2024
Article Tier 2

Comparative effects of crystalline, poorly crystalline and freshly formed iron oxides on the colloidal properties of polystyrene microplastics

Researchers found that freshly formed iron oxides caused the greatest aggregation of polystyrene microplastics in water, with effects decreasing in the order: freshly formed iron oxide > ferrihydrite > goethite > haematite. The findings suggest that iron oxide copresence can delay microplastic transport or alter their environmental fate depending on pH and crystallinity of the mineral.

2022 Environmental Pollution 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of Surface Alteration of Microplastics by Using UV Irradiation

UV radiation causes polystyrene and other plastic microparticles to undergo photooxidative degradation, changing their surface chemistry and potentially making them more likely to adsorb or release chemical pollutants. Understanding these weathering processes is important for predicting the environmental behavior and toxicity of microplastics.

2020 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Phototransformation of microplastic derived dissolved organic matter reduces its adsorption capacity on ferrihydrite: Effects of additive types

Researchers studied how sunlight-driven phototransformation of dissolved organic matter released by microplastics affects its ability to bind to iron minerals in sediments. The study found that phototransformation significantly reduced the adsorption capacity of microplastic-derived organic matter on ferrihydrite, with the type of plastic additive playing a key role in determining the extent of this change.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Sorption Behavior, Speciation, and Toxicity of Microplastic-Bound Chromium in Multisolute Systems

Researchers investigated how UV filters affect chromium sorption and toxicity on polystyrene microplastics, finding that UV irradiation and co-contaminants alter metal speciation and increase the ecological risk of microplastic-bound heavy metals.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Aging mechanism of microplastics with UV irradiation and its effects on the adsorption of heavy metals

Researchers aged polystyrene microplastics using UV irradiation under three conditions (air, pure water, seawater) and found that aging changed surface chemistry and increased the microplastics' capacity to adsorb heavy metals, with seawater aging producing the most pronounced surface oxidation.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 852 citations
Article Tier 2

Photoaging mechanisms of microplastics mediated by dissolved organic matter in an iron-rich aquatic environment

Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter and iron mediate the photoaging of PVC and PET microplastics, finding that humic acid and iron accelerate surface degradation and alter the environmental behavior and risks of aged microplastics.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics enhance oxidative dissolution but suppress the aquatic acute toxicity of a commercial cadmium yellow pigment under simulated irradiation

Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics affect the stability and toxicity of cadmium yellow pigment in water exposed to simulated sunlight. They found that the microplastics actually increased the dissolution of the pigment by generating reactive chemical species, but paradoxically reduced its acute toxicity to aquatic organisms. The study reveals that microplastics can alter the environmental behavior of co-existing pollutants in unexpected ways.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics sunlight-induce oxidative dissolution, chemical transformation and toxicity enhancement of silver nanoparticles

Researchers discovered that polystyrene microplastics can induce sunlight-driven oxidative dissolution and chemical transformation of silver nanoparticles, enhancing their toxicity and revealing important implications for how co-occurring pollutants interact in the environment.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Zinc oxide nanoparticles dissolution and toxicity enhancement by polystyrene microplastics under sunlight irradiation

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics dramatically increased the sunlight-induced dissolution of zinc oxide nanoparticles, enhancing the release of toxic zinc ions and reactive oxygen species in aquatic environments.

2022 Chemosphere 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Aged Polystyrene Microplastics Accelerate the Photo-Reduction of Chromium(VI)

Researchers investigated how aged polystyrene microplastics interact with hexavalent chromium, a toxic heavy metal, in water under light conditions. They found that microplastics accelerate the conversion of toxic chromium(VI) to less harmful chromium(III), while the chromium in turn speeds up the aging of the microplastics. The study reveals a complex interplay between microplastics and heavy metals in aquatic environments that could influence the environmental fate of both pollutants.

2025 Water 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of weathering on the properties and fate of secondary microplastics from a polystyrene single-use cup

Scientists studied how UV light from sunlight changes the properties of polystyrene microplastics from disposable cups. Weathering made the particles denser and less water-repellent, causing them to sink faster in water and absorb more chemical pollutants. This means older, sun-exposed microplastics in the environment may be more effective at carrying harmful chemicals into sediments where bottom-dwelling organisms live.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Heteroaggregation of PS microplastic with ferrihydrite leads to rapid removal of microplastic particles from the water column

Researchers investigated heteroaggregation between polystyrene microplastics and ferrihydrite iron mineral particles, finding that this aggregation process leads to rapid removal of microplastic particles from the water column, with implications for understanding microplastic fate and transport in natural water systems.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

New insights on metal ions accelerating the aging behavior of polystyrene microplastics: Effects of different excess reactive oxygen species

The aging behavior of polystyrene microplastics was investigated in the presence of copper and lead ions, finding that both metals accelerated surface oxidation through generation of reactive oxygen species, with copper producing stronger effects. The study reveals that heavy metal co-contamination can substantially alter the weathering trajectory of microplastics in natural environments.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic degradations in simulated UV light, natural light and natural water body: A comparison investigation

Researchers compared how microplastics made of PVC, polyethylene, and polyamide break down under UV light, natural sunlight, and real-world water body conditions, finding that natural environments cause more complex degradation involving both biofilm growth and heavy metal interactions. Importantly, microplastics in natural water can both release and re-absorb heavy metals over time, complicating their environmental risk profile.

2024 Emerging contaminants 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Insight into the Photodegradation of Microplastics Boosted by Iron (Hydr)oxides

Iron (hydr)oxide minerals goethite and hematite were found to significantly accelerate the photodegradation of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics under simulated sunlight, with goethite showing greater effect due to higher hydroxyl radical production via a light-driven Fenton reaction. The study reveals a previously overlooked natural mechanism by which common soil minerals can influence the environmental fate of microplastics.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Promoted photodegradation of cadmium pigment-embedded microplastics: Role of reactive microenvironment

Researchers studied how cadmium pigments embedded in microplastics influence their photodegradation behavior in polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene. The study found that the reactive microenvironment generated by cadmium pigments significantly accelerated plastic degradation, particularly in polystyrene, and that this accelerated breakdown correlated with increased release of toxic cadmium ions into the surrounding water.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Microplastic removal from urban stormwater: Current treatments and research gaps

Researchers investigated the phototransformation of polystyrene microplastics under simulated solar radiation, finding surface oxidation and formation of carbonyl groups after UV exposure. Photo-aged particles showed increased release of dissolved organic carbon and greater toxicity to marine copepods.

2022 Journal of Environmental Management 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic litter fate and contaminant transport within the urban environment, photodegradation, fragmentation, and heavy metal uptake from storm runoff

Researchers studied how plastic litter in urban environments degrades into microplastics through sun exposure and examined the capacity of these fragments to absorb heavy metals from stormwater runoff. The study found that photodegradation of polyethylene and PET creates microplastic fragments that can then pick up heavy metal contaminants from urban runoff, compounding their environmental impact.

2022 Environmental Research 54 citations