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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Photo-induced degradation of single-use polyethylene terephthalate microplastics under laboratory and outdoor environmental conditions
ClearFrom cracks to secondary microplastics - surface characterization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) during weathering
Scientists tracked how PET plastic, the material used in water bottles and clothing, develops cracks and eventually breaks into microplastics during exposure to UV light and water. Different forms of PET broke down in different ways and at different speeds, with water-submerged samples showing organized crack networks within 30 days. The study helps explain how everyday plastic products fragment into the microplastics found throughout the environment, with fibers being one of the most common shapes produced.
Accelerated photoaging of microplastic - polyethylene terephthalate: physical, chemical, morphological properties and pesticide adsorption
Researchers subjected polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics to accelerated photoaging under simulated sunlight, characterizing changes in surface chemistry, crystallinity, and mechanical properties over time. Photoaging increased surface oxidation, reduced molecular weight, and enhanced the release of plastic additives, suggesting aged PET microplastics present greater chemical hazard than pristine particles.
Rheological Characterization of UV and Shear‐Induced Degradation of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate): Linking Environmental and Processing Histories to Recyclability
Researchers studied how UV light exposure and mechanical processing degrade PET plastic at the molecular level. They found that UV aging in water environments causes the plastic chains to break apart, while dry conditions promote crosslinking, and that even a single round of recycling processing dramatically reduces crystal size and releases volatile byproducts. The study reveals that both environmental weathering and recycling significantly weaken PET's mechanical properties, which has implications for both microplastic generation and plastic recyclability.
Photodegradation of PET plastics produces persistent compounds that accumulate in sediments
Researchers investigated the photodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate plastics and found that UV-driven breakdown produces persistent low-molecular-weight compounds that accumulate in sediments, raising concerns about the long-term chemical legacy of PET waste in aquatic environments.
Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate (pet) as Secondary Microplastics Under Three Different Environmental Conditions
Researchers investigated the degradation of PET bottles used as biofilm media in wastewater treatment plants under indoor, outdoor, and UV-irradiated conditions over seven months, measuring secondary microplastic generation. They found that UV irradiation dramatically accelerated PET fragmentation, with microplastic concentrations rising from 15 particles per liter at month one to nearly 249 particles per liter by month seven, with fragments and transparent particles dominating.
Changes in the Chemical Composition of Polyethylene Terephthalate under UV Radiation in Various Environmental Conditions.
Researchers exposed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to UV radiation under controlled humidity conditions and tracked changes in its chemical composition, finding progressive oxidation and chain scission that alter the polymer's surface properties. Understanding how PET degrades under UV exposure is important for predicting how PET microplastics form and what chemical changes make them more or less bioavailable.
Photodegradation-driven microparticle release from commercial plastic water bottles
Researchers exposed seventy PET plastic water bottles to sunlight for ten weeks and measured the microparticles released into the water as the plastic degraded. They found that microparticle concentrations built up to 14-20 micrograms per liter within the first 30 days before plateauing, and that thinner-walled bottles with higher crystallinity released fewer particles. The study demonstrates that sunlight-driven degradation of plastic bottles is a meaningful source of microplastics in bottled drinking water.
Physicochemical transformation and toxic potential of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fragments exposed to natural daylight
Researchers exposed PET plastic fragments to natural sunlight and studied how weathering changed their chemistry and toxicity. They found that sun-aged PET released a more complex mixture of chemicals, including plasticizers and metals like antimony, and became significantly more toxic to marine microalgae and bacteria. The findings highlight that plastic degradation in the environment does not make it harmless but can actually increase the danger posed by leached substances.
Investigating the Physicochemical Property Changes of Plastic Packaging Exposed to UV Irradiation and Different Aqueous Environments
Researchers investigated UV-driven degradation of polypropylene and PET packaging materials under different aqueous conditions, finding that UV exposure caused significant physicochemical changes including increased crystallinity and surface cracking that contribute to microplastic formation.
The characteristic change of plastic film from common used packing bags under UV photodegradation
Researchers studied how UV light degrades plastic packaging films over time, finding that photodegradation causes surface cracking and chemical changes that progressively break plastic into smaller fragments, including microplastics. The findings help explain how discarded plastic packaging contributes to microplastic accumulation in the marine environment.
From macroplastics to microplastics: Role of water in the fragmentation of polyethylene
Laboratory photodegradation experiments compared how polyethylene plastic films fragment in water versus air under UV light, finding that the aquatic environment significantly influences the physical and chemical breakdown of plastic into microplastics. The study improves understanding of how water immersion changes the photodegradation pathways of floating and submerged plastic debris.
The surface degradation and release of microplastics from plastic films studied by UV radiation and mechanical abrasion
Researchers examined how UV radiation and mechanical abrasion, both individually and combined, cause plastic films to degrade and release microplastics. They found that the combination of UV exposure and physical wear was significantly more damaging than either factor alone, accelerating surface deterioration and particle release. The study provides evidence that everyday environmental conditions can generate substantial quantities of microplastics from common plastic materials.
Photochemical Oxidation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics Adsorbed on Sand and Silica Surfaces
This study examined the photochemical oxidation of PET microplastics adsorbed on sand and silica surfaces under UV irradiation, focusing on the products released into water. Surface-bound PET underwent oxidative fragmentation, releasing soluble organic compounds, with implications for understanding the environmental chemistry of microplastic-contaminated sediments.
Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene
Researchers applied a multi-tiered approach combining laboratory aging, field deployment, and environmental simulation to study how polyethylene plastic undergoes physicochemical and biological weathering in natural settings. The study found that UV radiation and microbial colonization act synergistically to accelerate surface oxidation and fragmentation of PE into smaller particles.
Changes in the Chemical Composition of Polyethylene Terephthalate Under UV Radiation in Various Environmental Conditions.
Researchers studied how UV radiation degrades PET plastic under varying humidity (dry vs. saturated) and temperature (30-50 degrees C) conditions for up to 20 days. High humidity and elevated temperature significantly accelerated ester bond cleavage and carboxylic acid formation, key chemical changes that produce micro-nano plastics.
Deciphering fluorescent and molecular fingerprint of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics in water
Scientists studied how different types of microplastics release dissolved organic matter into water, finding that UV sunlight dramatically increased the release from PET plastics by 25 times over seven days. The chemical fingerprint of the released compounds differed between PET and polyethylene plastics, with UV exposure making PET compounds harder to break down. This research matters because these leached chemicals can change water quality and may carry additional health risks beyond the plastic particles themselves.
Investigating the physicochemical property changes of plastic packaging material exposed to UV radiation
UV radiation was shown to degrade polypropylene and PET plastic packaging materials, causing surface changes and potential microplastic formation, with degradation rates influenced by sample shape and size. These findings are relevant to understanding how discarded plastic packaging breaks down in marine and outdoor environments.
From Macro to Micro Plastics; Influence of Photo-oxidative Degradation
This study used simulated UV aging to investigate how photo-oxidative degradation of common plastics drives fragmentation from macro to micro scale, characterizing the surface property changes and structural breakdown that generate microplastic particles in the environment.
Thermal oxidation, ultraviolet radiation, and mechanical abrasion - understanding mechanisms of microplastic generation and chemical transformation
Researchers evaluated how consumer-derived polymers fragment and chemically transform when exposed to UV radiation or thermal oxidation followed by soil abrasion. The study found that these combined weathering processes, which mimic real-world environmental conditions, significantly affect the rate and type of microplastic generation. The results highlight how everyday use and environmental exposure work together to break down plastics into microplastic particles.
Study on the impact of photoaging on the generation of very small microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) and the wettability of plastic surface
Experiments using UV light to artificially age six common plastic types showed that sunlight (photoaging) accelerates the breakdown of plastics into very small microplastics and nanoplastics and makes plastic surfaces rougher and more chemically reactive. Understanding how different polymer structures respond to light aging is important for predicting which plastics will fragment fastest in the environment and generate the most hazardous small particles.
Photodegradation of macroplastics to microplastics : A laboratory study on common litter found in urban areas
A laboratory study used UV light to simulate how plastic litter found in urban environments degrades into microplastics over time. The results help explain the pathway from discarded plastic items to the small fragments now found across the environment, from soils to human tissues.
Evaluating the Environmental Factors on Microplastic Generation: An Accelerated Weathering Study
Researchers used an accelerated weathering device to study how UV light, temperature, and humidity break down PET plastic into microplastic particles. Higher UV intensity and temperature dramatically increased the number of microplastics produced, while humidity had a lesser effect. This research helps predict how quickly everyday plastics become microplastics under real-world environmental conditions, especially in sunny and warm climates.
UV Irradiation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polypropylene and Detection of Formed Microplastic Particles Down to 1 μm
UV irradiation experiments showed that both polypropylene and PET plastics rapidly shed microplastic particles down to 1 micrometer in size when exposed to UV light in water, with recycled PET producing significantly more particles than virgin PET. This confirms that UV weathering — occurring continuously outdoors — is an active mechanism generating very small microplastics from everyday plastic products and packaging.
Insight into chain scission and release profiles from photodegradation of polycarbonate microplastics
Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down polycarbonate microplastics in water and what chemicals are released in the process. The study found that UV exposure caused the plastics to fragment into smaller pieces while releasing bisphenol A (BPA) and other potentially harmful organic compounds. Importantly, BPA accounted for only a small fraction of the total chemicals released, suggesting that many unknown degradation products are also entering aquatic environments.