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Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to UV-ageing effects on polystyrene microplastics surface polarity and transport in soils
ClearInvestigation 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.
Chemical and photo-initiated aging enhances transport risk of microplastics in saturated soils: Key factors, mechanisms, and modeling
Researchers aged polystyrene microplastics using three oxidation methods and then studied their transport through saturated soil columns, finding that aging significantly increased surface hydrophilicity and mobility, with UV-activated persulfate oxidation producing the most mobile particles.
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.
The transport of polystyrene microplastics in saturated porous media: Impacts of functional groups and solution chemistry
Researchers studied how surface chemistry and water conditions affect the movement of polystyrene microplastics through sand, comparing unmodified particles with those carrying carboxyl or amino groups that mimic natural aging. They found that factors like water acidity, salt concentration, and the type of chemical groups on the plastic surface all significantly influenced how far the particles traveled. The study provides important insights into how weathered microplastics may spread through soil and groundwater differently than fresh particles.
UV sources and plastic composition influence microplastic surface degradation: Implications for plastic weathering studies
This study tested how different UV light sources change the surface of common microplastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. The results show that sunlight and lab UV lights weather plastics differently, changing their surface roughness and chemical makeup -- which matters because these surface changes affect how microplastics transport pollutants and interact with living organisms in the environment.
UV-degraded polyethylene exhibits variable charge and enhanced cation adsorption
Researchers found that UV degradation of polyethylene alters surface charge and significantly enhances cation adsorption capacity, suggesting that weathered microplastics entering soil create more reactive surfaces than virgin plastic particles.
New insights into the photo-degraded polystyrene microplastic: Effect on the release of volatile organic compounds
Researchers investigated how ultraviolet light breaks down polystyrene microplastics and what volatile organic compounds are released during the process. They found that while the physical properties of the microplastics changed only slightly during UV exposure, the particles released a variety of potentially harmful volatile chemicals. The study provides new insights into the secondary pollution risks posed by microplastics as they degrade in the environment.
Insight into the characteristics and sorption behaviors of aged polystyrene microplastics through three type of accelerated oxidation processes
Researchers studied how three different UV-based oxidation processes age polystyrene microplastics and how that aging affects the particles' ability to absorb the chemical bisphenol A. They found that aging significantly increased the surface oxidation and water-attracting properties of the microplastics, altering their pollutant-sorbing behavior. The findings suggest that weathered microplastics in the environment may interact with chemical contaminants differently than fresh ones.
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.
Effect of ozonation on the morphological characteristics and adsorption behavior of polystyrene microplastics in aqueous environments
Researchers exposed polystyrene microplastics to ozone treatment and found that the aging process made the particles smaller, more negatively charged, and better at absorbing pollutants from water — meaning weathered microplastics in the environment may carry more harmful chemicals than fresh ones.
Aging Significantly Affects Mobility and Contaminant-Mobilizing Ability of Nanoplastics in Saturated Loamy Sand
Researchers studied how aging from UV light and ozone exposure affects the mobility of nanoplastics in soil and found that aged particles traveled much farther through the soil column than pristine ones. The aged nanoplastics also carried more chemical contaminants with them as they moved. The findings suggest that weathered nanoplastics in the environment may pose greater risks for groundwater contamination than previously assumed.
Influence of aging on the affinity between microplastics and organic contaminants
Researchers investigated how UV and UV+H2O2 aging affects the capacity of polystyrene microplastics to adsorb and release pesticides and other organic contaminants, finding that aging-induced surface changes significantly altered adsorption affinity and desorption behavior compared to unaged controls.
Exploring polystyrene weathering behavior: From surface traits to micro(nano)plastics and additives release
Researchers systematically studied how polystyrene weathers under UV light and mechanical stress, tracking the release of microplastics, nanoplastics, and chemical additives over time. They found that weathering progressively altered the surface properties of the plastic and increased the release of smaller particles and potentially harmful additives. The findings help predict how polystyrene products break down in the environment and what secondary pollutants they generate.
The impact of microplastic weathering on interactions with the soil environment: a review
This review examines how weathering — exposure to UV light, moisture, and physical forces — changes the surface properties of microplastics and affects their interactions with soil. Weathered microplastics behave differently in the environment, potentially altering soil structure and the movement of water and nutrients.
Aggregation kinetics of UV irradiated nanoplastics in aquatic environments
Researchers compared the aggregation behavior of fresh versus UV-aged polystyrene nanoplastics under various aquatic conditions. They found that UV aging altered the surface chemistry of nanoplastics, making them more stable in water and less likely to aggregate, which means they could remain suspended and bioavailable for longer periods. The study suggests that weathered nanoplastics may behave very differently from fresh particles in the environment, complicating risk assessments.
UV-aged nanoplastics induced stronger biotoxicity to earthworms: Differential effects and the underlying mechanisms of pristine and aged polystyrene nanoplastics
Researchers compared the toxicity of pristine versus UV-aged polystyrene nanoplastics on earthworms and found that aged nanoplastics caused significantly stronger harmful effects. At higher concentrations, aged nanoplastics increased earthworm mortality by 11.1% and reduced reproduction, with the enhanced toxicity attributed to changes in surface properties that occur during environmental UV weathering.
Photoaging process and mechanism of four commonly commercial microplastics
Researchers exposed four common commercial microplastic types to UV light to simulate photoaging on soil surfaces and studied changes in their properties and chemical leachates. The study found that PVC and polystyrene underwent more dramatic physical and chemical changes than polypropylene and polyethylene, with aging creating cracks that facilitated the release of dissolved organic matter and chemical additives. These findings suggest that aged microplastics may pose greater environmental risks to soil and groundwater than pristine ones due to increased leaching of complex organic compounds.
The Ultraviolet Irradiation Aging Characteristics of Microplastics in Soil under the Action of Biochar
Researchers characterized how microplastics change physically and chemically under ultraviolet irradiation aging, documenting surface cracking, yellowing, and shifts in chemical functional groups. These aging signatures are important for understanding the environmental fate and increased toxicity of weathered microplastics.
Molecular characteristics and plastic additives in dissolved organic matter derived from polystyrene microplastics: Effects of cumulative irradiation and microplastic concentrations
This study investigated how ultraviolet light breaks down polystyrene microplastics and releases dissolved organic matter, including plastic additives, into the surrounding water. Greater UV exposure produced more complex chemical mixtures with higher levels of potentially toxic compounds. The findings are important because sunlight-driven breakdown of microplastics in the environment may release harmful chemicals into water sources that people use for drinking and recreation.
The influence of oxidation and hydrophobic coupling on the transport behavior of polyethylene microplastics: The synergistic effect of ultraviolet aging and surfactants
Researchers investigated how ultraviolet aging and surfactant attachment interact to influence the transport behavior of polyethylene microplastics, finding that UV oxidation increases oxygen-containing surface groups and reduces hydrophobicity, which in turn alters surfactant adsorption and modifies particle mobility in environmental systems. The study addresses a gap in understanding the coupled effects of oxidative aging and surface chemistry on microplastic transport.