Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Enhanced vector transport of microplastics-bound lead ions in organic matter rich water

Researchers evaluated how pristine and aged polyethylene microplastics adsorb Pb2+ ions in water under varying pH, ionic strength, contact time, Pb2+ concentration, and humic acid (HA) concentration, finding that HA enhanced lead adsorption onto aged microplastics and that maximum adsorption occurred around pH 5-6, demonstrating the vector transport potential of microplastics for lead in organic matter-rich waters.

2023 International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastics on the adherence of coexisting background organic contaminants to natural organic matter in water

Researchers examined how microplastics affect the binding of organic contaminants (PCBs and hydroxy PCBs) to humic acid in water, finding that microplastics caused contaminants to migrate from humic acid to plastic surfaces. This redistribution effect could alter the bioavailability and environmental risk of co-occurring organic pollutants.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparing the influence of humic/fulvic acid and tannic acid on Cr(VI) adsorption onto polystyrene microplastics: Evidence for the formation of Cr(OH)3 colloids

Researchers compared how humic/fulvic acid and tannic acid affect chromium(VI) adsorption onto polystyrene microplastics, finding that dissolved organic matter promotes the formation of Cr(OH)3 colloids, complicating the role of microplastics as heavy metal vectors.

2022 Chemosphere 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring Humic Acid as an Efficient and Selective Adsorbent for Lead Removal in Multi-Metal Coexistence Systems: A Review

This review examines how humic acid, a natural substance found in soil and water, can selectively remove lead from water contaminated with multiple heavy metals. The research explores how to enhance humic acid's ability to capture lead ions specifically, including through chemical activation and pH control. While focused on heavy metals, the work is relevant to microplastics research because microplastics can concentrate and transport lead and other heavy metals, and better lead removal from water could reduce this combined pollution threat.

2024 Separations 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Insight into interactions of polystyrene microplastics with different types and compositions of dissolved organic matter

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics interact with different types of dissolved organic matter, finding that fulvic acid and humic acid adsorb onto microplastics through distinct mechanisms, which influences microplastic transport and transformation in the environment.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Metal adsorption by microplastics in aquatic environments under controlled conditions: exposure time, pH and salinity

Scientists systematically varied pH, salinity, and exposure time during metal adsorption experiments on different microplastic types, finding that pH had the greatest influence on metal uptake, with higher pH favoring adsorption of copper, lead, and cadmium onto most tested polymers.

2020 International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry 62 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of typical natural organic matter on microplastics in aqueous solution: Kinetics, isotherm, influence factors and mechanism

Researchers investigated humic acid adsorption onto PVC and PS microplastics, finding that pH, ion species, particle size, and surfactants significantly influenced adsorption capacity through mechanisms including halogen bonding, hydrogen bonding, and pi-pi interactions.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 131 citations
Review Tier 2

Interactions between microplastics (MPs) and trace/toxic metals in marine environments: implications and insights—a comprehensive review

This review examines how microplastics interact with trace and toxic metals in ocean environments, finding that plastic particles can adsorb metals onto their surfaces and alter how those metals move through marine ecosystems. These interactions can increase metal toxicity, reduce the availability of essential nutrients for marine life, and disrupt ocean food chains in ways that may ultimately affect seafood safety for humans.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Joint effect of nanoplastics and humic acid on the uptake of PAHs for Daphnia magna: A model study

This study examined how humic acid (a form of dissolved organic matter) modifies the bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic organisms exposed to nanoplastics, finding that humic acid significantly altered the joint effects of the two complex matrices. The results indicate that natural organic matter plays an important role in regulating nanoplastic-associated chemical uptake.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Change in adsorption behavior of aquatic humic substances on microplastic through biotic and abiotic aging processes

Researchers found that both UV irradiation and microbial aging of polyethylene microplastics significantly altered their surface chemistry, changing how aquatic humic substances adsorb onto the plastic surface and highlighting the importance of weathering state in assessing microplastic-contaminant interactions.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of trace metals by microplastic pellets in fresh water

Researchers measured the adsorption of trace metals by microplastic pellets in freshwater, finding that pellets accumulate metals from the surrounding water, potentially concentrating metals and altering their bioavailability to aquatic organisms.

2015 Environmental Chemistry 554 citations
Article Tier 2

Particulate plastics as a vector for toxic trace-element uptake by aquatic and terrestrial organisms and human health risk.

This paper reviews evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics act as carriers for toxic trace elements like lead, mercury, and cadmium in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, concentrating these metals on their surfaces. The authors assess how adsorption of heavy metals onto plastic particles may increase human and wildlife exposure risks, and discuss how environmental conditions influence metal uptake by plastics.

2019 Environment international
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of Tannic Acid and Macromolecular Humic/Fulvic Acid onto Polystyrene Microplastics: A Comparison Study

Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter components — humic acid, fulvic acid, and tannic acid — adsorb onto polystyrene microplastics, finding that pH and ionic conditions (particularly divalent cations like Ca2+) significantly influence adsorption behavior and thus microplastic environmental fate.

2022 Water 21 citations
Article Tier 2

The potential of microplastics as carriers of metals

Five types of microplastics were tested for their ability to adsorb heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in different water matrices, finding significant adsorption of lead, chromium, and zinc—especially on polyethylene and PVC—with surface area and porosity as key drivers. The study identifies microplastics as potential vectors for heavy metal transport and transfer through aquatic food chains.

2019 Environmental Pollution 642 citations
Article Tier 2

Humic compounds in marine ecosystems - Ecological importance in transitional Mediterranean zones

This review examines humic substances — naturally occurring organic compounds in marine water — and their ecological roles in Mediterranean transitional zones. Humic substances can interact with microplastics in seawater, coating their surfaces and affecting how plastic particles behave, aggregate, and are taken up by marine organisms.

2023 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

The role of humic substances’ hydrophobicity in heterogeneous adsorption onto microplastics: Insights from two-dimensional correlation hydrophilic interaction chromatography

Researchers investigated how the hydrophobic properties of humic substances influence their adsorption onto pristine and aged polyethylene microplastics. Using chromatography techniques, they found that more hydrophobic humic molecules preferentially adsorb onto microplastics, with this trend being stronger for aged plastics and under acidic conditions. The study highlights the critical role of hydrophobicity in determining how natural organic matter interacts with microplastics in aquatic environments.

2025 Environmental Technology & Innovation 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of humic acids on the adsorption of Pb(II) ions onto biofilm-developed microplastics in aqueous ecosystems

Biofilm-coated PVC microplastics adsorbed Pb(II) ions at 3.57 mg/g, nearly double the capacity of virgin PVC at 1.85 mg/g, while humic acid increased Pb adsorption on virgin PVC through complexation but decreased adsorption on biofilm-coated PVC by shielding sorption sites.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Copper Adsorption to Microplastics and Natural Particles in Seawater: A Comparison of Kinetics, Isotherms, and Bioavailability

Researchers compared copper adsorption onto pristine and aged microplastics versus natural particles like algae and sediments in seawater, finding that natural particles generally had higher metal-sequestering capacity, challenging the emphasis on microplastics as dominant metal-transport vectors.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 132 citations
Review Tier 2

The chemical behaviors of microplastics in marine environment: A review

This review summarized interactions between microplastics and organic pollutants and metals in the marine environment, covering sorption behavior across polymer types, the role of degradation in altering sorption capacity, and global monitoring data on pollutant concentrations on marine plastics. The authors conclude that microplastic type, pollutant properties, and environmental conditions all strongly influence chemical accumulation on plastic surfaces.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 654 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of environmental conditions on the enrichment of antibiotics on microplastics in simulated natural water column

Researchers investigated how environmental ageing conditions affect the ability of microplastics to adsorb the antibiotic tetracycline, finding that pH, ionic strength, and temperature had little effect, but humic acid significantly reduced adsorption capacity. The reduction was attributed to humic acid covering plastic surfaces, altering hydrophobicity, and competing for adsorption sites via electrostatic repulsion.

2018 Environmental Research 121 citations