Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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.

2020 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Microplastics 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradation of Biodegradable Microplastics under Artificially Controlled Aging Conditions with UV Radiation

Researchers subjected biodegradable plastics to controlled UV aging and found that they fragmented into microplastics faster than conventional plastics under simulated outdoor conditions. Biodegradable plastics are promoted as an eco-friendly alternative, but this study shows they may actually create microplastic pollution more rapidly in real-world environments. The findings raise important questions about whether biodegradable plastics are a genuine solution to plastic pollution.

2023 Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Photodegradation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co -3-hydroxyhexanoate) and Its Effects on Marine Biodegradability

Researchers investigated the photodegradation of the biodegradable polymer PHBH under accelerated UV exposure and tested whether photodegradation affected its marine biodegradability. They found that UV exposure degraded PHBH's surface and altered its biodegradation rate in seawater, suggesting that environmental weathering affects this supposedly ocean-safe material.

2025 ACS Applied Polymer Materials
Article Tier 2

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.

2020 SUNScholar (Stellenbosch University) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Photodegradationof Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)and Its Effects on Marine Biodegradability

Researchers examined the photodegradation dynamics of the biodegradable polymer PHBH under simulated UV conditions and assessed the effects on its marine biodegradability. UV weathering altered PHBH's surface properties and modified its degradation rate in marine environments, raising questions about the environmental safety claims for this material.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Analisis Sifat Mekanik dan Permukaan pada Degradasi Plastik Konvensional

An Indonesian study tested the degradation of biodegradable plastic materials under UV light, sunlight, and soil burial, measuring changes in mechanical properties and surface structure. The research contributes to understanding how biodegradable plastics perform in real-world environmental conditions compared to conventional plastics.

2023 Jurnal Riset Fisika Indonesia
Article Tier 2

Preliminary insights into the photosensensitivity of bio-based plastics: Release of microplastic-derived organic matter in water under UV irradiation

Researchers conducted the first study on how bio-based microplastics made from PLA, PHA, and PLA-PHA mixtures release dissolved organic matter into water when exposed to UV light. They found that all three bio-based plastics were photosensitive, releasing measurable amounts of organic carbon and forming carbonyl bonds on their surfaces during irradiation. The findings suggest that even bio-based plastics can undergo significant degradation under sunlight, potentially affecting water quality.

2024 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Polymers
Article Tier 2

UV Light Causes Structural Changes in Microplastics Exposed in Bio-Solids

Researchers tested whether UV light could weaken microplastics found in sewage sludge before they enter the environment. UV exposure combined with heat caused structural breakdown in polypropylene, polyethylene, and PET plastics, especially when treated in bio-solid (sewage sludge) mixtures. This approach could help microplastics degrade faster once released into the environment, potentially reducing how long they persist in soil and water.

2023 Polymers 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on the Biodegradation of Poly(Butylene Succinate)/Wheat Bran Biocomposites

Not relevant to microplastics — this study investigates how a biodegradable plastic (poly(butylene succinate) blended with wheat bran) breaks down in compost, tracking changes in crystallinity, molecular mass, and thermal properties over 70 days.

2023 Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The UltravioletIrradiation Aging Characteristicsof Microplastics in Soil under the Action of Biochar

Researchers investigated how biochar application at four concentrations affects UV-induced aging of both persistent polyethylene microplastics and biodegradable PBAT microplastics in soil, finding that biochar modulates the aging behavior and physicochemical transformation of microplastics under ultraviolet irradiation.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Insights into the photoaging behavior of biodegradable and nondegradable microplastics: Spectroscopic and molecular characteristics of dissolved organic matter release

Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics break down under ultraviolet light and what dissolved substances they release. They found that biodegradable PLA microplastics released more protein-like organic matter during UV exposure than conventional polystyrene, and this matter was more readily used by microorganisms. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics, while designed to be better for the environment, may introduce different ecological risks as they break down.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Photodegradation modifies microplastic effects on soil properties and plant performance

Researchers examined how UV-driven photodegradation alters the effects of microplastics on soil properties and plant growth. The study found that degraded plastic fibers increased soil water retention and respiration more than their non-degraded counterparts, while degraded foams reduced soil aggregation, demonstrating that the environmental weathering state of microplastics is an important factor in determining their ecological impact.

2023 Journal of Applied Ecology 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradation of polypropylene : proportion of microplastics formed and assessment of their density.

Researchers quantified the proportion of microplastics generated during UV-driven degradation of polypropylene and assessed changes in chemical composition caused by photooxidation. The study found that UV exposure progressively fragments polypropylene and alters its surface chemistry, affecting subsequent environmental behavior and toxicity.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Investigating aquatic biodegradation and changes in the properties of pristine and UV-irradiated microplastics from conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastics

Researchers compared the biodegradation of conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastic mulching films in aquatic environments, testing both pristine and UV-weathered samples. The study found that while biodegradable plastics break down well under controlled composting conditions, their degradation in non-target environments like water bodies is considerably less predictable.

2025 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

[Photodegradation of Plastic Blends in Seawater and Its Risk to the Marine Environment].

This study investigates how plastic blends used in packaging degrade under sunlight in seawater, finding that photodegradation produces microplastics and alters the physical and chemical properties of the material. The research suggests that biodegradable plastic blends may not perform as intended in marine environments and could still contribute to microplastic pollution.

2023 Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue
Article Tier 2

Influence of γ-Irradiation on the Electronic Structure and the Chemical and Mechanical Properties of Poly(hydroxybutyrate-valerate)/Poly(caprolactone) Blends: Insights from Experimental Data and Computational Approaches

Researchers investigated how gamma irradiation affects biodegradable polymer blends of PHBV and PCL — materials sometimes proposed as safer plastic alternatives. The study found that higher radiation doses altered the chemical bonds and reduced mechanical performance, providing useful information for designing biodegradable plastics intended for applications where radiation sterilization is used, such as medical devices.

2024 Nanomanufacturing 2 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

Influence of UV exposure time and simulated marine environment on different microplastic degradation

Researchers examined how UV radiation and saltwater conditions affect the degradation of polypropylene, polystyrene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate microplastics. The study found that each polymer type responded differently to photodegradation, with changes in surface properties, crystallinity, and chemical bond formation varying by material. Evidence indicates that saline marine conditions can intensify certain degradation processes, suggesting that multiple environmental factors must be considered when assessing microplastic breakdown.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Photo-induced degradation of single-use polyethylene terephthalate microplastics under laboratory and outdoor environmental conditions

Researchers tested how sunlight, water, and physical wear work together to break down PET microplastics, the type commonly found in plastic bottles and food packaging. Over 60 days, combined UV light and water exposure caused significant chemical degradation of the plastic surfaces. This matters because as microplastics break down in the environment, they release smaller fragments and potentially harmful chemicals that are easier for organisms to absorb.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying UVC-Induced Aging of Microplastics Using a Multivariate Aging Score

Researchers examined how UVC radiation ages three common types of microplastics and found that polypropylene degraded far more rapidly than polyethylene or PET, developing widespread surface cracks and generating secondary plastic fragments. They developed a multivariate aging score that combines chemical and physical measurements to better quantify how microplastics deteriorate over time. The study also found that colored polypropylene products aged faster than transparent ones, highlighting how product formulation influences environmental breakdown.

2026 Journal of Polymers and the Environment
Article Tier 2

UVA-induced weathering of microplastics in seawater: surface property transformations and kinetics

Researchers studied how UVA radiation weathers microplastics in seawater, examining changes to surface properties and degradation rates. The study developed a model integrating an aging index with degradation kinetics, finding that UV exposure significantly transforms microplastic surface characteristics, which affects their behavior and potential ecological impact in marine environments.

2025 Frontiers in Marine Science 7 citations