We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Co-existing inorganic anions influenced the Norrish I and Norrish II type photoaging mechanism of biodegradable microplastics
ClearInorganic anions influenced the photoaging kinetics and mechanism of polystyrene microplastic under the simulated sunlight: Role of reactive radical species
Researchers found that common inorganic anions in natural water significantly influence the photoaging of polystyrene microplastics under sunlight, with nitrate and bicarbonate accelerating degradation while chloride and bromide had varying effects on aging mechanisms.
Photo aging of polyester microfiber in freshwater and seawater environments: kinetics, mechanisms, and influencing factors
UV aging of polyester (PET) microfibers accelerates faster in seawater than in freshwater, driven by reactive ions like nitrate, bromide, and chloride. This matters because faster aging in marine environments means PET microfibers — the most abundant microplastic in aquatic systems — break down more rapidly into smaller, potentially more bioavailable nanoplastic fragments in the ocean.
Photochemical transformation of microplastics-derived dissolved organic matter altered the photoaging of microplastics
Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter released from different microplastics (polystyrene, polyethylene, and biodegradable PBAT) affects the aging of polystyrene microplastics under UV irradiation, finding that PBAT-derived organic matter most strongly accelerated plastic photoaging.
The Photodegradation Process of PP Plastics in Tidal Flat Environments: The Role and Mechanism of Chloride Ions
Researchers investigated how chloride ions in tidal flat environments affect polypropylene plastic photodegradation, finding that chloride accelerated degradation kinetics, increased carbonyl index values faster, and promoted microplastic fragmentation — identifying saltwater chemistry as a key factor in coastal plastic aging.
Characterization of the microplastic photoaging under the action of typical salt ions of biological nitrogen removal processes
Photoaging — the breakdown of plastics under UV light — of PVC microplastics was significantly slowed in the presence of bicarbonate and nitrate ions commonly found in wastewater treatment systems. Paradoxically, aged PVC particles leached more contaminants and more readily adsorbed nitrogen compounds than fresh particles, with leaching increasing as particles got smaller. Understanding how wastewater chemistry alters the aging and behavior of microplastics is critical for improving the ability of treatment plants to remove and manage plastic particles before they are released into waterways.
Abiotic degradation and accelerated ageing of microplastics from biodegradable and recycled materials in artificial seawater
Researchers examined the degradation behavior of microplastics from two biodegradable plastics (polylactic acid and Mater-Bi) and recycled PET under simulated seawater and photo-oxidative conditions. They identified hydrolysis as the primary degradation pathway and characterized the oligomers, degradation products, and plastic additives released into the water. The study improves understanding of how these alternative plastic materials break down in marine environments and what chemicals they release.
Dissolved organic matter derived from biodegradable microplastic promotes photo-aging of coexisting microplastics and alters microbial metabolism
Dissolved organic matter leaching from two biodegradable microplastics (PBAT/PCL blends) was characterized, finding that it can promote photo-oxidation reactions in water by acting as a photosensitizer. The study raises concerns that biodegradable plastics, while designed to break down, generate chemically reactive leachate with potential environmental impacts.
Progress on the photo aging mechanism of microplastics and related impact factors in water environment
This review examined the photo-aging mechanisms of microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that solar UV radiation drives oxidation reactions that alter surface chemistry, fragment particles further, and enhance their capacity to adsorb and release co-occurring pollutants.
Photoreactive Bromide Ions as Overlooked Regulators of Nanoplastic Surface Chemistry and Aggregation in Sunlit Seawater
Researchers investigated how seawater's bromide ions alter nanoplastic behavior under UV light, finding that bromine radicals accelerate surface oxidation and coating degradation in a surface-chemistry-dependent manner, causing amine-coated plastics to aggregate faster while plain and carboxyl-coated types form large microscale aggregates through calcium bridging.
Photo aging of polypropylene microplastics in estuary water and coastal seawater: Important role of chlorine ion
Researchers studied how UV light ages polypropylene microplastics in estuarine and coastal seawater and found that chloride ions significantly accelerated photo-degradation by generating reactive chlorine radicals, suggesting that marine microplastics age faster than freshwater ones.
Reactive species-mediated stepwise photoaging mechanisms of microplastics transferred from freshwater to seawater
This study revealed a two-stage photoaging mechanism for polystyrene microplastics as they move from freshwater to saltwater: reactive oxygen species drive degradation in freshwater, then reactive chloride species take over in seawater, together causing 43% more polymer chain breakage than freshwater aging alone. The finding is significant because it means microplastics that travel from rivers to the ocean degrade faster and more extensively than lab studies conducted in a single water type would predict, potentially releasing more chemical additives and forming more nanoplastics.
Hydrophilic Fraction of Dissolved Organic Matter Largely Facilitated Microplastics Photoaging: Insights from Redox Properties and Reactive Oxygen Species
This study investigated how dissolved organic matter in natural water affects the breakdown of microplastics by sunlight. The water-soluble fraction of organic matter was most effective at speeding up microplastic aging by generating reactive oxygen species that attack the plastic surface. This matters because faster breakdown of microplastics in the environment creates smaller, potentially more dangerous nanoplastic particles that can more easily enter living organisms.
Photodegradation of Plastic Leachate: Revealing the Key Role of Halogen in Reduced Cytotoxicity in Marine Systems
Researchers studied the cytotoxicity of chemical leachate from sunscreen-derived microplastics as they degrade in freshwater versus seawater environments. They found that microplastic photodegradation was reduced in seawater because halogen ions, particularly bromide, suppressed the reactive oxygen species that drive degradation. The study reveals that halogens play a key role in reducing the toxicity of microplastic leachates in marine systems, suggesting that ocean chemistry may naturally limit some harmful effects of degrading plastics.
Aging of plastics in aquatic environments: Pathways, environmental behavior, ecological impacts, analyses and quantifications
This review examines how plastics age and degrade in aquatic environments through photo-oxidation, mechanical abrasion, and biodegradation. Researchers discuss the physicochemical changes that occur in aging plastics and the release of potentially harmful oxidation products during degradation. The study suggests that understanding these complex aging dynamics is essential for assessing the environmental and ecological risks posed by microplastics.
Unraveling the role of natural and pyrogenic dissolved organic matter in photodegradation of biodegradable microplastics in freshwater
Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter from natural sources versus biochar affects the breakdown of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics in sunlight. Naturally sourced organic matter accelerated PLA degradation nearly twice as much as biochar-derived matter by generating more reactive oxygen species, suggesting that the type of organic matter in a waterway significantly influences whether biodegradable plastics actually break down.
Photochemistry of microplastics-derived dissolved organic matter: Reactive species generation and organic pollutant degradation
Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter released from degrading polystyrene and PVC microplastics behaves when exposed to sunlight in water. They found that sunlight breaks down the aromatic compounds in this plastic-derived material and generates reactive chemical species, though at lower rates than natural organic matter. Despite this, these reactive species significantly accelerated the breakdown of co-existing pollutants, suggesting that degrading microplastics may act as unexpected natural catalysts in aquatic environments.
Comprehensive Understanding on the Aging Process and Mechanism of Microplastics in the Sediment–Water Interface: Untangling the Role of Photoaging and Biodegradation
Researchers examined how microplastics break down at the boundary between water and sediment in coastal wetlands, comparing the roles of sunlight-driven aging and biological degradation. They found that photoaging was the dominant process, accounting for over 55% of surface changes, and that biodegradable plastics aged faster than conventional ones. The study provides important insights into how microplastics transform in real-world coastal environments.
Photo-aging of polyvinyl chloride microplastic in the presence of natural organic acids
Researchers described a new photo-aging pathway for polyvinyl chloride microplastics in aquatic environments involving low-molecular-weight organic acids. The study found that natural organic acids and their iron complexes significantly accelerated the degradation of PVC microplastics under sunlight through hydroxyl radical generation, revealing how environmental conditions influence microplastic weathering.
Significant contribution of different sources of particulate organic matter to the photoaging of microplastics
Researchers discovered that particulate organic matter from different natural sources can significantly accelerate the aging of microplastics when exposed to UV light. Organic matter from peat soil showed the strongest effect, generating reactive oxygen species that broke down plastic surfaces more quickly. The study suggests that natural organic matter in the environment plays a larger role in microplastic degradation than previously recognized.
Aggregation kinetics and stability of biodegradable nanoplastics in aquatic environments: Effects of UV-weathering and proteins
Researchers investigated the aggregation behavior of biodegradable nanoplastics (PBAT) in aquatic environments, finding that UV weathering and protein presence significantly alter their colloidal stability and aggregation kinetics, which influences their environmental fate and transport.
ThePhotodegradationProcess of PP Plastics in TidalFlat Environments: The Role and Mechanism of Chloride Ions
Researchers investigated the role and mechanism of chloride ions (Cl-) in the photodegradation of polypropylene (PP) plastics in tidal flat (mudflat) environments using laboratory simulations and field verification. They found that chloride ions accelerated PP degradation and microplastic formation, identifying the photochemical pathways through which Cl- enhances polymer breakdown in coastal environments.
Which factors mainly drive the photoaging of microplastics in freshwater?
This study systematically investigated the roles of UV irradiation, oxygen, temperature, and physical abrasion in the photoaging of polystyrene microplastics in freshwater. UV irradiation and mechanical abrasion were identified as the dominant aging factors, and their combined effect caused more extensive surface oxidation and fragmentation than either alone.
Aging Process of Microplastics in the Aquatic Environments: Aging Pathway, Characteristic Change, Compound Effect, and Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals Formation
This review summarizes how microplastics age and transform in aquatic environments through oxidation, weathering, and fragmentation. Researchers documented changes in particle size, crystallinity, and surface chemistry during the aging process, and found that aged microplastics may interact synergistically with other environmental pollutants. The study also describes how photoaging generates environmentally persistent free radicals that could pose additional toxicity concerns.
Impacts of microplastics on organotins’ photodegradation in aquatic environments
Researchers found that polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polymethyl methacrylate microplastics differentially affect the photodegradation of organotin compounds in aquatic environments, with microplastics both adsorbing organotins and altering their photolytic breakdown pathways depending on polymer type.