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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Solar radiation stimulates release of semi-labile dissolved organic matter from microplastics
ClearPhotochemical dissolution of buoyant microplastics to dissolved organic carbon: Rates and microbial impacts
Common ocean surface microplastics (PE, PP, EPS) were irradiated under simulated sunlight, which fragmented and oxidized the polymers and produced dissolved organic carbon as a significant byproduct. The study identifies sunlight-driven photochemical dissolution as an important but poorly quantified removal mechanism for buoyant microplastics from the ocean surface.
Molecular Signatures of Dissolved Organic Matter Generated from the Photodissolution of Microplastics in Sunlit Seawater
Researchers incubated polyethylene, polypropylene, and expanded polystyrene microplastics in sunlit seawater and characterized the dissolved organic matter produced as the plastics broke down. The study found that sunlight generated hundreds of unique oxygen-containing chemical products from each plastic type, while virtually none were produced in the dark. Evidence indicates that a single process, photodegradation, can transform simple plastic polymers into a complex array of dissolved organic chemicals in ocean environments.
Size and Structure-Dependent Molecular Fingerprint Transformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter in Sunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles
This study examined how the size and structure of microplastics influence the photochemical transformation of MP-derived dissolved organic matter under UV irradiation, finding that inherent plastic properties determine the molecular character of DOM released and its effects on ocean carbon cycling.
Warming exponentially stimulates photoleaching of dissolved organic matter from multiple microplastics
Researchers quantified dissolved organic matter release from four common marine microplastics (PE, PP, PET, PVC) under UV light at temperatures ranging from 10–35°C, finding that warming exponentially increased photoleaching rates — with implications for how climate change may accelerate microplastic-derived carbon cycling in ocean surface waters.
Sizeand Structure-DependentMolecular FingerprintTransformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter inSunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles
Researchers investigated how the size and structure of microplastics influence the photochemical transformation of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter in sunlit seawater, finding that inherent polymer properties shape the molecular fingerprint changes with implications for marine carbon cycling.
Sizeand Structure-DependentMolecular FingerprintTransformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter inSunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles
Researchers investigated how the size and structure of microplastics influence the photochemical transformation of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter in sunlit seawater, finding that inherent polymer properties shape the molecular fingerprint changes with implications for marine carbon cycling.
Plastic photodegradation under simulated marine conditions
Researchers measured the photodegradation rates of different plastic types under simulated marine conditions and found that UV radiation caused all plastics to release dissolved organic carbon and greenhouse gases including methane. The degradation rates translated to 1.7-2.3% per year for particles in subtropical surface ocean conditions. Modeling suggests that solar UV radiation may have already degraded 7 to 22% of all floating plastic ever released into the sea.
Microplastic-DerivedCarbon Emissions: From GranularCarbon to Dissolved Organic Carbon and Carbon Dioxide under UltravioletRadiation
Researchers investigated microplastic-derived carbon emissions under ultraviolet radiation, tracking the transformation pathway from granular carbon to dissolved organic carbon and ultimately carbon dioxide, finding that UV aging drives significant carbon release from hydrocarbon polymer microplastics.
Photodissolution of submillimeter-sized microplastics and its dependences on temperature and light composition
Researchers examined how temperature and light wavelength affect photodissolution of polypropylene, polystyrene, and thermoplastic polyurethane microplastics in seawater, finding that UVB radiation exclusively drives dissolution, that a 20°C temperature increase can enhance dissolved organic carbon production by 3–10 times depending on polymer, and that estimated lifetimes for these plastics in warm surface waters range from 3.6 to 6.5 years.
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.
Characterization of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter in freshwater: Effects of light irradiation and polymer types
Researchers examined how different types of microplastics release dissolved organic matter into freshwater under light and dark conditions. They found that polypropylene released the most organic compounds after UV exposure, while protein-like substances were the main material released by most plastics in the dark. The study indicates that microplastics may have ongoing, long-term effects on water chemistry and microbial activity in natural water bodies.
Photochemical reactivity of water-soluble dissolved organic matter from microplastics and microfibers
When microplastics and microfibers sit in water, they leach dissolved organic matter (DOM) that can react with sunlight to produce reactive chemicals. This study found that the type and amount of DOM released depends heavily on polymer chemistry, with aromatic plastics like PET and polystyrene releasing more light-absorbing DOM, and microfibers releasing more DOM overall than microplastic particles. Understanding how plastic-derived DOM breaks down in sunlight is important because these chemical by-products can interact with other aquatic pollutants and affect aquatic ecosystems in ways not yet fully understood.
Photo-induced leaching behaviors and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter from microplastics and terrestrial-sourced particles
Researchers studied how light exposure causes microplastics and terrestrial particles to leach dissolved organic matter, and how this leachate behaves in the environment. The study found differences in the biodegradability of leachate from plastic versus natural sources, suggesting that microplastic-derived organic matter may persist differently in aquatic ecosystems.
Microplastic-Derived Carbon Emissions: From Granular Carbon to Dissolved Organic Carbon and Carbon Dioxide under Ultraviolet Radiation
Researchers examined carbon emissions from microplastics during aging processes, finding that MPs release not only dissolved organic carbon but also granular carbon particles as they degrade, expanding understanding of the contribution of plastic pollution to oceanic carbon cycling and carbon budgets.
Investigating whether aquatic microbes are inhibited by dissolved organic carbon formed during the photo-dissolution of microplastics
Researchers investigated whether dissolved organic carbon produced when sunlight degrades floating microplastics inhibits aquatic microbial growth, finding that while much of the carbon can fuel microbial activity, some photochemically produced compounds may have inhibitory effects.
Revealing the long-term impact of photodegradation and fragmentation on HDPE in the marine environment: Origins of microplastics and dissolved organics
Researchers studied how high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a common marine plastic, degrades over nine years of ocean exposure and in lab UV tests. Real-world conditions caused more severe breakdown than UV light alone, suggesting multiple factors work together to turn plastic products into microplastics. The degrading plastic also released dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen into the water, adding another way that plastic pollution changes ocean chemistry.
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.
Molecular-level insights into the heterogeneous variations and dynamic formation mechanism of leached dissolved organic matter during the photoaging of polystyrene microplastics
Researchers investigated the molecular-level changes that occur when polystyrene microplastics break down under light exposure and release dissolved organic matter into water. They found that the released molecules were highly diverse and changed dynamically over the course of aging, with different chemical classes appearing at different stages. The study provides new insight into how degrading microplastics introduce complex mixtures of organic chemicals into aquatic environments.
Molecular fingerprints of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics over prolonged photochemical aging: Implications for aquatic carbon cycling
Researchers used ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify the dissolved organic molecules that leach from polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene microplastics after prolonged exposure to sunlight. They found that polystyrene released the most diverse array of molecules, many of which could persist in water systems. The study suggests that as microplastics degrade in sunlight, they release non-natural organic compounds that may affect the aquatic carbon cycle from rivers to oceans.
Dissolved organic carbon leaching from microplastics and bioavailability in coastal ecosystems
Researchers evaluated dissolved organic carbon leaching from polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in coastal ecosystems, finding that up to 85% of the leached carbon was biodegradable by microbial communities. The study found that different coastal environments, such as seagrass beds and river mouths, showed varying abilities to utilize this plastic-derived carbon, suggesting microplastics may be an underappreciated source of dissolved organic carbon in marine systems.
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.
Polystyrene microplastics increase microbial release of marine Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in microcosm experiments
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics increased microbial release of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in marine microcosm experiments, suggesting that microplastics can alter microbial community dynamics and influence the optical properties and carbon cycling of marine waters.
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.
Phototransformation and photoreactivity of MPs-DOM in aqueous environment: Key role of MPs structure decoded by optical and molecular signatures
Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter released from microplastics behaves during light-driven transformation in water. They found that organic matter from benzene-containing polymers showed distinctly different photoreactivity compared to matter from polyolefin-based plastics. The study reveals that the chemical structure of the parent microplastic plays a key role in determining how its dissolved byproducts react and generate reactive species in aquatic environments.