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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to The effect of temperature on the U-232 and Am-241 adsorption by PN6 microplastics in aqueous solutions.
ClearThe Interaction of Two Emerging Pollutants, Radionuclides and Microplastics: In-Depth Thermodynamic Studies in Water, Seawater, and Wastewater
This study examined how two radioactive isotopes — uranium-232 and americium-241 — interact with polyurethane and polylactic acid microplastics in freshwater, seawater, and wastewater under varying pH and temperature conditions. Microplastics were found to adsorb both radionuclides, with temperature and pH strongly influencing the binding, though natural water chemistry reduced adsorption efficiency significantly. The findings raise concern that microplastics in nuclear-adjacent or contaminated water bodies could act as carriers, concentrating and potentially transporting radioactive pollutants through aquatic systems.
Americium Sorption by Microplastics in Aqueous Solutions
Researchers investigated americium sorption by polyamide and polyethylene microplastics in both deionized water and seawater, tracing interactions with Am-241 isotope and examining the effects of pH and solution composition on sorption efficiency over time. The study found that microplastic type and aqueous matrix composition significantly influenced radionuclide uptake, with implications for the transport of radioactive contaminants in marine environments.
The interaction of two emerging pollutants, radionuclides and microplastics: In-depth thermodynamic studies in water, seawater, and wastewater
Laboratory experiments measured how polyurethane and polylactic acid microplastics adsorb radioactive uranium and americium from water under conditions mimicking seawater and wastewater. The results show that microplastics can accumulate radionuclides from contaminated water environments, raising the possibility that plastic particles could act as unexpected carriers of radioactive contamination through aquatic food webs.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics as radionuclide (U-232) carriers: Surface alteration matters the most
Researchers investigated how surface alteration of PET microplastics affects their ability to carry radioactive uranium-232. The study found that biofilm formation on PET surfaces dramatically increased radionuclide adsorption efficiency compared to pristine plastic, suggesting that environmentally weathered microplastics may play a more significant role in transporting radioactive contaminants through aquatic systems.
First-time evaluation of 137Cs adsorption onto virgin PLA, PET, and PVC microplastics
Researchers tested how three common microplastics — PLA, PET, and PVC — absorb radioactive cesium-137 from water, finding that pH, temperature, and competing ions all affect how much cesium sticks to each plastic. This matters because microplastics can act as carriers for radioactive contaminants, potentially transporting them through aquatic environments.
Microplastics as vectors of radioiodine in the marine environment: A study on sorption and interaction mechanism
Researchers investigated microplastics as potential vectors of radioiodine in the marine environment, finding that different polymer types exhibited varying sorption capacities for radioiodine, revealing a previously unstudied pathway for radionuclide transport.
Uranium accumulation in environmentally relevant microplastics and agricultural soil at acidic and circumneutral pH
Researchers examined how uranium interacts with high-density polyethylene microplastics and agricultural soil at different pH levels. The study found that while soil rapidly removed most aqueous uranium, microplastics accumulated measurable amounts of uranium over time, raising concerns about microplastics acting as carriers for radioactive contaminants in the environment.
Microplastics and disposable face masks as “Trojan Horse” for radionuclides pollution in water bodies – A review with emphasis on the involved interactions
Researchers reviewed how microplastics and disposable face masks can adsorb radioactive particles (radionuclides like cesium-137 and uranium) and carry them through water environments, potentially concentrating radiation in the food chain. Key factors affecting this process include plastic type, particle size, and water chemistry, with some polymers showing adsorption partition coefficients as high as 2670 L/kg.
Marine microplastics fuel long-range transport of radioactive nuclides: A review
This review examines how marine microplastics adsorb radioactive nuclides and transport them over long distances, discussing the implications of plastic-facilitated radionuclide dispersal for ocean monitoring and the compounding environmental risks from co-occurring plastic and nuclear contamination.
Radionuclide Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Oxidized Carbon Fabrics
This paper is not directly about microplastics; it investigates the adsorption of radioactive actinide ions (americium and uranium) from water using carbon fabric materials, finding near-complete removal of uranium under optimal pH and temperature conditions.
Interfacial Interactions of Uranium and Arsenic with Microplastics: From Field Detection to Controlled Laboratory Tests
Researchers detected microplastics in freshwater bodies across New Mexico and then tested in the lab whether common plastic types adsorb uranium and arsenic from water. While arsenic showed no affinity for any plastic tested, uranium at neutral pH readily precipitated onto plastic surfaces, forming mineral crusts. This means microplastics in mining-affected waterways could complicate metal contamination by creating new hotspots of radioactive and toxic material that are difficult to predict and remove.
A Preliminary Study on the “Hitchhiking” of Radionuclides on Microplastics: A New Threat to the Marine Environment from Compound Pollution
This preliminary study examined whether radionuclides can adsorb onto microplastic surfaces and be transported through the environment alongside them, identifying the physicochemical properties of microplastics that facilitate radionuclide hitchhiking and the associated contamination risks.
Adsorption of perfluoroalkyl substances on polyamide microplastics: Effect of sorbent and influence of environmental factors
Researchers studied how perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of persistent industrial chemicals, bind to polyamide microplastics in water. They found that smaller microplastic particles absorbed dramatically more PFAS than larger ones, and that water chemistry conditions like pH and salinity influenced the process. The findings suggest microplastics can concentrate harmful chemicals and potentially increase human and wildlife exposure to PFAS in contaminated environments.
Microplastics as potential bisphenol carriers: role of adsorbents, adsorbates, and environmental factors
Laboratory experiments showed that four common microplastic types — polystyrene, polypropylene, polyamide, and PVC — all readily adsorb bisphenols (BPA, BPB, BPF, BPS), with polyamide showing the highest capacity. Adsorption was strongly influenced by polymer surface chemistry, bisphenol hydrophobicity, temperature, and salinity. Because bisphenols are potent endocrine disruptors, microplastics acting as their environmental carriers could amplify human and wildlife exposure through contaminated seafood and drinking water.
Unfolding the interaction of radioactive Cs and Sr with polyethylene-derived microplastics in marine environment
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics in the marine environment interact with radioactive cesium and strontium. They found that as microplastics age in seawater and develop biofilms, their ability to absorb these radioactive elements increases significantly. The study provides evidence that microplastics could act as previously unrecognized carriers of radioactive contamination in ocean environments.
Biofilm-enhanced adsorption of strong and weak cations onto different microplastic sample types: Use of spectroscopy, microscopy and radiotracer methods
Researchers used radiotracer, spectroscopy, and microscopy methods to show that biofilm-coated environmental plastics adsorb radioactive cesium and strontium — radionuclides associated with nuclear releases — though at rates much lower than natural sediments, confirming that plastics act as a minor but measurable sink for environmental radioactivity.
Unfolding the interaction of radioactive Cs and Sr with polyethylene-derived microplastics in marine environment
A mesocosm study examined how radioactive cesium and strontium interact with pristine, radiation-exposed, and marine-weathered polyethylene microplastics, finding that environmental aging—through biofilm formation and surface roughening—significantly increased the plastic particles' capacity to sorb radioactive contaminants.
Initial data on adsorption of Cs and Sr to the surfaces of microplastics with biofilm
Researchers measured adsorption of radiocesium and radiostrontium onto weathered microplastics deployed in freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments, finding that distribution coefficients were approximately two to three orders of magnitude lower than for sediment reference values. Despite the lower adsorption, the buoyancy and mobility of plastics suggest they may still function as a significant radionuclide reservoir in aquatic systems.
Microplastic-radionuclide complexes: Diffusion mechanisms and multidimensional threats
This review examined how microplastics can bind with radioactive materials in the ocean, creating microplastic-radionuclide complexes that spread contamination across regions. Researchers found that microplastics facilitate the long-distance transport of radionuclides, while the radiation can intensify the toxic effects of the plastic particles on marine organisms. The combined threat is particularly relevant given ongoing concerns about radioactive wastewater discharge into marine environments.
Microplastics aged in various environmental media exhibited strong sorption to heavy metals in seawater
Researchers aged six types of microplastics — including polyamide and PET — in different environments and then measured their adsorption of heavy metals in seawater, finding that aging consistently increased metal sorption capacity and that environmental medium during aging strongly influenced the degree of surface modification.
Adsorption behavior of organic pollutants and metals on micro/nanoplastics in the aquatic environment
This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments adsorb organic pollutants and metals onto their surfaces, effectively acting as carriers for other contaminants. Researchers found that environmental factors like pH, salinity, and aging of the plastic significantly influence this sorption behavior. The findings raise concerns that microplastics may increase the bioavailability and toxicity of chemical pollutants in waterways.
An effective method to assess the sorption dynamics of PCB radiotracers onto plastic and sediment microparticles
Scientists developed a radiotracer method using PCB isotopes to precisely measure how quickly toxic chemicals sorb onto microplastics and sediment particles in seawater. Understanding sorption-desorption rates is critical for predicting how much toxic chemical exposure marine organisms receive from microplastic ingestion.
Sorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by microplastics
This study measured sorption of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) onto four types of microplastics under varying temperature, pH, and salinity conditions, finding that sorption capacity differed substantially by polymer type and environmental conditions.
Sorption of non-polar organic compounds by micro-sized plastic particles in aqueous solution
This study measured the sorption of non-polar organic compounds by micro-sized plastic particles in aqueous solution, finding that different polymer types varied significantly in their ability to accumulate hydrophobic contaminants.