We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to A primary study on the degradation of low-density polyethylene treated with select oxidizing agents and starch
ClearDegradation of polyethylene microplastics in seawater: Insights into the environmental degradation of polymers
Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics degrade in artificial seawater and found that exposure led to surface oxidation, cracking, and fragmentation over time. The study suggests that environmental degradation of microplastics in marine settings may generate progressively smaller particles, including nanoplastics, while also releasing chemical additives into surrounding waters.
Molecular-Scale Understanding of the Embrittlement in Polyethylene Ocean Debris
Analysis of polyethylene ocean debris revealed that environmental weathering increases crystallinity while disrupting the lamellar structure of the polymer, causing embrittlement and eventual fragmentation into smaller pieces. Understanding this molecular-scale process helps explain how large plastic packaging breaks down into the microplastics found throughout marine environments.
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.
Accelerated photoaging of microplastic - polyethylene terephthalate: physical, chemical, morphological properties and pesticide adsorption
Researchers subjected polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics to accelerated photoaging under simulated sunlight, characterizing changes in surface chemistry, crystallinity, and mechanical properties over time. Photoaging increased surface oxidation, reduced molecular weight, and enhanced the release of plastic additives, suggesting aged PET microplastics present greater chemical hazard than pristine particles.
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.
Aging assessment of microplastics (LDPE, PET and uPVC) under urban environment stressors
Researchers aged LDPE, PET, and uPVC microplastics using ozone, UV-C, and solar radiation to simulate urban environmental stressors, finding that each aging agent produced distinct changes in surface morphology, chemical structure, and crystallinity that could alter particle behavior in the environment.
Degradation of low-density polyethylene to nanoplastic particles by accelerated weathering
Researchers demonstrated that accelerated weathering of low-density polyethylene produces nanoplastic particles, providing experimental evidence for the degradation pathway from macro-plastics to nanoscale fragments in the environment.
Chemical and physical changes of microplastics during sterilization by chlorination
Researchers exposed common plastic types to chlorination conditions used in water and wastewater treatment and measured the resulting chemical and physical changes. They found that polystyrene was most susceptible to degradation from chlorine exposure, while polypropylene was most resistant. The study suggests that wastewater chlorination may alter the surface properties of microplastics, potentially affecting how they interact with contaminants and organisms in the environment.
Degradation of polypropylene : proportion of microplastics formed and assessment of their density.
This study quantified microplastic formation during UV degradation of polypropylene and characterized the chemical changes in the polymer structure caused by photooxidation. UV exposure was shown to generate new particles and alter chemical composition in ways that may change microplastic toxicity and environmental behavior.
Nanostructural changes in commodity polyethylene during environmental exposure
Researchers studied how polyethylene plastic packaging degrades at the molecular level during environmental exposure, finding that structural stress built up during manufacturing makes the material more prone to fragmentation. Understanding how plastics break apart is key to predicting microplastic generation rates.
Peculiarity of the Mechanism of Early Stages of Photo-Oxidative Degradation of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Films in the Presence of Ferric Stearate
This study investigated how ferric stearate (an iron-based additive used in oxo-degradable plastics) accelerates the early stages of polyethylene photo-oxidation, finding that it acts not merely as a catalyst but actively generates radicals that fragment the polymer chain from the outset. While framed as a materials science study, the findings are relevant to the microplastics debate: oxo-degradable plastics marketed as environmentally friendly may in fact fragment more rapidly into persistent microplastic particles rather than fully mineralizing.
Comparison of surficial modification of micro-sized polyethylenein between by UV/O3 and UVO submerged system
Researchers compared ozone and UV oxidation methods for chemically modifying the surface of polyethylene microplastics in water, finding that different treatment combinations create distinct surface changes. Understanding how weathering alters microplastic surfaces is important for predicting their environmental behavior and toxicity.
Enhancing plastic waste recycling: Evaluating the impact of additives on the enzymatic polymer degradation
Researchers developed an enzymatic process to break down post-consumer high-density polyethylene using laccase enzyme under mild conditions. They found that removing additives from the plastic was critical, as additive-free polyethylene showed a 33% weight reduction compared to just 3% for plastic with additives intact. The study suggests that plastic additives are a significant barrier to enzymatic recycling and that addressing them could substantially improve biodegradation outcomes.
Enhancing the Wear Resistance of Low-Density Polyethylene by Conversion into a Thermoset or Graphite-Reinforced Thermoset Nanocomposite, with Implications for Reducing Degradation to Microplastics
Researchers enhanced the wear resistance of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by converting it into a thermoset or graphite-reinforced thermoset nanocomposite using solid-state shear pulverization and dicumyl peroxide crosslinking, substantially reducing microplastic generation from abrasion. The approach demonstrates that thermoset conversion and graphite reinforcement together improve Young's modulus, ultimate strength, and wear performance compared to neat LDPE.
Study on the Mechanism of Molecular Weight Reduction of Polyethylene Based on Fe-Montmorillonite and Its Potential Application
Researchers investigated the mechanism by which Fe-montmorillonite accelerates polyethylene molecular weight reduction during photodegradation, finding that iron ions catalyze chain scission before oxidative degradation, offering potential for breaking down PE plastic waste.
Aging behavior of microplastics accelerated by mechanical fragmentation: alteration of intrinsic and extrinsic properties
Researchers mechanically fragmented polystyrene, polypropylene, and PET microplastics to simulate environmental aging, finding that fragmentation alters surface chemistry, crystallinity, and heavy metal adsorption capacity, with aging degree measurable through structural changes.
From macroplastic to microplastic: Degradation of high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene in a salt marsh habitat
Researchers subjected high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and other plastics to simulated environmental degradation and tracked their fragmentation from macro- to microplastic sizes, characterizing surface changes and particle generation rates.
Understanding the hazards induced by microplastics in different environmental conditions
Researchers subjected four common plastic types to accelerated aging under UV light, enzyme exposure, and seawater conditions to understand how environmental stress transforms microplastics. They found that seawater conditions caused the greatest size reduction, with polyethylene shrinking by over 87%, along with significant chemical changes including the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups. The study suggests that environmentally weathered microplastics, particularly polyethylene exposed to ocean conditions, may pose greater potential health hazards than pristine particles.
Enhanced degradation of microplastics by laccase under ambient conditions: Analysis of underlying molecular mechanisms
This study demonstrated that the enzyme laccase can degrade three types of microplastics — polyethylene (PE), PET, and PLA — by breaking apart polymer chains and transforming surface chemical groups, with biodegradable PLA showing the highest degradation efficiency. The mechanistic insights into how reactive oxygen species and electron transfer drive enzymatic degradation provide a foundation for developing enzyme-based treatments to remove microplastics from water and soil.
Fate and environmental behaviors of microplastics through the lens of free radical
Researchers reviewed how free radicals influence the fate and environmental behavior of microplastics, including surface degradation, chemical release, and changes in crystallinity and water affinity. The study found that while free radicals can cause weathering and fragmentation of microplastics in the environment, high concentrations of free radicals with strong oxidation potential can also be harnessed to effectively degrade microplastic pollutants.