Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Hydrophobisation of Silica Nanoparticles Using Lauroyl Ethyl Arginate and Chitosan Mixtures to Induce the Foaming Process

Silica nanoparticles were coated with a mixture of chitosan and a biodegradable surfactant to make them partially hydrophobic and capable of stabilizing foam films. The study found that small amounts of the surfactant promoted foam formation by reducing the surface tension around the nanoparticles. Stable biodegradable foams have potential applications in food processing and environmental cleanup.

2022 Polymers 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Ceramic Membrane Filtration for Alternatives to Microplastics in Cosmetic Formulations Using FlowCam Analysis

Ceramic membrane crossflow filtration was evaluated for removing silica powder and cornstarch—common microplastic alternatives in cosmetics—with FlowCam particle analysis revealing high removal efficiency and insights into particle behavior that can guide greener cosmetic formulation strategies.

2025 Membranes 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The bouncing threshold in silica nanograin collisions

This molecular dynamics simulation study characterized collision behavior between nanoscale silica particles, identifying the threshold between sticking and bouncing under different impact conditions. It is a materials physics paper with no direct connection to microplastics or environmental health.

2017 Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Weathering effects of secondary microplastics from expanded polystyrene foam on interactions with palmitic acid monolayers

Researchers generated size-fractionated microplastics and nanoplastics from photochemically weathered expanded polystyrene foam via colloidal ball-milling and found that weathered particles caused greater disruption to palmitic acid monolayers than commercial microbeads, primarily due to their colloidal stability and negative surface charge.

2025 Journal of environmental chemical engineering
Article Tier 2

Surface topography of nanoplastics modulates their internalization and toxicity in liver cells

Researchers found that the surface topography of nanoplastics significantly affects their internalization and toxicity in liver cells, revealing that surface roughness and texture modulate how these particles interact with cellular systems.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Attachment of various-shaped polystyrene microplastics to silica surfaces: Experimental validation of the equivalent Cassini oval extended DLVO model

Researchers experimentally studied the attachment of differently shaped polystyrene microplastics — spheres, fibres, and fragments — to silica surfaces under varying ionic strength and pH conditions. Particle shape strongly influenced attachment rate and strength, with fibres showing higher attachment efficiency than spheres due to greater contact area, with implications for predicting microplastic fate in porous soils and sediments.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

PET foaming: development of a new class of rheological additives for improved processability

This paper describes development of rheological additives to improve PET foaming for lightweight packaging, as an alternative to hard-to-recycle foamed polystyrene. Replacing polystyrene foam with more recyclable materials is important for reducing ocean microplastic pollution from packaging waste.

2023 Materials research proceedings
Article Tier 2

Influence of surfactant type on the microstructure, mechanical and thermal properties of phenolic foams

This study examined how surfactant type affects the microstructure, mechanical, and thermal properties of phenolic foams, finding that nonionic Tween80 produced the lowest density foams while anionic SLS30 produced the highest density, with all surfactants creating open-cell morphology.

2025 Scientific Reports 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Particle Shape and Surface Structure on the Adsorption Properties of Polystyrene Microplastics

Researchers analyzed how particle shape and surface structure affect the adsorption properties of polystyrene microplastics toward organic pollutants, reviewing experimental literature to disentangle the influence of surface layer morphology from bulk particle characteristics. The study found that surface porosity and roughness significantly modify adsorption capacity and kinetics, cautioning that results from idealized model spheres may not accurately represent the behavior of environmentally aged or irregularly shaped microplastic particles.

2024 Polymers 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Colloid and Interface Science for Understanding Microplastics and Developing Remediation Strategies

This perspective article argues that principles from colloid and interface science are essential for understanding how microplastics behave in the environment. Researchers explain how surface chemistry, particle shape, and roughness govern how microplastics interact with water, soil, and other pollutants. The study identifies wastewater treatment plants as critical hotspots where microplastics accumulate in sludge and get reintroduced to the environment through agricultural application.

2025 Langmuir 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of surfactant concentration on the synthesis of hydrogel microbeads using the emulsion polymerization process for acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymers

Researchers examined the effect of surfactant concentration on the synthesis of hydrogel microbeads as biodegradable replacements for the plastic microbeads commonly used in personal care and cosmetic products, optimising formulation parameters to produce spherical particles with properties suitable for exfoliant applications.

2025 E3S Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Effect of Microplastic Particles on the Rheological Properties of Human Saliva and Mucus

Researchers investigated how polystyrene and polyethylene microparticles affect the physical properties of human saliva and mucus. The study used artificial mucus and saliva samples with an oscillatory rheometer to measure changes in viscosity and elasticity at both healthy and elevated body temperatures. The findings suggest that inhaled or ingested microplastic particles may alter the protective barrier functions of mucus and saliva in the mouth and respiratory system.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Volcanic Pumice Rafts at Sea: Buoyancy and Infiltration with Micro-particles

Researchers investigated the water infiltration properties of volcanic pumice and how the presence of microplastic particles in aqueous environments affects infiltration through pumice pores, finding that the high vesicularity of pumice and interaction with suspended micro-particles significantly influence buoyancy dynamics and particle retention.

2025 Forum Geografi
Article Tier 2

The influencing mechanisms of different characteristics of polystyrene microplastics on Saccharomyces cerevisiae : functional group, particle size and dosage

Researchers examined the effects of polystyrene microplastics on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, systematically varying functional group, particle size, and dosage to determine the mechanisms by which these physicochemical characteristics influence toxicity to this environmentally and industrially important yeast.

2025 Environmental Technology
Article Tier 2

The Effect of Microparticles on the Storage Modulus and Durability Behavior of Magnetorheological Elastomer

This study examined how different microparticle fillers affect the mechanical properties of magnetorheological elastomers, materials that change stiffness in response to magnetic fields. While not directly about microplastics, the research explores how particle size and type influence material behavior—concepts relevant to microplastic interactions with biological tissues.

2021 Micromachines 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic ShapeEffects on Lipid Bilayer Permeabilization

Researchers investigated how nanoplastic shape affects lipid bilayer permeabilisation, demonstrating that morphologically diverse environmental nanoplastics interact with cell membranes in ways that differ substantially from the uniform polystyrene nanospheres typically used in laboratory studies.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of Styrofoam Waste-based Membrane Through Vapor and Liquid-induced Phase Inversion Process

Researchers prepared polymeric membranes from recycled Styrofoam waste using a phase-inversion technique with either immersion or evaporation solidification, finding that the solidification method significantly influenced hydrophobicity, pore configuration, porosity, and thermal stability of the resulting membranes.

2023 Jurnal Kimia Riset 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of shape on heteroaggregation of model microplastics: a simulation study

Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to show that microplastic particle shape strongly influences how they aggregate with organic matter, finding that smooth spherical particles form compact aggregates with weak bonds while sharp-edged shapes form fractal structures with stronger connections that are more resistant to shear flow.

2023 Soft Matter 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface Mechanical Properties and Topological Characteristics of Thermoplastic Copolyesters after Precisely Controlled Abrasion

This study characterized surface mechanical properties and texture changes in thermoplastic copolyesters after controlled abrasion testing. Understanding how polymer surfaces wear is relevant to microplastic generation, since mechanical abrasion of plastic products is a key pathway through which microplastics are released into the environment.

2023 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic Shape Effects on Lipid Bilayer Permeabilization

Researchers investigated how nanoplastic shape and lipid bilayer composition jointly influence particle-membrane interactions, finding that environmentally realistic irregular nanoplastic morphologies disrupt lipid membranes differently than the pristine polystyrene nanospheres used in most prior studies.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

Analysis of hydraulic conditions considering the influence of particle shape

This review article examined how particle shape influences fluid dynamics and sediment transport across various engineering and environmental contexts. Understanding particle shape effects is relevant to predicting how microplastics of different shapes move and settle in aquatic environments.

2023 International Journal of Hydropower and Civil Engineering
Article Tier 2

Effect of Microplastics Particles on the Rheological Properties of Human Saliva and Mucus

Researchers investigated how polystyrene micro- and nanoparticles affect the rheological properties of human saliva and mucus, testing particles relevant to inhalation exposure from indoor synthetic textiles and outdoor aerosols. The study found that microplastic particles altered the viscoelastic properties of mucus, which could affect mucociliary clearance and respiratory defense.

2023 Preprints.org 5 citations
Article Tier 2

On the Key Role of Polymeric Rheology Modifiers in Emulsion-Based Cosmetics

This review examines the role of polymeric rheology modifiers in emulsion-based cosmetics such as skin and hair care products. The study discusses how various polymers are used to stabilize cosmetic emulsions and achieve desirable flow characteristics, providing context for understanding the types of synthetic polymers commonly used in personal care formulations.

2025 Cosmetics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Compound cavity formation and splash crown suppression by water entry through proximally adjacent polystyrene beads

This experimental study examined how hydrophilic spheres entering water interact with buoyant polystyrene beads simulating millimetric microplastics, documenting the splash dynamics and cavity formation that result from these collisions. The findings advance understanding of fluid-structure interactions relevant to how microplastics behave at the water surface during rain and wave events.

2024 Physics of Fluids 4 citations