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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Multi-Analytical Approach to Characterize the Degradation of Different Types of Microplastics: Identification and Quantification of Released Organic Compounds
ClearEnvironmental degradation and fragmentation of microplastics: dependence on polymer type, humidity, UV dose and temperature
Researchers systematically tested how UV light, temperature, and humidity cause five common plastic types to break apart into secondary microplastics and nanoplastics. They found that the type of plastic — not the aging conditions — was the main factor determining how quickly it fragmented and what byproducts it released, data that can improve models predicting how plastics break down in the environment.
Abiotic weathering of plastic: Experimental contributions towards understanding the formation of microplastics and other plastic related particulate pollutants
Scientists studied how the five most common types of plastic break down under realistic environmental conditions involving UV light, temperature changes, and humidity. They found that weathering follows complex, uneven pathways and that the microplastics produced can have very different physical properties depending on the additives in the original plastic. This matters because it means microplastics in the environment are more varied and unpredictable than lab studies using uniform particles suggest, complicating efforts to assess their health risks.
The fate of microplastics in the environment: Systematic studies to determine release rates of secondary micro- and nanoplastics and water-soluble organics induced by photolysis and hydrolysis
Researchers conducted systematic studies on the photolytic and hydrolytic degradation of microplastics using three photolysis protocols and multiple polymer types to determine release rates of secondary micro- and nanoplastics and water-soluble organics, providing mechanistic data needed for environmental fate and risk assessment.
The fate of microplastics in the environment: Systematic studies to determine release rates of secondary micro- and nanoplastics and water-soluble organics induced by photolysis and hydrolysis
Researchers conducted systematic studies on the photolytic and hydrolytic degradation of microplastics using three photolysis protocols and multiple polymer types to determine release rates of secondary micro- and nanoplastics and water-soluble organics, providing mechanistic data needed for environmental fate and risk assessment.
Exploring the environmental impact of textile polymer photodegradation through a multianalytical approach
Researchers used a multi-analytical approach to study how photodegradation of textile polymers generates microfibers and other plastic fragments with potential ecotoxicological impacts. The study characterized degradation products and their effects on aquatic organisms, linking polymer weathering to broader environmental harm.
Characterizing photochemical ageing processes of microplastic materials using multivariate analysis of infrared spectra
Scientists studied how sunlight breaks down tiny plastic particles (microplastics) that end up in our environment, finding that different types of plastic degrade at very different rates when exposed to UV light. This matters because as these plastics break down and change chemically, they may become better or worse at picking up and carrying harmful chemicals that could eventually reach humans through food and water. The research helps us better understand how long different plastics persist in nature and how their ability to transport pollutants changes over time.
Emerging investigator series: microplastic-based leachate formation under UV irradiation: the extent, characteristics, and mechanisms
Six common microplastic types were exposed to UV irradiation to characterize surface changes and leachate chemical profiles, finding that UV treatment generated oxidized surface groups and released diverse organic compounds. Leachate composition varied by polymer type, highlighting the role of weathering in generating secondary chemical pollution from microplastics.
Analysis of ultraviolet and thermal degradations of four common microplastics and evidence of nanoparticle release
Researchers studied how UV light and elevated temperature break down four common plastics and found that weathering releases nanoscale plastic particles. Polystyrene and polypropylene were particularly susceptible to UV degradation, generating significant numbers of nanoparticles. The findings confirm that environmental conditions actively fragment microplastics into even smaller, potentially more harmful nanoplastics.
A Systematic Study on the Degradation Products Generated from Artificially Aged Microplastics
This study systematically tracked the chemical degradation products that form as microplastics age in the environment, finding that weathering generates a range of potentially toxic organic compounds beyond the plastic itself. This suggests the environmental and health risks of microplastics increase as they break down over time.
Abiotic Long-Term Simulation of Microplastic Weathering Pathways under Different Aqueous Conditions
Laboratory weathering experiments simulated long-term microplastic degradation under UV, thermal, and mechanical stress to characterize how environmental exposure alters plastic surface chemistry, fragmentation, and additive release. The results provide insight into the formation pathways of secondary microplastics under realistic environmental conditions.
Insight into chain scission and release profiles from photodegradation of polycarbonate microplastics
Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down polycarbonate microplastics in water and what chemicals are released in the process. The study found that UV exposure caused the plastics to fragment into smaller pieces while releasing bisphenol A (BPA) and other potentially harmful organic compounds. Importantly, BPA accounted for only a small fraction of the total chemicals released, suggesting that many unknown degradation products are also entering aquatic environments.
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Combined with Reactive Oxygen Species Reveals Differences in Photoreactivity of Dissolved Organic Matter from Microplastic Sources in Aqueous Environments
Researchers analyzed the dissolved organic matter that different types of microplastics release into water and how it reacts with sunlight. Plastics with aromatic structures like polystyrene and PET released compounds that broke down faster and generated more reactive oxygen species than polyethylene or polypropylene. Understanding how different plastics chemically alter water quality is important because these released compounds and reactive species can affect aquatic life and the safety of water sources used by people.
Screening the release of chemicals and microplastic particles from diverse plastic consumer products into water under accelerated UV weathering conditions
Researchers exposed eight common plastic consumer products to UV light simulating eight months of weathering and found they released both microplastic particles and hundreds of chemical compounds into water. The UV exposure significantly increased the release of toxic metals and organic chemicals compared to products kept in the dark. Many of the detected substances exceeded safety thresholds, suggesting that sun-degraded plastic products could pose meaningful health and environmental risks.
A Systematic Study on the Degradation Products Generated from Artificially Aged Microplastics
This study systematically characterized the degradation products generated from artificially aged microplastics, finding that weathering produces a complex mixture of chemical byproducts beyond the original polymer that deserve attention in environmental risk assessments.
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.
Environmental Degradation and Fragmentation of Microplastics: Dependence on Polymer Type, Humidity, UV Dose and Temperature
A systematic study of UV dose, humidity, and temperature effects on six polymer types found that photo-oxidation is the primary driver of microplastic fragmentation and release of secondary nano-sized particles, with the relationship between weathering conditions and fragmentation rates varying by polymer type.
Thermal oxidation, ultraviolet radiation, and mechanical abrasion - understanding mechanisms of microplastic generation and chemical transformation
Researchers evaluated how consumer-derived polymers fragment and chemically transform when exposed to UV radiation or thermal oxidation followed by soil abrasion. The study found that these combined weathering processes, which mimic real-world environmental conditions, significantly affect the rate and type of microplastic generation. The results highlight how everyday use and environmental exposure work together to break down plastics into microplastic particles.
Linking UV aging of polymers and microplastics formation: An assessment employing various characterization techniques
Researchers examined the link between UV aging of plastic polymers and the generation of microplastics in marine environments, using environmental assessment tools to model the process. The study clarifies how photodegradation rates and polymer type influence the rate and quantity of microplastic formation.
Seeping plastics: Potentially harmful molecular fragments leaching out from microplastics during accelerated ageing in seawater
Researchers conducted accelerated aging experiments on four common plastic types in seawater to study the chemical compounds they release as they degrade. The study found that aging microplastics leach potentially harmful molecular fragments into the surrounding water, demonstrating that microplastics are not inert pollutants but chemically reactive materials that release degradation byproducts over time.
pH-Responsive leaching profiles from photodegradation of microplastics
Researchers systematically examined how UV photodegradation of microplastics triggers pH-dependent release of chemical additives, non-intentionally added substances, and oligomers under controlled degradation conditions, characterising leaching profiles across a range of plastic polymer types. The study identified that pH strongly governs which hazardous compounds leach from degrading plastics and at what concentrations, revealing a mechanism by which environmental conditions modulate chemical risk from microplastic pollution.
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.
Photochemical weathering of polyurethane microplastics produced complex and dynamic mixtures of dissolved organic chemicals
Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down polyurethane microplastics in ocean surface waters and what chemical byproducts are released. The study found that photochemical weathering produced complex and constantly changing mixtures of dissolved organic chemicals, with different polyurethane types releasing different compounds. The findings reveal that while sunlight helps degrade microplastics, the resulting chemical cocktails may themselves pose environmental risks.
Continuous long-term monitoring of leaching from microplastics into ambient water – A multi-endpoint approach
Researchers conducted continuous long-term monitoring of leaching from 16 types of microplastics into water, finding that most released significant dissolved organic carbon and various chemicals, with leaching patterns varying by polymer type and environmental conditions.
Understanding plastic degradation and microplastic formation in the environment: A review
This review covers how plastics break down in the environment through sunlight, heat, water, and microbial action to form microplastics smaller than 5 millimeters. The process depends on both the type of plastic and environmental conditions, but knowledge about real-world degradation rates and pathways is still limited. Understanding how microplastics form is essential for predicting where they accumulate and how they might enter the food chain and drinking water.