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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Simulated sunlight exposure as a prerequisite for the biodegradation of persistent microplastics
ClearPhoto-oxidation of Micro- and Nanoplastics: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Effects in Environments
This review examines how sunlight breaks down micro- and nanoplastics in the environment, changing their surface properties and making them interact differently with pollutants and living organisms. Sun-aged plastic particles can become more toxic to aquatic life and affect soil microbe communities, but many questions remain about these processes under real-world conditions.
Photo-induced degradation of single-use polyethylene terephthalate microplastics under laboratory and outdoor environmental conditions
Researchers tested how sunlight, water, and physical wear work together to break down PET microplastics, the type commonly found in plastic bottles and food packaging. Over 60 days, combined UV light and water exposure caused significant chemical degradation of the plastic surfaces. This matters because as microplastics break down in the environment, they release smaller fragments and potentially harmful chemicals that are easier for organisms to absorb.
Aging behavior of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics accelerated by UV/H2O2 processes
Researchers used UV and hydrogen peroxide to simulate environmental aging of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, finding that PLA microplastics undergo significant surface and structural changes during weathering that alter their environmental behavior and persistence.
Degradation of Biodegradable Microplastics under Artificially Controlled Aging Conditions with UV Radiation
Researchers subjected biodegradable plastics to controlled UV aging and found that they fragmented into microplastics faster than conventional plastics under simulated outdoor conditions. Biodegradable plastics are promoted as an eco-friendly alternative, but this study shows they may actually create microplastic pollution more rapidly in real-world environments. The findings raise important questions about whether biodegradable plastics are a genuine solution to plastic pollution.
From Macro to Micro Plastics; Influence of Photo-oxidative Degradation
This study used simulated UV aging to investigate how photo-oxidative degradation of common plastics drives fragmentation from macro to micro scale, characterizing the surface property changes and structural breakdown that generate microplastic particles in the environment.
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.
Effect of microplastics on the photodegradation of high-consumption drugs under simulated sunlight: The critical role of aging and reactive oxygen species
Researchers evaluated how polypropylene, polylactic acid, and PET microplastics act as photosensitizers affecting the sunlight-driven degradation of commonly consumed pharmaceutical drugs. The study found that the aging state of microplastics and the reactive oxygen species they generate play critical roles in influencing drug breakdown rates in the environment.
Assessing the impact of simulated ocean acidification on the photodegradation of selected microplastics
This study assessed how simulated ocean acidification conditions affect the photodegradation rate and products of plastic polymers, finding that lower pH accelerates surface oxidation and may alter the toxicity of plastic degradation leachates.
Developing environmentally relevant test materials for microplastic research through UV-induced photoaging
Researchers used UV irradiation to create photoaged microplastics from multiple polymer types as environmentally relevant test materials for ecotoxicology research, characterizing how aging changes surface chemistry, particle size distribution, and potential biological effects.
From macroplastics to microplastics: Role of water in the fragmentation of polyethylene
Laboratory photodegradation experiments compared how polyethylene plastic films fragment in water versus air under UV light, finding that the aquatic environment significantly influences the physical and chemical breakdown of plastic into microplastics. The study improves understanding of how water immersion changes the photodegradation pathways of floating and submerged plastic debris.
The Role of Artificial Weathering Protocols on Abiotic and Bacterial Degradation of Polyethylene
Researchers compared three different artificial weathering protocols to understand how UV exposure patterns affect the degradation of polyethylene and its subsequent breakdown by bacteria. The study found that different weathering conditions significantly influence the physicochemical properties of polyethylene, which in turn affects how readily microorganisms can degrade the material, with implications for understanding microplastic formation in the environment.
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.
Insights into the photoaging behavior of biodegradable and nondegradable microplastics: Spectroscopic and molecular characteristics of dissolved organic matter release
Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional microplastics break down under ultraviolet light and what dissolved substances they release. They found that biodegradable PLA microplastics released more protein-like organic matter during UV exposure than conventional polystyrene, and this matter was more readily used by microorganisms. The study suggests that biodegradable plastics, while designed to be better for the environment, may introduce different ecological risks as they break down.
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.
Photo-Aging of Biodegradable Polylactic Acid Microplastics
Researchers investigated the photo-aging of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, finding that UV exposure caused fragmentation that increased total particle numbers while decreasing average particle size. The study provides quantitative data on how biodegradable PLA plastics generate secondary microplastics through photoaging, a previously poorly characterized degradation pathway for this widely used industrial bioplastic.
Insights into the Photoaging Behavior of Microplastics: Environmental Fate and Ecological Risk
This review examines how sunlight ages microplastics in the environment, breaking them into smaller pieces and changing their surface chemistry in ways that make them more toxic and more likely to carry other pollutants. Sun-aged microplastics release dissolved organic matter that can harm aquatic life, and their roughened surfaces attract more bacteria and chemical contaminants. Since most microplastics in nature have been exposed to sunlight, their real-world health risks may be higher than studies using fresh lab plastics suggest.
Investigation of Surface Alteration of Microplastics by Using UV Irradiation
UV radiation causes polystyrene and other plastic microparticles to undergo photooxidative degradation, changing their surface chemistry and potentially making them more likely to adsorb or release chemical pollutants. Understanding these weathering processes is important for predicting the environmental behavior and toxicity of microplastics.
Photodegradation Controls of Potential Toxicity of Secondary Sunscreen-Derived Microplastics and Associated Leachates
Researchers studied how sunlight breaks down microplastics from sunscreen products and whether this makes them more or less toxic. They found that sunlight aging caused chemical changes on the plastic surfaces and released harmful compounds into the water, increasing toxicity to aquatic organisms. This is relevant because sunscreen microplastics are commonly washed into oceans and lakes, where sun exposure could make them more dangerous over time.
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.
Preliminary insights into the photosensensitivity of bio-based plastics: Release of microplastic-derived organic matter in water under UV irradiation
Researchers conducted the first study on how bio-based microplastics made from PLA, PHA, and PLA-PHA mixtures release dissolved organic matter into water when exposed to UV light. They found that all three bio-based plastics were photosensitive, releasing measurable amounts of organic carbon and forming carbonyl bonds on their surfaces during irradiation. The findings suggest that even bio-based plastics can undergo significant degradation under sunlight, potentially affecting water quality.
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.
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.
Photodegradation of macroplastics to microplastics : A laboratory study on common litter found in urban areas
A laboratory study used UV light to simulate how plastic litter found in urban environments degrades into microplastics over time. The results help explain the pathway from discarded plastic items to the small fragments now found across the environment, from soils to human tissues.
Fate of polystyrene and polyethylene nanoplastics exposed to UV in water
Researchers found that UV irradiation progressively degrades polystyrene and polyethylene nanoplastics dispersed in water, causing them to become porous, fragment, and ultimately degrade completely, revealing the photochemical fate of nanoplastics in sunlit aquatic environments.