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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate (pet) as Secondary Microplastics Under Three Different Environmental Conditions
ClearPhoto-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.
UV Irradiation of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polypropylene and Detection of Formed Microplastic Particles Down to 1 μm
UV irradiation experiments showed that both polypropylene and PET plastics rapidly shed microplastic particles down to 1 micrometer in size when exposed to UV light in water, with recycled PET producing significantly more particles than virgin PET. This confirms that UV weathering — occurring continuously outdoors — is an active mechanism generating very small microplastics from everyday plastic products and packaging.
Rheological Characterization of UV and Shear‐Induced Degradation of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate): Linking Environmental and Processing Histories to Recyclability
Researchers studied how UV light exposure and mechanical processing degrade PET plastic at the molecular level. They found that UV aging in water environments causes the plastic chains to break apart, while dry conditions promote crosslinking, and that even a single round of recycling processing dramatically reduces crystal size and releases volatile byproducts. The study reveals that both environmental weathering and recycling significantly weaken PET's mechanical properties, which has implications for both microplastic generation and plastic recyclability.
A Comparative Study About the Amount of Microplastic in Polyethylene Terephtalate (pet) Drinking Water That Was Exposed and Not Exposed by Sun at Environmental Health Laboratory of Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang at the Year 2020
Researchers compared the amount of microplastics released from different brands and conditions of PET water bottles, finding that UV exposure and bottle age affect how many particles leach into the water. This study highlights bottled water as a direct route of microplastic ingestion for consumers.
Photodegradation-driven microparticle release from commercial plastic water bottles
Researchers exposed seventy PET plastic water bottles to sunlight for ten weeks and measured the microparticles released into the water as the plastic degraded. They found that microparticle concentrations built up to 14-20 micrograms per liter within the first 30 days before plateauing, and that thinner-walled bottles with higher crystallinity released fewer particles. The study demonstrates that sunlight-driven degradation of plastic bottles is a meaningful source of microplastics in bottled drinking water.
Changes in the Chemical Composition of Polyethylene Terephthalate under UV Radiation in Various Environmental Conditions.
Researchers exposed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to UV radiation under controlled humidity conditions and tracked changes in its chemical composition, finding progressive oxidation and chain scission that alter the polymer's surface properties. Understanding how PET degrades under UV exposure is important for predicting how PET microplastics form and what chemical changes make them more or less bioavailable.
Evaluating the Environmental Factors on Microplastic Generation: An Accelerated Weathering Study
Researchers used an accelerated weathering device to study how UV light, temperature, and humidity break down PET plastic into microplastic particles. Higher UV intensity and temperature dramatically increased the number of microplastics produced, while humidity had a lesser effect. This research helps predict how quickly everyday plastics become microplastics under real-world environmental conditions, especially in sunny and warm climates.
From cracks to secondary microplastics - surface characterization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) during weathering
Scientists tracked how PET plastic, the material used in water bottles and clothing, develops cracks and eventually breaks into microplastics during exposure to UV light and water. Different forms of PET broke down in different ways and at different speeds, with water-submerged samples showing organized crack networks within 30 days. The study helps explain how everyday plastic products fragment into the microplastics found throughout the environment, with fibers being one of the most common shapes produced.
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.
Changes in the Chemical Composition of Polyethylene Terephthalate Under UV Radiation in Various Environmental Conditions.
Researchers studied how UV radiation degrades PET plastic under varying humidity (dry vs. saturated) and temperature (30-50 degrees C) conditions for up to 20 days. High humidity and elevated temperature significantly accelerated ester bond cleavage and carboxylic acid formation, key chemical changes that produce micro-nano plastics.
Photodegradation of PET plastics produces persistent compounds that accumulate in sediments
Researchers investigated the photodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate plastics and found that UV-driven breakdown produces persistent low-molecular-weight compounds that accumulate in sediments, raising concerns about the long-term chemical legacy of PET waste in aquatic environments.
Investigate the presence of plastic particles in bottled and reused water bottles for several times and medical feeder bottles
Researchers detected microplastics in bottled water, particularly in bottles that were reused multiple times or exposed to direct sunlight. PET bottles leached more microplastic particles under heat and UV stress, and particle counts increased with reuse cycles. This study highlights sunlight and mechanical wear as key factors increasing microplastic contamination in drinking water.
Fragmentation of Disposed Plastic Waste Materials in Different Aquatic Environments
PET plastic bottles and non-woven fibers were exposed to different aquatic environments — freshwater, seawater, and wastewater — to study how they fragment over time. PET degraded faster in some environments and produced fragments of varying sizes depending on conditions. Understanding fragmentation pathways is essential for predicting how plastic waste transforms into microplastics in different water bodies.
Effect of weathering on the release of secondary microplastic fragments and dissolved organics from microplastics
Researchers systematically investigated how different weathering conditions affect the release of secondary microplastics and dissolved organic carbon from PVC, polyethylene, and biodegradable PBAT plastics. The study found that biodegradable PBAT released the highest amounts of secondary particles and organic carbon, and that combined UV and mechanical aging produced the most significant degradation, enhancing particle release by up to 72% compared to either method alone.
Photoaging of Polyvinyl Chloride and Polystyrene Under UVA Radiation in Diverse Environmental Conditions
Researchers exposed polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene plastics to UVA radiation under diverse environmental conditions and tracked their photoaging and fragmentation, finding that UVA exposure accelerates microplastic generation in ways that vary with environmental context.
Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene
Researchers applied a multi-tiered approach combining laboratory aging, field deployment, and environmental simulation to study how polyethylene plastic undergoes physicochemical and biological weathering in natural settings. The study found that UV radiation and microbial colonization act synergistically to accelerate surface oxidation and fragmentation of PE into smaller particles.
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.
Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Polyethylene Terephthalate and Detection of Microplastic Particles Down to 1 μm
Gamma irradiation of virgin and recycled PET produced microplastic particles detectable down to 1 micrometer, with the dose and material type influencing both the extent of surface degradation and the quantity of particles released.
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.
СУЧАСНЕ УЯВЛЕННЯ ПРО ПЕРЕБІГ ПРОЦЕСІВ ДЕСТРУКЦІЇ ПОЛІЕТИЛЕНТЕРЕФТАЛАТУ
This Ukrainian review summarizes current understanding of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) degradation mechanisms, including hydrolysis, thermal, photodegradation, and mechanical breakdown. Understanding how PET degrades is important because it is one of the most abundant plastics that fragments into microplastics in the environment.
Secondary microplastics formation and colonized microorganisms on the surface of conventional and degradable plastic granules during long-term UV aging in various environmental media
Researchers compared how biodegradable and conventional plastics generate secondary microplastics and develop bacterial biofilms during long-term UV aging. Biodegradable PBAT plastic produced significantly more secondary microplastic fragments than conventional PVC after 90 days of weathering. The study also found that aged microplastics harbored genes related to human pathogens, raising concerns that biodegradable plastics may actually pose greater ecological risks than expected.
Generation of microplastic particles during degradation of polycarbonate films in various aqueous media and their characterization
Researchers degraded polycarbonate films in three environmentally relevant aqueous media over 250 days and characterized the microplastic particles produced, finding that hydrolysis in alkaline conditions generated the most particles and that particle morphology and chemical composition differed by degradation medium.
Biofilms on Plastics Slow Photo-Oxidation while Promoting Surface Degradation
Researchers studied how microbial biofilms on plastic bottles affect the breakdown of PET plastic under ultraviolet light and found that biofilms play a dual role. While they slowed down chemical photo-oxidation by shielding the surface from UV rays, they simultaneously made the plastic more brittle and rough, ultimately promoting physical fragmentation. The findings reveal that plastic aging in natural environments is more complex than laboratory studies on clean plastics suggest.
Quantifying UVC-Induced Aging of Microplastics Using a Multivariate Aging Score
Researchers examined how UVC radiation ages three common types of microplastics and found that polypropylene degraded far more rapidly than polyethylene or PET, developing widespread surface cracks and generating secondary plastic fragments. They developed a multivariate aging score that combines chemical and physical measurements to better quantify how microplastics deteriorate over time. The study also found that colored polypropylene products aged faster than transparent ones, highlighting how product formulation influences environmental breakdown.