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 Burial of microplastics in freshwater sediments facilitated by iron-organo flocs
ClearUnveiling the crucial role of iron oxide transformation in simultaneous immobilization of nanoplastics and organic matter
Researchers tracked how nanoplastics become trapped during the transformation of dissolved iron into crystalline iron oxide minerals, finding that polystyrene nanoplastics become physically encased within forming crystals while humic acid stabilizes the system, creating a durable iron oxide-nanoplastic-organic matter composite that sequesters particles in sediments.
Biofouling, metal sorption and aggregation are related to sinking of microplastics in a stratified reservoir
In a freshwater reservoir study, biofouling on microplastic surfaces did not cause polyethylene particles to sink, but a mixing event that brought iron-rich anoxic water to the surface triggered aggregation of PE particles with organic matter and iron minerals, causing them to sink. The study reveals that episodic environmental events, not just steady biofouling, can drive microplastic sedimentation.
Method for microplastics extraction from Lake sediments
Researchers developed a method for extracting microplastics from organic-rich freshwater lake sediments using repeated wet oxidation and density separation. Reliable extraction methods for freshwater sediments are important for understanding how lakes accumulate microplastics transported by rivers.
Sedimentation behavior of aggregated microplastics: Influence of particle size and water constituents in environmental waters
Laboratory experiments investigated how aggregation of microplastics with sediments and organic matter affects their sinking rates in water, finding that aggregate composition strongly influences settling velocity. These findings improve models predicting whether microplastics sink to the seafloor or remain suspended in the water column.
Influence of microplastics on nutrients and metal concentrations in river sediments
Researchers investigated how microplastics influence nutrient and metal concentrations in river sediments, finding that microplastics alter the distribution of pollutants through their capacity to adsorb contaminants and support biofilm formation on their hydrophobic surfaces.
Heteroaggregation of PS microplastic with ferrihydrite leads to rapid removal of microplastic particles from the water column
Researchers investigated heteroaggregation between polystyrene microplastics and ferrihydrite iron mineral particles, finding that this aggregation process leads to rapid removal of microplastic particles from the water column, with implications for understanding microplastic fate and transport in natural water systems.
An emerging sink for phosphorus in lake ecosystems: Microplastic-enabled iron and phosphorus costabilization in the overlying water
This study showed that microplastics floating in lake water can act as surfaces that convert dissolved iron into a form that binds phosphorus, effectively pulling phosphorus out of the water column—but the same microplastics could later release that phosphorus back if conditions change. The mechanism varied by polymer type: some plastics formed chemical bonds with phosphorus while others caused physical crystal growth. Because phosphorus drives algal blooms and eutrophication, this previously unrecognized role of microplastics as phosphorus carriers adds a new dimension to how plastic pollution affects lake water quality.
Rapid aggregation of biofilm-covered microplastics with marine biogenic particles
Researchers demonstrated that biofilm-covered microplastics rapidly aggregate with marine biogenic particles such as algal cells and fecal pellets, which accelerates their sinking from surface waters. The study helps explain why microplastic concentrations at the ocean surface are lower than expected — biofouling causes the particles to be transported to deeper waters and sediments faster than previously assumed.
Heteroaggregation of PS microplastic with ferrihydrite leads to rapid removal of microplastic particles from the water column
Researchers found that ferrihydrite, a natural iron mineral, rapidly removes polystyrene microplastics from the water column through heteroaggregation and enhanced sedimentation, suggesting natural mineral interactions may help sequester microplastics in aquatic environments.
Impact of Minerals (Ferrihydrite and Goethite) and Their Organo-Mineral Complexes on Fate and Transport of Nanoplastics in the Riverine and Terrestrial Environments
Researchers studied how common iron minerals and their organic matter complexes affect the movement and fate of nanoplastics in river and soil environments. The study found that pure minerals had higher sorption capacity for nanoplastics than their organo-mineral counterparts, and goethite-based systems caused greater aggregation and retention of nanoplastics, suggesting that soil mineral composition plays an important role in nanoplastic transport.
Hotspots lurking underwater: Insights into the contamination characteristics, environmental fates and impacts on biogeochemical cycling of microplastics in freshwater sediments
This review examines how microplastics accumulate in freshwater lake and river sediments, which act as major collection points for these particles. Researchers found that microplastic distribution in sediments varies significantly depending on local conditions, and that the particles can alter nutrient cycling and affect sediment-dwelling organisms. The study highlights freshwater sediments as critical but understudied hotspots for microplastic contamination.
Effects of microplastics on nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and microbial communities in sediments
Researchers found that PVC, PLA, and polypropylene microplastics altered nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in freshwater sediments by shifting microbial community composition, with effects varying by polymer type and biodegradability.
Sediment organic carbon dominates the heteroaggregation of suspended sediment and nanoplastics in natural and surfactant-polluted aquatic environments
Researchers found that sediment organic carbon plays a dominant role in the heteroaggregation of nanoplastics with suspended sediment particles, with surfactant pollution altering aggregation dynamics and influencing the environmental transport and fate of nanoplastics in aquatic systems.
New insights into the vertical distribution and microbial degradation of microplastics in urban river sediments
Vertical distribution and microbial degradation of microplastics in sediment cores were investigated, finding that microplastics were present throughout the vertical profile and that indigenous microbial communities were actively interacting with plastic particles. The study provided new insights into how sediment depth, redox conditions, and microbial activity shape microplastic fate in sediment repositories.
Modelling the Fate of Microplastics in river bed sediments.
Researchers modeled the fate of microplastics deposited in river bed sediments, examining how hydrological conditions influence their distribution, burial, and potential for downstream transport. The models revealed that river bed sediments act as significant long-term reservoirs for microplastic pollution.
Modelling the Fate of Microplastics in river bed sediments.
Researchers modeled microplastic transport, deposition, and burial in river bed sediments under varying hydrological conditions. River bed sediments were found to act as long-term reservoirs for microplastics, with periodic high-flow events temporarily resuspending and redistributing particles.
Microplastics in sediments: A review of techniques, occurrence and effects
This review examined techniques, occurrence data, and ecological effects of microplastics in sediments, synthesizing evidence that sediments act as a major long-term repository for microplastic contamination in both freshwater and marine systems.
The fate of microplastic in marine sedimentary environments: A review and synthesis
A systematic review of 80 papers on microplastics in marine sediments found median concentrations varied widely by sediment environment, with fibers dominating many locations, and showed that sediment grain size and organic carbon content influence microplastic accumulation.
Microplastics contributed much less than organic matter to the burial of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by sediments in the past decades: a case study from an urban lake
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from an urban Chinese lake to understand how microplastics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have accumulated over recent decades. They found that microplastics contributed relatively little to PAH burial compared to organic matter, but microplastic abundance increased steadily alongside industrialization.
Effects of microplastics on the structure and function of bacterial communities in sediments of a freshwater lake
Researchers examined how microplastics alter the structure and function of bacterial communities in sediments, finding that plastic exposure shifted community composition and reduced overall diversity compared to plastic-free controls. Functional analysis showed impaired denitrification and organic matter decomposition in microplastic-contaminated sediments, indicating ecosystem-level consequences for nutrient cycling.