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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Generation of microplastic particles during degradation of polycarbonate films in various aqueous media and their characterization
ClearDegradation of food-contact plastics in use: Effect of temperature and chemical composition
Researchers examined how common food-contact plastics (polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, and polycarbonate) degrade under conditions that mimic everyday use, including varying temperatures and chemical environments. The study found that elevated temperatures promoted oxidation and hydrolysis of these plastics, while both acidic and alkaline solutions enhanced surface degradation, potentially increasing microplastic release into food and beverages.
Aging simulation of thin-film plastics in different environments to examine the formation of microplastic
Researchers aged polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene thin films under land, freshwater, estuarine, and oceanic conditions, finding that UV radiation was the primary driver of surface degradation and microplastic formation, with degradation rates varying substantially by environmental medium.
Novel decomposition of polycarbonate and effect for marine ecosystem
Researchers investigated the decomposition of polycarbonate (a bisphenol-A source) at temperatures ranging from 50 to 230 degrees C, finding that BPA and related compounds are released during degradation and may contaminate aquatic environments, with implications for marine ecosystem health.
Microplastic sample purification methods - Assessing detrimental effects of purification procedures on specific plastic types
Researchers assessed how common microplastic purification methods affect different polymer types, finding that acidic and alkaline digestion can degrade certain plastics like polycarbonate and polyamide, potentially leading to underestimation in environmental samples.
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.
Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate (pet) as Secondary Microplastics Under Three Different Environmental Conditions
Researchers investigated the degradation of PET bottles used as biofilm media in wastewater treatment plants under indoor, outdoor, and UV-irradiated conditions over seven months, measuring secondary microplastic generation. They found that UV irradiation dramatically accelerated PET fragmentation, with microplastic concentrations rising from 15 particles per liter at month one to nearly 249 particles per liter by month seven, with fragments and transparent particles dominating.
Facile nanoplastics formation from macro and microplastics in aqueous media
This study examined how nanoplastics form from larger macro- and microplastics in aqueous environments, finding that mechanical and photochemical processes in water accelerate fragmentation beyond what occurs on dry land. The findings help explain nanoplastic abundance in aquatic systems and improve models of plastic environmental fate.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Aggregation kinetics of fragmental PET nanoplastics in aqueous environment: Complex roles of electrolytes, pH and humic acid
Researchers investigated the aggregation kinetics of fragmental PET nanoplastics under varying electrolyte concentrations, pH, and humic acid conditions, finding that aggregation increased with higher electrolyte concentrations and lower pH. Divalent cations caused stronger aggregation than monovalent cations at equal concentrations, and humic acid significantly inhibited aggregation, highlighting how natural water chemistry governs nanoplastic fate.
Submicro- and nanoplastics: How much can be expected in water bodies?
Researchers simulated natural abrasion of polystyrene, PVC, and PMMA to estimate how much plastic degrades to submicron particles, finding that less than 1% of PS and PVC but up to 11% of the more rigid PMMA converted to sub-micron size fragments.
Leachability of microplastic from different plastic materials
This study tested the leachability of microplastics from several common plastic materials under environmental conditions, finding that plastic type and degradation state influence how readily microplastic particles are released.
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.
Joint physicochemical effects of UV-B irradiation on microplastics formation: The case of poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(methyl methacrylate)
Researchers studied how UV-B sunlight breaks down PVC and acrylic (PMMA) plastics over two months, tracking the chemical and structural changes that lead to microplastic formation. Understanding how different plastics fragment under sunlight helps predict which types of plastic pollution pose the greatest risk as they degrade into smaller particles in the environment.
Microplastic particle versus fiber generation during photo-transformation in simulated seawater
Researchers exposed common plastic films and fibers to simulated sunlight in seawater and tracked the photo-transformation process, finding that particles and fibers formed at different rates and that UV irradiation preferentially generates certain morphologies depending on the parent polymer.
Effects of weathering and simulated gastric fluid exposure on cellular responses to polystyrene particles
Researchers studied the effects of weathering and simulated gastric fluid exposure on cellular responses to polystyrene particles. The study suggests that environmental weathering can alter how micro- and nanoplastics interact with biological systems, with potential implications for understanding human health effects from ingested plastic particles.
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.
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.
Role of Structural Morphology of Commodity Polymers in Microplastics and Nanoplastics Formation: Fragmentation, Effects and Associated Toxicity in the Aquatic Environment
This review examines how the structural morphology and chemical composition of commodity polymers influence the formation and environmental behaviour of microplastics and nanoplastics, arguing that chemical degradation pathways have been largely overlooked in favour of purely physical abrasion explanations for plastic fragmentation.
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.
Elucidating the characteristic of leachates released from microplastics under different aging conditions: Perspectives of dissolved organic carbon fingerprints and nano-plastics
Researchers investigated how different aging conditions affect the release of dissolved organic carbon and nanoplastics from PVC and polystyrene microplastics over 130 days. The study found that UV aging and high temperatures promoted the release of nanoplastics and altered the chemical characteristics of leached substances, with UV-aged treatments producing smaller, rougher nanoparticles that may pose greater ecological risks.