Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

The potential of microplastics as adsorbents of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate and chromium in an aqueous environment

Researchers found that both PET and polystyrene microplastics can adsorb the surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and the heavy metal chromium (Cr(VI)) from water, with adsorption capacity influenced by pH, particle size, and MP dose, highlighting their role as co-pollutant vectors in aquatic environments.

2021 Environmental Research 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption behaviour of microplastics on the heavy metal Cr(VI) before and after ageing

Researchers studied how UV aging affects the adsorption of hexavalent chromium onto PE, PS, and PA microplastics, finding that aged microplastics had significantly enhanced adsorption capacity due to increased surface area and functional group changes from weathering.

2022 Chemosphere 188 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as an emerging vector of Cr(VI) in water: Correlation of aging properties and adsorption behavior

Researchers studied the correlation between aging properties and adsorption of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) onto polyethylene microplastics under accelerated UV aging conditions, finding that aging-induced changes in surface chemistry increased the adsorption capacity. Aged microplastics may act as more effective vectors for toxic heavy metals in aquatic environments.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of Hexavalent Chromium Adsorption Behavior on Conventional and Biodegradable Microplastics

Researchers compared hexavalent chromium adsorption behavior on conventional versus biodegradable microplastics, finding that polymer chemistry and surface aging significantly affect chromium binding capacity and the risk of co-transport in contaminated environments.

2024 Water 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Comigration Behavior of Cr(VI) and Microplastics and Remediation of Microplastics-Facilitated Cr(VI) Transportation in Saturated Porous Media

This study examined the co-transport of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and microplastics through saturated porous media, finding that microplastic presence promoted Cr(VI) migration, especially at neutral pH and low ionic strength, with implications for groundwater contamination.

2024 Polymers 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption and Desorption Behavior of Cr(VI) on Two Typical UV-Aged Microplastics in Aqueous Solution

Researchers examined how UV weathering changes the ability of two common microplastic types (polyethylene and polystyrene) to adsorb and release chromium(VI) from contaminated water. UV aging altered surface chemistry and significantly increased adsorption capacity for the toxic heavy metal.

2024 Langmuir 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyamide microplastics as better environmental vectors of Cr(VI) in comparison to polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics

Researchers found that polyamide microplastics adsorb more hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) than polyethylene or polystyrene microplastics, with UV aging increasing adsorption capacity, making polyamide particles potentially more dangerous environmental vectors for this toxic heavy metal.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorptive behaviour of chromium on polyethylene microbeads in artificial seawater

This laboratory study examined how chromium — a toxic heavy metal — adsorbs onto polyethylene microbeads in artificial seawater, finding that microplastics can accumulate chromium at concentrations far above those in surrounding water. The results support the concern that microplastics act as vectors concentrating heavy metal pollutants in marine environments.

2018 MATEC Web of Conferences 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparing the influence of humic/fulvic acid and tannic acid on Cr(VI) adsorption onto polystyrene microplastics: Evidence for the formation of Cr(OH)3 colloids

Researchers compared how humic/fulvic acid and tannic acid affect chromium(VI) adsorption onto polystyrene microplastics, finding that dissolved organic matter promotes the formation of Cr(OH)3 colloids, complicating the role of microplastics as heavy metal vectors.

2022 Chemosphere 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Aging amplifies synergistic adsorption and reduction of Cr(VI) by polyamide microplastics

Researchers found that UV and chemical aging of polyamide microplastics amplified their adsorption and reduction of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI), increasing oxygen-containing functional groups while reducing amide bonds, with Cr(VI) binding driven by electrostatic forces and hydrogen bonds and the aged microplastics able to reduce Cr(VI) to less toxic Cr(III) even under UV light and oxygen-depleted conditions.

2025
Article Tier 2

The role of photooxidation and organic matter in Cr(III) and Cr(VI) interactions with poly(lactic acid) microplastics in aqueous solution

Researchers studied how UV exposure and organic matter influence the interaction between chromium and biodegradable poly(lactic acid) microplastics in water. They found that pristine PLA has low affinity for chromium, but the presence of organic matter like humic and tannic acids increased chromium adsorption by up to 620-fold, while UV-induced photooxidation of PLA also substantially enhanced adsorption. The study provides important insights into how environmental conditions alter the ability of biodegradable microplastics to transport heavy metals in aquatic systems.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Interaction characteristics and mechanism of Cr(VI)/Cr(III) with microplastics: Influence factor experiment and DFT calculation

Researchers investigated how two types of microplastics, polyamide and polyethylene, interact with toxic chromium in different forms across various environmental conditions. They found that polyamide had a much higher capacity to adsorb both forms of chromium, and that environmental factors like pH, temperature, and salinity significantly influenced the interaction. The study provides insights into how microplastics may affect the transport and toxicity of chromium contamination in the environment.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of chlorination on microplastics pollution: Physicochemical transformation and chromium adsorption

Researchers found that chlorination of polyethylene and thermoplastic polyurethane microplastics significantly altered their surface morphology and oxygen-containing functional groups, enhancing their ability to aggregate and adsorb chromium contaminants in water.

2023 Environmental Pollution 31 citations
Article Tier 2

The potential of microplastics as carriers of metals

Five types of microplastics were tested for their ability to adsorb heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in different water matrices, finding significant adsorption of lead, chromium, and zinc—especially on polyethylene and PVC—with surface area and porosity as key drivers. The study identifies microplastics as potential vectors for heavy metal transport and transfer through aquatic food chains.

2019 Environmental Pollution 642 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption Behavior, Speciation, and Toxicity of Microplastic-Bound Chromium in Multisolute Systems

Researchers investigated how UV filters affect chromium sorption and toxicity on polystyrene microplastics, finding that UV irradiation and co-contaminants alter metal speciation and increase the ecological risk of microplastic-bound heavy metals.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption mechanism of hexavalent chromium on electron beam-irradiated aged microplastics: Novel aging processes and environmental factors

Researchers used electron beam irradiation as a novel method to age polypropylene microplastics and then studied how these aged particles adsorb hexavalent chromium from water. They found that aging dramatically increased the microplastics' ability to bind chromium by generating oxygen-containing functional groups on their surfaces. The study highlights that weathered microplastics in the environment may have a significantly greater capacity to concentrate heavy metal pollutants than fresh plastic particles.

2024 Chemosphere 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of typical natural organic matter on microplastics in aqueous solution: Kinetics, isotherm, influence factors and mechanism

Researchers investigated humic acid adsorption onto PVC and PS microplastics, finding that pH, ion species, particle size, and surfactants significantly influenced adsorption capacity through mechanisms including halogen bonding, hydrogen bonding, and pi-pi interactions.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 131 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights Into the Adsorption Behavior of Polyethylene Microplastics Towards Lead(II) Ions

Researchers investigated the adsorption behavior of lead(II) ions onto polyethylene microplastics in freshwater environments by systematically varying initial Pb(II) concentration, pH, and residence time, using scanning electron microscopy and other characterization methods to elucidate the interaction dynamics and sorption mechanisms between this common metal contaminant and microplastic surfaces.

2024 Environmental Quality Management
Article Tier 2

Interaction of Pb(II) with microplastic-sediment complexes: Critical effect of surfactant

Researchers investigated how surfactants affect the ability of microplastic-sediment complexes to adsorb lead (Pb) in river environments. The study found that surfactants significantly altered adsorption behavior, with anionic surfactants increasing lead uptake while nonionic surfactants decreased it, suggesting that surfactant presence in polluted waters can change how heavy metals interact with microplastics in sediments.

2024 Environmental Pollution 14 citations
Article Tier 2

The photo-redox of chromium regulated by microplastics (MPs) and MPs-derived dissolved organic matter (MPs-DOM) and the CO2 emission of MPs-DOM

Researchers found that microplastics and their derived dissolved organic matter regulate the photo-redox transformation of chromium in wastewater, with UV exposure converting less toxic Cr(III) to more hazardous Cr(VI) while microplastic-derived organic matter influences this process and contributes to CO2 emissions.

2022 Fundamental Research 32 citations