Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Sorption of 3,6-dibromocarbazole and 1,3,6,8-tetrabromocarbazole by microplastics

Two brominated carbazole pollutants were found to readily adsorb onto polypropylene microplastics in seawater, with smaller plastic particles absorbing more chemical per unit mass. This demonstrates that microplastics can concentrate brominated organic pollutants from seawater and potentially deliver them to marine organisms.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic-water partitioning of two states halogenated PAHs: Solute and sol

This study examined how halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) partition between microplastics and water, finding that plastic type and contaminant chemistry both influence sorption behavior. Understanding how microplastics absorb and transport toxic chemicals is important for assessing the ecological risks they pose.

2021 Environmental Research 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption of five organic compounds by polar and nonpolar microplastics

Polar and biodegradable microplastics, including polyurethane and polycaprolactone, showed significant sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants, with hydrogen bonding playing a greater role than for conventional nonpolar plastics. The findings extend understanding of how a wider range of plastic types can act as vectors for environmental pollutants.

2020 Chemosphere 135 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption and Desorption Behaviour of Polychlorinated Biphenyls onto Microplastics’ Surfaces in Water/Sediment Systems

Researchers evaluated the adsorption and desorption behavior of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) onto polystyrene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics of varying sizes in marine water/sediment systems. Results showed that polymer type and particle size influenced PCB binding capacity, with microplastics acting as potential vectors for transferring persistent organic pollutants to marine biota through the food chain.

2020 Toxics 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the adsorption behavior of benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles on polyvinyl chloride microplastics in the water environment

Researchers systematically investigated the adsorption behavior of benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles on polyvinyl chloride microplastics in aquatic environments, characterizing adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics to explain the underlying mechanisms. The study revealed that PVC microplastics act as carriers for these ubiquitous water contaminants through a multilayer adsorption process, with implications for pollutant migration and ecological risk.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastic sorption on microbial degradation of halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water

Researchers investigated how microplastics act as carriers for halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HPAHs) in water and whether this sorption affects microbial degradation of these dioxin-like compounds. They found that microplastic-sorbed HPAHs had reduced bioavailability to degrading bacteria, potentially slowing natural breakdown of these toxic pollutants.

2022 Environmental Pollution 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption of organic compounds by microplastic

This German thesis studied how common microplastic polymers like polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyamide sorb and accumulate hydrophobic organic contaminants, investigating the mechanisms that make plastics effective carriers of pollutants. Understanding sorption behavior is key to assessing how microplastics transport toxic chemicals into marine food webs.

2016 University of Vienna
Article Tier 2

Sorption of Pyrene and Fluoranthene onto Common Microplastics Under Freshwater Conditions

Researchers investigated how two common polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pyrene and fluoranthene, bind to six different types of microplastic polymers under freshwater conditions. The study found significant differences in sorption capacity across polymer types, confirming that microplastics can act as vectors for transporting harmful organic pollutants through aquatic environments.

2026 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Adsorption of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) with Varying Hydrophobicity on Macro- and Microplastic Polyvinyl Chloride, Polyethylene, and Polystyrene: Kinetics and Potential Mechanisms

Researchers found that both plastic size and polymer type influenced the adsorption of contaminants of emerging concern onto PVC, polyethylene, and polystyrene, with microplastics generally adsorbing more than macroplastics and contaminant hydrophobicity playing a key role in determining adsorption kinetics and capacity.

2022 Water 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption mechanisms of chlorobenzenes and trifluralin on primary polyethylene microplastics in the aquatic environment

Researchers investigated the adsorption mechanisms of six priority chlorinated and aromatic pollutants (including trichlorobenzenes and trifluralin) onto primary polyethylene microplastics, revealing how plastic type, surface area, and compound properties govern contaminant uptake in aqueous environments.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption of alkylphenols and estrogens on microplastics in marine conditions

Researchers investigated the sorption of six endocrine-disrupting chemicals — including alkylphenols and estrogens — onto microplastics under marine conditions, supporting the hypothesis that microplastics act as a secondary contamination vector for aquatic organisms by concentrating pollutants.

2023 Open Chemistry 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Research progress on environmental occurrence of microplastics and their interaction mechanism with organic pollutants

This review summarizes how microplastics in the environment interact with organic pollutants—adsorbing, carrying, and releasing them. Microplastics act as mobile carriers for persistent organic chemicals, altering their distribution and toxicity in ecosystems and the organisms, including humans, that consume them.

2021 Scientia Sinica Chimica 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Transport of persistent organic pollutants: Another effect of microplastic pollution?

This review examines how microplastics act as vectors for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in aquatic environments, covering the physical and chemical factors governing pollutant adsorption and desorption. The authors discuss how interactions between microplastics and POPs vary with polymer type, particle properties, and environmental conditions, and when these interactions may result in toxic effects on aquatic organisms.

2022 Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption Behavior of Organic Pollutants on Biodegradable and Nondegradable Microplastics: pH Effects

This study tested how water pH affects the adsorption of chlorinated phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and halogenated benzenes onto seven types of microplastics — including biodegradable bioplastics. At neutral pH (7), microplastics bound chlorinated phenols most strongly, while PAH and halogenated benzene adsorption was pH-independent. The findings matter because they show that even biodegradable plastic alternatives can carry toxic co-contaminants in freshwater systems, complicating the environmental safety case for bioplastics.

2023 Applied Sciences 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as vectors for environmental contaminants: Exploring sorption, desorption, and transfer to biota

This review explores how microplastics interact with hydrophobic organic chemicals in aquatic environments, examining the processes of chemical sorption onto and desorption from plastic particles. Researchers discuss the factors that influence whether microplastics act as significant carriers of environmental contaminants into living organisms compared to natural pathways. Understanding these processes is essential for accurately assessing the real-world risk that microplastics pose as chemical transport vehicles.

2017 Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 632 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as potential bisphenol carriers: role of adsorbents, adsorbates, and environmental factors

Laboratory experiments showed that four common microplastic types — polystyrene, polypropylene, polyamide, and PVC — all readily adsorb bisphenols (BPA, BPB, BPF, BPS), with polyamide showing the highest capacity. Adsorption was strongly influenced by polymer surface chemistry, bisphenol hydrophobicity, temperature, and salinity. Because bisphenols are potent endocrine disruptors, microplastics acting as their environmental carriers could amplify human and wildlife exposure through contaminated seafood and drinking water.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Modelling of the adsorption of chlorinated phenols on polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastic

This study modeled how chlorinated phenols — toxic water pollutants — stick to polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics sourced from personal care products. The findings suggest microplastics can act as carriers for harmful chemicals in aquatic environments, potentially concentrating toxins and delivering them to organisms that ingest the particles.

2019 Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Partitioning of chemical contaminants to microplastics: Sorption mechanisms, environmental distribution and effects on toxicity and bioaccumulation

This review critically examines how chemical contaminants like persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals sorb onto microplastic surfaces in the environment. Researchers found that while microplastics can concentrate pollutants at levels far above surrounding water, the actual contribution of microplastics to contaminant transfer into organisms may be less significant than direct exposure from water and food. The study calls for more realistic experimental designs to clarify the true risk.

2019 Environmental Pollution 487 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption of non-polar organic compounds by micro-sized plastic particles in aqueous solution

This study measured the sorption of non-polar organic compounds by micro-sized plastic particles in aqueous solution, finding that different polymer types varied significantly in their ability to accumulate hydrophobic contaminants.

2016 Environmental Pollution 634 citations
Article Tier 2

Different partition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon on environmental particulates in freshwater: Microplastics in comparison to natural sediment

This study investigated how the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon phenanthrene partitions between water and three common plastic types, finding that polymer composition strongly influences sorption behavior. The results help explain how microplastics act as vectors for toxic organic compounds in aquatic environments.

2017 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 233 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and organic contaminants: Investigation of the sorption process on different polymer types

Researchers investigated sorption of organic contaminants onto microplastics collected from environmental samples, finding that real-world MPs had different sorption capacities than laboratory-prepared particles due to surface aging, biofouling, and co-sorption of natural organic matter.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as a vector of hydrophobic contaminants: Importance of hydrophobic additives

This paper examines the role of hydrophobicity in determining whether organic pollutants sorbed to microplastics pose a meaningful additional risk beyond direct water exposure. The authors argue that for most scenarios, the contribution of microplastics to total pollutant exposure is smaller than commonly assumed and depends heavily on the properties of the specific chemical and polymer.

2017 Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 211 citations
Article Tier 2

Significance of Chlorinated Phenols Adsorption on Plastics and Bioplastics during Water Treatment

Microplastics and bioplastics both adsorb toxic chlorinated phenol compounds from freshwater, with adsorption rates depending on the plastic type and contaminant. This finding shows that even bioplastic alternatives to conventional plastic can act as carriers for toxic chemicals in aquatic environments.

2019 Water 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption and dissipation of current-use pesticides and personal-care products on high-density polyethylene microplastics in seawater

Researchers characterized how three pesticides and three personal care products sorb onto high-density polyethylene microplastics in seawater. They found that more hydrophobic compounds accumulated more readily on the plastic, and that significant desorption (over 30%) occurred within 24 hours, especially at higher contaminant concentrations. The study confirms that microplastics can act as both carriers and releasers of chemical pollutants in marine environments.

2025 Environmental Research 5 citations