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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Changes in the Chemical Composition of Polyethylene Terephthalate under UV Radiation in Various Environmental Conditions.
ClearChanges 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.
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.
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.
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.
Photo-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.
Investigating the physicochemical property changes of plastic packaging material exposed to UV radiation
UV radiation was shown to degrade polypropylene and PET plastic packaging materials, causing surface changes and potential microplastic formation, with degradation rates influenced by sample shape and size. These findings are relevant to understanding how discarded plastic packaging breaks down in marine and outdoor environments.
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.
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.
Photochemical Oxidation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics Adsorbed on Sand and Silica Surfaces
This study examined the photochemical oxidation of PET microplastics adsorbed on sand and silica surfaces under UV irradiation, focusing on the products released into water. Surface-bound PET underwent oxidative fragmentation, releasing soluble organic compounds, with implications for understanding the environmental chemistry of microplastic-contaminated sediments.
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.
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.
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.
Investigation of Surface Alteration of Microplastics by Using UV Irradiation
UV radiation causes polystyrene and other plastic microparticles to undergo photooxidative degradation, changing their surface chemistry and potentially making them more likely to adsorb or release chemical pollutants. Understanding these weathering processes is important for predicting the environmental behavior and toxicity of microplastics.
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.
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.
Physicochemical transformation and toxic potential of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fragments exposed to natural daylight
Researchers exposed PET plastic fragments to natural sunlight and studied how weathering changed their chemistry and toxicity. They found that sun-aged PET released a more complex mixture of chemicals, including plasticizers and metals like antimony, and became significantly more toxic to marine microalgae and bacteria. The findings highlight that plastic degradation in the environment does not make it harmless but can actually increase the danger posed by leached substances.
Chemical Synthesis and Environmental Characterization of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics: A comprehensive Analysis of Degradation Mechanisms in the Red Sea Coastal Environment
Researchers synthesized PET microplastics via controlled melt polymerization and compared them with 16 environmental samples from five sites along the Red Sea coast of Jeddah, finding significant oxidative degradation and hydrolytic chain scission in field samples accelerated by high temperature, alkaline pH, and elevated salinity.
Wettability after Artificial and Natural Weathering of Polyethylene Terephthalate
Researchers systematically studied how artificial and natural weathering of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) changes its surface wettability, finding that contact angle measurements combined with FTIR analysis can reliably track the progression of plastic degradation in aquatic environments.
UV sources and plastic composition influence microplastic surface degradation: Implications for plastic weathering studies
This study tested how different UV light sources change the surface of common microplastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. The results show that sunlight and lab UV lights weather plastics differently, changing their surface roughness and chemical makeup -- which matters because these surface changes affect how microplastics transport pollutants and interact with living organisms in the environment.
UVA-induced weathering of microplastics in seawater: surface property transformations and kinetics
Researchers studied how UVA radiation weathers microplastics in seawater, examining changes to surface properties and degradation rates. The study developed a model integrating an aging index with degradation kinetics, finding that UV exposure significantly transforms microplastic surface characteristics, which affects their behavior and potential ecological impact in marine environments.
UV Aging of PET Microplastics in a Custom-Built Weathering Chamber Replicating Mediterranean Conditions
Researchers built a custom weathering chamber that replicates Mediterranean coastal conditions to study how PET microplastics age in realistic environments. They found that UV exposure combined with seawater caused more severe surface degradation and chemical changes in the microplastics than dry conditions alone. The study highlights that standard plastic weathering tests may not accurately reflect how microplastics actually break down in coastal environments.
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.
Environmental Degradation and Fragmentation of Microplastics: Dependence on Polymer Type, Humidity, UV Dose and Temperature
A systematic study of UV dose, humidity, and temperature effects on six polymer types found that photo-oxidation is the primary driver of microplastic fragmentation and release of secondary nano-sized particles, with the relationship between weathering conditions and fragmentation rates varying by polymer type.
Thermal oxidation, ultraviolet radiation, and mechanical abrasion - understanding mechanisms of microplastic generation and chemical transformation
Researchers evaluated how consumer-derived polymers fragment and chemically transform when exposed to UV radiation or thermal oxidation followed by soil abrasion. The study found that these combined weathering processes, which mimic real-world environmental conditions, significantly affect the rate and type of microplastic generation. The results highlight how everyday use and environmental exposure work together to break down plastics into microplastic particles.