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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Sizeand Structure-DependentMolecular FingerprintTransformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter inSunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles
ClearSizeand Structure-DependentMolecular FingerprintTransformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter inSunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles
Researchers investigated how the size and structure of microplastics influence the photochemical transformation of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter in sunlit seawater, finding that inherent polymer properties shape the molecular fingerprint changes with implications for marine carbon cycling.
Size and Structure-Dependent Molecular Fingerprint Transformation of Microplastic-Derived Dissolved Organic Matter in Sunlit Seawater: Implication for Marine Carbon Cycles
This study examined how the size and structure of microplastics influence the photochemical transformation of MP-derived dissolved organic matter under UV irradiation, finding that inherent plastic properties determine the molecular character of DOM released and its effects on ocean carbon cycling.
Photochemical dissolution of buoyant microplastics to dissolved organic carbon: Rates and microbial impacts
Common ocean surface microplastics (PE, PP, EPS) were irradiated under simulated sunlight, which fragmented and oxidized the polymers and produced dissolved organic carbon as a significant byproduct. The study identifies sunlight-driven photochemical dissolution as an important but poorly quantified removal mechanism for buoyant microplastics from the ocean surface.
Phototransformation and photoreactivity of MPs-DOM in aqueous environment: Key role of MPs structure decoded by optical and molecular signatures
Researchers investigated how dissolved organic matter released from microplastics behaves during light-driven transformation in water. They found that organic matter from benzene-containing polymers showed distinctly different photoreactivity compared to matter from polyolefin-based plastics. The study reveals that the chemical structure of the parent microplastic plays a key role in determining how its dissolved byproducts react and generate reactive species in aquatic environments.
Molecular Signatures of Dissolved Organic Matter Generated from the Photodissolution of Microplastics in Sunlit Seawater
Researchers incubated polyethylene, polypropylene, and expanded polystyrene microplastics in sunlit seawater and characterized the dissolved organic matter produced as the plastics broke down. The study found that sunlight generated hundreds of unique oxygen-containing chemical products from each plastic type, while virtually none were produced in the dark. Evidence indicates that a single process, photodegradation, can transform simple plastic polymers into a complex array of dissolved organic chemicals in ocean environments.
The intermolecular differences in dissolved organic matter derived from microplastics during photo-aging and photo-bio-aging processes
Researchers compared dissolved organic matter released from microplastics during photo-aging alone versus combined photo-biological aging in seawater, finding that combined aging produced DOM with distinct molecular characteristics including greater aromaticity and more complex intermolecular structures.
Molecular-level insights into derivation dynamics of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter
Researchers used molecular-level analysis to investigate the formation dynamics of dissolved organic matter derived from microplastics (MPs-DOM) in natural surface waters, finding that this ubiquitous contaminant affects not only aquatic organisms but also undergoes complex chemical transformations that influence its environmental fate and toxicological relevance.
Insights into the photosensitivity and photobleaching of dissolved organic matter from microplastics: Structure-activity relationship and transformation mechanism
This study investigated the photosensitivity and photobleaching behavior of dissolved organic matter released from microplastics (MPDOM), examining how physicochemical properties of different plastics influence photoactivation and transformation. The structure-activity analysis revealed that MPDOM composition strongly determines its photoreactivity, affecting how microplastic-derived organic compounds interact with sunlight and generate reactive oxygen species in aquatic environments.
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.
Solar radiation stimulates release of semi-labile dissolved organic matter from microplastics
Researchers found that solar radiation causes microplastics to release dissolved organic matter into seawater, with low-density polyethylene releasing about five times more carbon per gram per day than polystyrene. The released organic compounds included nitrogen- and sulfur-containing molecules, and a portion overlapped with compounds found naturally in coastal waters. Incubation experiments showed that microbes could utilize 9-19% of this plastic-derived organic matter within 30 days, suggesting it becomes part of the marine carbon cycle.
Molecular fingerprints of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics over prolonged photochemical aging: Implications for aquatic carbon cycling
Researchers used ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify the dissolved organic molecules that leach from polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene microplastics after prolonged exposure to sunlight. They found that polystyrene released the most diverse array of molecules, many of which could persist in water systems. The study suggests that as microplastics degrade in sunlight, they release non-natural organic compounds that may affect the aquatic carbon cycle from rivers to oceans.
Photoreactivity of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter governed by its oxygen-containing functional groups in hydrophobic/hydrophilic fractions rather than molecular weights
This study investigated the photoreactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) released by degrading microplastics, analyzing how its molecular structure governs how it responds to light. The researchers found that oxygen-containing functional groups in hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions — rather than molecular weight — were the key drivers of photoreactivity.
Photodissolution of submillimeter-sized microplastics and its dependences on temperature and light composition
Researchers examined how temperature and light wavelength affect photodissolution of polypropylene, polystyrene, and thermoplastic polyurethane microplastics in seawater, finding that UVB radiation exclusively drives dissolution, that a 20°C temperature increase can enhance dissolved organic carbon production by 3–10 times depending on polymer, and that estimated lifetimes for these plastics in warm surface waters range from 3.6 to 6.5 years.
Investigating whether aquatic microbes are inhibited by dissolved organic carbon formed during the photo-dissolution of microplastics
Researchers investigated whether dissolved organic carbon produced when sunlight degrades floating microplastics inhibits aquatic microbial growth, finding that while much of the carbon can fuel microbial activity, some photochemically produced compounds may have inhibitory effects.
Fate of Microplastics in River Environment: Chemical Composition of Molecular Releasing After Photolysis and Hydrolysis
Researchers investigated the fate of microplastics in river environments, analysing the molecular chemical composition released from microplastics following photolysis and hydrolysis to understand degradation pathways and transformation products in freshwater systems.
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Combined with Reactive Oxygen Species Reveals Differences in Photoreactivity of Dissolved Organic Matter from Microplastic Sources in Aqueous Environments
Researchers analyzed the dissolved organic matter that different types of microplastics release into water and how it reacts with sunlight. Plastics with aromatic structures like polystyrene and PET released compounds that broke down faster and generated more reactive oxygen species than polyethylene or polypropylene. Understanding how different plastics chemically alter water quality is important because these released compounds and reactive species can affect aquatic life and the safety of water sources used by people.
Molecular-level insights into the heterogeneous variations and dynamic formation mechanism of leached dissolved organic matter during the photoaging of polystyrene microplastics
Researchers investigated the molecular-level changes that occur when polystyrene microplastics break down under light exposure and release dissolved organic matter into water. They found that the released molecules were highly diverse and changed dynamically over the course of aging, with different chemical classes appearing at different stages. The study provides new insight into how degrading microplastics introduce complex mixtures of organic chemicals into aquatic environments.
Characterization of microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter in freshwater: Effects of light irradiation and polymer types
Researchers examined how different types of microplastics release dissolved organic matter into freshwater under light and dark conditions. They found that polypropylene released the most organic compounds after UV exposure, while protein-like substances were the main material released by most plastics in the dark. The study indicates that microplastics may have ongoing, long-term effects on water chemistry and microbial activity in natural water bodies.
Microplastic-DerivedCarbon Emissions: From GranularCarbon to Dissolved Organic Carbon and Carbon Dioxide under UltravioletRadiation
Researchers investigated microplastic-derived carbon emissions under ultraviolet radiation, tracking the transformation pathway from granular carbon to dissolved organic carbon and ultimately carbon dioxide, finding that UV aging drives significant carbon release from hydrocarbon polymer microplastics.
NewInsights into the Long-Term Leaching Process ofDissolved Organic Matter from Microplastics: Dynamic Formation andTransformation Mechanism
Researchers studied the long-term photoaging process and dissolved organic matter (DOM) release from conventional polystyrene and biodegradable PBAT microplastics, finding distinct molecular transformation pathways for each polymer type. Biodegradable PBAT released more labile DOM that altered aquatic carbon cycling differently than conventional PS-derived DOM.
Photochemical reactivity of water-soluble dissolved organic matter from microplastics and microfibers
When microplastics and microfibers sit in water, they leach dissolved organic matter (DOM) that can react with sunlight to produce reactive chemicals. This study found that the type and amount of DOM released depends heavily on polymer chemistry, with aromatic plastics like PET and polystyrene releasing more light-absorbing DOM, and microfibers releasing more DOM overall than microplastic particles. Understanding how plastic-derived DOM breaks down in sunlight is important because these chemical by-products can interact with other aquatic pollutants and affect aquatic ecosystems in ways not yet fully understood.
The impact of nanoplastics on marine dissolved organic matter assembly
Researchers found that even trace concentrations of nanoplastics (10 ppb) significantly accelerate the spontaneous assembly of dissolved organic matter into particles in seawater, driven by hydrophobic interactions — a finding that could have far-reaching consequences for the ocean's largest carbon pool.
Microplastics Contamination versus Inorganic Particles: Effects on the Dynamics of Marine Dissolved Organic Matter
This study compared how microplastic contamination affects the cycling of dissolved organic carbon in seawater versus the effects of naturally occurring inorganic particles, finding that microplastics have distinct impacts on organic matter dynamics. The results suggest microplastics may alter carbon cycling in the ocean in ways that natural particles do not.
Photo-induced leaching behaviors and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter from microplastics and terrestrial-sourced particles
Researchers studied how light exposure causes microplastics and terrestrial particles to leach dissolved organic matter, and how this leachate behaves in the environment. The study found differences in the biodegradability of leachate from plastic versus natural sources, suggesting that microplastic-derived organic matter may persist differently in aquatic ecosystems.