Degradation and Fragmentation of Microplastics

Andrady, Anthony L.; Koongolla, Bimali

doi:10.1002/9781119768432.ch8

Cited by 12 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 182 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…17, 18 For PE and PP, the main photooxidation products are ketones, esters, carboxylates, or hydroxyl groups. [7][8][9][10][11][12]14 For PS and PET, alcohols, carboxylates, and hydroxyls are the main photooxidation products. 7,8,12−15 These oxidation reactions often result in chain scission.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eco-Corona Formation on Plastics: Adsorption of Dissolved Organic Matter to Pristine and Photochemically Weathered Polymer Surfaces

Schefer,

Armanious,

Mitrano

2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Plastic fate in freshwater systems is dependent on particle size, morphology, and physicochemical surface properties (e.g., charge, surface roughness, and hydrophobicity). Environmental aging processes, such as photochemical weathering and eco-corona formation due to dissolved organic matter (DOM) adsorption on plastic surfaces, can alter their physicochemical properties, affecting fate and transport. While plastic aging has been studied from a materials science perspective, its specific implications in environmental contexts remain less understood. Although photochemical weathering and eco-corona formation occur simultaneously in the environment, in this work, we systematically assessed the effects of photochemical weathering on the physicochemical properties of polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene) and how this influences the adsorption of DOMs (Suwannee River humic acid, fulvic acid, and natural organic matter) relative to pristine polymers. Pristine polymers initially had different and distinct physicochemical surface properties, but upon aging, they became more similar in terms of surface properties. Photochemical weathering resulted in a decrease in polymer film thickness, an increase in surface roughness, and hydrophilicity. DOM adlayers on the polymer surfaces resulted in more comparable wettability, effectively masking the initial polymer properties. Collectively, this study explores the physiochemical changes polymers undergo in laboratory studies mimicking environmental conditions. Understanding these changes is the initial step to rationalizing and predicting processes and interactions such as heteroaggregation that dictate the fate of plastics in the environment.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eco-Corona Formation on Plastics: Adsorption of Dissolved Organic Matter to Pristine and Photochemically Weathered Polymer Surfaces

Schefer,

Armanious,

Mitrano

2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In recent years, multiple studies have addressed the environmental weathering of PP, polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene (PE), reporting changes in chemical composition, a decrease in molecular weight due to chainscission and the formation of degradation products such as peroxides, alcohols, and carboxylic acids [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. These changes are induced by photooxidation and typically accompanied by a modification of the physical properties, leading to embrittlement and fragmentation [5,7,[30][31][32]. In natural compartments, physical stress factors such as mechanical impacts will additionally enhance fragmentation and break-down, leading to MP formation [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the underlying mechanisms of photooxidative degradation are well understood, much less is known about the role of stabilizers and their degradation products [20]. Quantitative data regarding fragmentation rates as well as secondary MP particle production and release remain scarce [32,[37][38][39][40], and are lacking for stabilized polymer systems. Furthermore, numeric data for time scales in which the stabilizers avoid degradation, and the effect of the stabilizers on the fragmentation of macroplastic has only gained little attention up to date.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying the fragmentation of polypropylene upon exposure to accelerated weathering

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Polymers are omnipresent in our everyday lives. For specific applications, their properties can be extensively modified by various types of additives, e.g., processing stabilizers, antioxidants, UV-stabilizers, flame retardants, and plasticizers. While several additives are nowadays considered to be toxic or persistent in the environment, quantitative data characterizing plastic fragmentation and microplastic formation have not yet been discussed in detail. Here, we present a long-term, laboratory-controlled accelerated weathering study on polypropylene (PP) particles with and without processing stabilizers. We were able to identify the stabilizers as Irgafos® 168, and Irganox® 1010. For both PP sample sets, we monitored the degradation using a combination of various analytical methods, such as gel permeation chromatography, particle size distributions, scanning electron microscopy, solid-state 13C magic-angle spinning NMR and liquid-state 1H, 13C, 31P NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. The stabilizers prevent degradation by simulated solar radiation for about 350 h. Then, degradation sets in rapidly, leading to an exponential decrease in molecular weight and particle size, accompanied by an increase in crystallinity and the formation of oxygen-containing functional groups. After 3200 h, representing approximately 2 years of outdoor weathering, both PP samples exhibit comparable characteristics and sizes, regardless if a stabilizer was initially present. During degradation, an extremely large number of 100,000 daughter particles (4 µm) are formed and released from one MP particle of 192 µm diameter. Their physical properties and chemical composition have largely changed, resulting in a very low molecular weight and a hydrophilic character. These particles no longer resemble pristine PP. We thus expect them to be more prone to biodegradation compared to the starting material.

show abstract

“…The electromagnetic waves of the microwave can penetrate the plastic material and heat the inside of the container, while the high temperature of the food further increases the release of the micro- and nanoplastics from the plastic containers. Nevertheless, compounding the plastic materials with UV stabilizers can potentially reduce the release of plastic particles during microwave heating, according to a previous study …”

Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, compounding the plastic materials with UV stabilizers can potentially reduce the release of plastic particles during microwave heating, according to a previous study. 43 Impacts of Food Types on Particle Release. There were differences in the amounts of plastic particles released into aqueous foods (simulated by DI water) and acidic foods (simulated by 3% acetic acid).…”

Section: ■ Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health

Hussain

Romanova

Okur

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study investigated the release of microplastics and nanoplastics from plastic containers and reusable food pouches under different usage scenarios, using DI water and 3% acetic acid as food simulants for aqueous foods and acidic foods. The results indicated that microwave heating caused the highest release of microplastics and nanoplastics into food compared to other usage scenarios, such as refrigeration or room-temperature storage. It was found that some containers could release as many as 4.22 million microplastic and 2.11 billion nanoplastic particles from only one square centimeter of plastic area within 3 min of microwave heating. Refrigeration and room-temperature storage for over six months can also release millions to billions of microplastics and nanoplastics. Additionally, the polyethylene-based food pouch released more particles than polypropylene-based plastic containers. Exposure modeling results suggested that the highest estimated daily intake was 20.3 ng/kg•day for infants drinking microwaved water and 22.1 ng/kg•day for toddlers consuming microwaved dairy products from polypropylene containers. Furthermore, an in vitro study conducted to assess the cell viability showed that the extracted microplastics and nanoplastics released from the plastic container can cause the death of 76.70 and 77.18% of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T) at 1000 μg/mL concentration after exposure of 48 and 72 h, respectively.

show abstract

Degradation and Fragmentation of Microplastics

Cited by 12 publications

References 182 publications

Eco-Corona Formation on Plastics: Adsorption of Dissolved Organic Matter to Pristine and Photochemically Weathered Polymer Surfaces

Eco-Corona Formation on Plastics: Adsorption of Dissolved Organic Matter to Pristine and Photochemically Weathered Polymer Surfaces

Quantifying the fragmentation of polypropylene upon exposure to accelerated weathering

Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About