Biochar-derived dissolved black carbon (DBC) molecules
are dependent
on the BC formation temperature and affect the fate of emerging contaminants
in waters, such as polyvinyl chloride microplastic (MPPVC). However, the temperature-dependent evolution and MPPVC-interaction of DBC molecules remain unclear. Herein, we propose
a novel DBC-MPPVC interaction mechanism by systematically
interpreting heterogeneous correlations, sequential responses, and
synergistic relationships of thousands of molecules and their linking
functional groups. Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy was proposed
to combine Fourier transform–ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry
and spectroscopic datasets. Increased temperature caused diverse DBC
molecules and fluorophores, accompanied by molecular transformation
from saturation/reduction to unsaturation/oxidation with high carbon
oxidation states, especially for molecules with acidic functional
groups. The temperature response of DBC molecules detected via negative-/positive-ion
electrospray ionization sequentially occurred in unsaturated hydrocarbons
→ lignin-like → condensed aromatic → lipid-/aliphatic-/peptide-like
→ tannin-like → carbohydrate-like molecules. DBC molecular
changes induced by temperature and MPPVC interaction were
closely coordinated, with lignin-like molecules contributing the most
to the interaction. Functional groups in DBC molecules with m/z < 500 showed a sequential MPPVC-interaction response of phenol/aromatic ether C–O,
alkene CC/amide CO → polysaccharides C–O
→ alcohol/ether/carbohydrate C–O groups. These findings
help to elucidate the critical role of DBCs in MP environmental behaviors.