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Zhang Z, Liu S, Zeng D, Gu J, Cai T, Chen K, Zhou H, Dang Z, Yang C. Adsorption and desorption of phenanthrene and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene by goethite-coated polyvinyl chloride. J Environ Sci (China) 2025; 154:833-846. [PMID: 40049919 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2024.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2024] [Revised: 09/20/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2025]
Abstract
Microplastics loaded with phenanthrene and derivatives are widely detected in aquatic environments, and the coating of natural minerals or organic macromolecules may change the environmental behavior of microplastics. In this study, three kinds of composites with different coverage were prepared by coating goethite on the surface of polyvinyl chloride microplastics to investigate the adsorption and desorption behavior of phenanthrene (PHE) and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-OHPHE), and the effect of mucin on desorption was investigated. The results showed that goethite promoted the adsorption of PHE and 1-OHPHE by increasing the specific surface area of the composites. With the increase of the cover degree, the adsorption of PHE decreased because of the decrease in hydrophobicity; while the adsorption of 1-OHPHE initially increased and then decreased with the contributions of hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bond. The adsorption of 1-OHPHE could be influenced by the pH and ionic strength primarily through electrostatic interactions and Ca2+ bridging. The goethite significantly increased the desorption hysteresis for two chemicals due to the complicated pore structures and increased adsorption affinity. Mucin promoted the desorption of PHE through competitive adsorption, and inhibit the desorption of 1-OHPHE through hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding and Ca2+ bridging. This study elucidated the effects of natural minerals on the adsorption and desorption behavior of organic pollutants on microplastics, briefly discussed the effects of organic macromolecules on the desorption behavior of pollutants with different properties, and emphasized the different environmental behaviors of pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyu Zhang
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shuyue Liu
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Dehua Zeng
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jingyi Gu
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tingting Cai
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ketong Chen
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi Dang
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chen Yang
- College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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2
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Hu P, Ren W, Xi Z, Cai J, Ibrahim MAA, Shoeib T, Yang H. Dynamic process of UV-aging polystyrene microplastics, simultaneous adsorption of drugs, and subsequently coagulative removal together. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 492:138100. [PMID: 40199081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2025] [Accepted: 03/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/10/2025]
Abstract
The aging of plastics and their adsorptive interactions with the residual contaminants in water has attracted increasing attentions. In this study, the dynamic process of UV-aging polystyrene (PS) microplastics (MPs) were semi-quantitatively analyzed using a coulter counter, and the adsorptive interactions between the aged PS MPs and two popular drugs[norfloxacin (NOR) and chloroquine phosphate (CQ)] were investigated simultaneously. The MPs presented a rapid size downtrend, reduced from micrometer to nanometer, and the particle number concentration increased about 2 -3 times after a 36.0 h aging effect. The apparent UV-aging process of PS MPs mainly obeyed the pseudo-first order kinetic model in currently measured MPs' size range. The drug uptakes of the aged MPs were fully consistent with the contents of oxygen-containing groups on MPs surface rather than MPs' size. The involved adsorption mechanisms were investigated in detail mainly including electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and π-π electron donor-acceptor interaction. The drug adsorbed MPs were subsequently efficiently removed by an enhanced coagulation together owing to the synergistic effects of the two pollutants. This study provides a novel and comprehensive perspective on the fundamental understanding the UV-aging process of MPs and the simultaneous adsorption behaviors, furthermore, a strategy was proposed for their collaborative removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Wenxiao Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Zhonghua Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Jun Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Mahmoud A A Ibrahim
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt; School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Tamer Shoeib
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Hu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
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Lessa Belone MC, Yli-Rantala E, Sarlin E, Kokko M. Microplastics in an anaerobic digester treating sewage sludge: Occurrence and factors affecting their identification with Raman spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 491:138015. [PMID: 40138947 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2025] [Revised: 03/10/2025] [Accepted: 03/19/2025] [Indexed: 03/29/2025]
Abstract
Significant share of microplastics entering wastewater treatment is accumulated in sewage sludge, which is commonly treated by anaerobic digestion. The digestate is typically separated to solid and liquid fractions, and the solid fraction is often land-applied. However, the division of microplastics between these fractions is poorly understood. Thus, we investigated the occurrence of microplastics (>20 μm) at an anaerobic digester and the subsequent solid-liquid separation. Sewage sludge and digestate exhibited 7600 ± 6800 and 7200 ± 1100 microplastics per g dry weight, respectively, indicating that anaerobic digestion can decrease the fluctuation in microplastics' occurrence in sewage sludge. The microplastic flow was predominantly directed to the solid fraction, while the liquid fraction carried about 1 % of the microplastics, mostly polymers with low density (polyethylene and polypropylene). We also investigated factors affecting microplastics' identification by Raman spectroscopy. Microplastic degradation and presence of organic matter after oxidative digestion in the sample preparation, and anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge affected the spectra of different microplastics. For polyethylene and polypropylene, these changes did not interfere with recognizing their characteristic peaks, allowing high-certainty identification. In contrast, polyamide identification was notably compromised as signal-to-noise ratio can be deteriorated and natural organic matter can be misidentified as polyamide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Clara Lessa Belone
- Tampere University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 589, FI-33014, Finland
| | - Elina Yli-Rantala
- Tampere University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 589, FI-33014, Finland.
| | - Essi Sarlin
- Tampere University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 589, FI-33014, Finland
| | - Marika Kokko
- Tampere University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 589, FI-33014, Finland
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4
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Li F, Zeng Z, Wu Y, Wang Y, Shen L, Huang X, Wang X, Sun Y. Characteristics of microplastics in typical poultry farms and the association of environment microplastics colonized-microbiota, waterfowl gut microbiota, and antibiotic resistance genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 490:137808. [PMID: 40043390 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2025] [Accepted: 02/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/16/2025]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) pollution is a growing global environmental concern. MPs serve as ecological niches for microbial communities, which may accelerate the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), posing risks to the breeding industry. While studies on MPs in aquatic organisms are common, research on farmed poultry is limited. This study investigates MPs in poultry farm environments and waterfowl intestines for the first time. MPs were isolated via density separation and analyzed for characterization in soil, pond water, and waterfowl intestines. Metagenomics was used to investigate the association between environment MPs colonized-microbiota and waterfowl gut microbiota. Our findings reveal that MPs are abundant in soil (6.75 ± 2.78 items/g d.w.), pond water (0.94 ± 0.28 items/g w.w.), and poultry intestines (45.35 ± 19.52 items/g w.w.), primarily appearing as fragmented particles sized 20-50 μm. MPs abundance in intestines correlates with environmental levels. Colonized-microbiota on MPs are linked to poultry intestinal microbiota, with greater diversity and microbial functions. Network analysis reveals that Corynebacterium plays a key role in MPs and poultry intestinal. Polymyxin resistance exhibits high clustering. Procrustes analysis reveals correlations between MPs, bacteria, and ARGs in the farming environment. Overall, MPs in poultry farms may facilitate pathogen and ARGs transmission, posing risks to animal gut health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulin Li
- National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Developmentand Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Ziru Zeng
- National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Developmentand Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Yixiao Wu
- National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Developmentand Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Yefan Wang
- National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Developmentand Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Lingyan Shen
- National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Developmentand Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Xingru Huang
- National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Developmentand Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Xue Wang
- National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Developmentand Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Yongxue Sun
- National Laboratory of Safety Evaluation (Environmental Assessment) of Veterinary Drugs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Developmentand Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, No. 483, Wushan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China.
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Ali Ahmad F, Salam DA. Adsorption behavior of crude oil hydrocarbons on polyethylene microplastics in batch experiments. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2025; 215:117832. [PMID: 40112646 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2025] [Accepted: 03/14/2025] [Indexed: 03/22/2025]
Abstract
This study examines the impact of microplastics on the fate of spilled crude oil in water. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted using polyethylene microplastics ranging in size between 300 and 600 μm. Environmentally relevant concentrations of crude oil and microplastics were tested. Samples processing involved liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) followed by quantitative analysis using Gas-Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry. Kinetic analyses employed the most commonly used models in microplastic adsorption studies, including the pseudo-first order, pseudo second-order, Elovich, and intra-particle diffusion models. Results mainly conformed to the Elovich model, followed by the pseudo-second order model, suggesting chemisorption. Isotherm evaluations involved the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich models, selected for their effectiveness in describing the behavior of microplastics in adsorption studies. These models revealed diverse behaviors: alkanes from nC11-nC21 conformed to the Freundlich isotherm, suggesting multilayer adsorption. While nC10, nC27-nC29, nC33, and nC34 were best described by the Langmuir model, and nC22-nC26 and nC30-nC32 adhered to the Temkin model, both indicative of monolayer adsorption. Notably, nC35 adsorption was best described by the Dubinin-Radushkevich model. The different PAHs exhibited preferences for either the Freundlich or the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities of the contaminants onto polyethylene were 263.12 and 101.57 mg.g-1 for the targeted alkanes and PAHs, respectively, corresponding to a maximum adsorption of 5.75 mg of targeted hydrocarbons per m2 of polyethylene. The study highlighted the potential role of microplastics in influencing the environmental fate of selected crude oil hydrocarbons and provided insights into their interaction and partitioning behavior in water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Ali Ahmad
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
| | - Darine A Salam
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon.
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Ijaz S, Liu G, Rehman A, Haider MIS, Safeer R, Sattar B, Gulzar MZ, Nosheen S, Yousaf B. Organic matter and microplastics nexus: A comprehensive understanding of the synergistic impact on soil health. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2025; 978:179420. [PMID: 40245505 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2025] [Revised: 04/03/2025] [Accepted: 04/10/2025] [Indexed: 04/19/2025]
Abstract
The interactional nexus of microplastics (MPs) and organic matter (OM) can subtly disrupt the delicate balance of soil ecosystems, influencing nutrient dynamics, biodiversity, and overall soil health. To explore this complex interplay between MPs and OM concerning several perspectives, a comprehensive keyword search was conducted across key scientific databases, and the retrieved data was curated according to the PRISMA guidelines to reflect the objectives. Several studies have highlighted that organic-based inputs, such as manures, composts, and sewage sludge, widely used for soil amendment, are potential sources of MPs to soil contamination. These coinciding sources of MPs and OM raise potential concerns about their impact on overall soil health. MPs and OM have parallel characteristics and play a critical role in the soil organic carbon (SOC) and dissolved organic matter (DOM), critical for biogeochemical transformations and nutrient cycling. In light of this, the present review explores the multifaceted nexus between MPs and OM, explaining their interaction mechanisms and their effects on the biological and physicochemical properties of the soil. Despite significant implications on soil ecosystem, challenges remain in accurately quantifying the effects of MPs due to the complexities introduced by DOM. The intricate interaction between MPs and DOM can obscure analytical results, complicating efforts to separate and identify these pollutants effectively. Given these challenges, this review underscores the urgent need for innovative methods to characterize and quantify MPs in complex environmental matrices. Finally, we discuss emerging research directions aimed at advancing the detection and management of MPs in soil ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samra Ijaz
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Guijian Liu
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China.
| | - Abdul Rehman
- School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Muhammad Irtaza Sajjad Haider
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Rabia Safeer
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Bisma Sattar
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Muhammad Zeeshan Gulzar
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and the Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Sofia Nosheen
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Lahore College of Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Balal Yousaf
- Department of Technologies and Installations for Waste Management, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
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Lei C, Manchen L, Chengkai M, Weixiong J, Haiyang S, Minghong W. Modulating oxidative capacity to simultaneously enhance microplastics aging and reduce adsorption performance: A novel approach to environmental remediation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2025; 279:121870. [PMID: 40409448 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2025] [Revised: 05/04/2025] [Accepted: 05/15/2025] [Indexed: 05/25/2025]
Abstract
During the conventional aging process of microplastics, a significant amount of oxygen-containing functional groups are generated, which enhances the adsorption capacity of aged microplastics. In this study, we constructed various electron beam/strong oxidant systems and adjusted the oxidative capacity to enhance the aging performance of polypropylene while reducing its adsorption ability. Experimental results indicate that as the oxidative capacity of the system increases, the aging degree of polypropylene significantly improves, yet the adsorption performance for sulfonamides exhibits a trend of initially decreasing and then increasing. Conventional methods typically generate a large number of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of microplastics. These oxygen-containing functional groups enhance the adsorption capacity for sulfonamide pollutants through electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces. As we further enhance the oxidative capacity of the system, reactive free radicals continue to attack the surface oxygen-containing functional groups, resulting in their removal and transformation. We determined for the first time the changes in the aging process of microplastics and the surface oxygen-containing functional groups under different oxidative capacities. This breakthrough reveals the nonlinear relationship between oxidation intensity and the evolution of surface functional groups. At low oxidation intensities, reactive radicals preferentially attack and remove oxygen-containing functional groups, thereby decreasing the sites for pollutant adsorption. In contrast, at high oxidation intensities, the restructuring of functional group structures facilitates a rebound in adsorption performance. This mechanism systematically clarifies the longstanding "aging-adsorption" vicious cycle, providing theoretical support for the precise regulation of microplastic aging pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Lei
- College of Environment & Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China; School of Future Membrane Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Lin Manchen
- College of Environment & Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Mao Chengkai
- School of Future Membrane Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Jian Weixiong
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Shao Haiyang
- College of Environment & Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China; School of Future Membrane Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
| | - Wu Minghong
- College of Environment & Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China; School of Future Membrane Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
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Lu X, Wang L, Li J, Li W, Yan R, Duan X, Tang Y. Microplastics inhibit lead binding to sediment components: Influence of surface functional groups and charge environment. WATER RESEARCH 2025; 281:123661. [PMID: 40280004 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.123661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2025] [Revised: 04/07/2025] [Accepted: 04/15/2025] [Indexed: 04/29/2025]
Abstract
The coexistence of heavy metals and microplastics in sediments is well recognized, yet the interactions within ternary systems remain underexplored, and comprehensive studies addressing the diverse sequences of sediment-microplastic-heavy metal coexistence are lacking. In this study, we systematically investigated the interactions among lead (Pb), polystyrene (PS) microplastics, and sediments (using goethite (Goe) and goethite-humic acid composite (GH) as examples) under different coexistence orders. The presence of PS significantly inhibited Pb adsorption by both Goe and GH. For Goe, adsorption kinetics and hydrochemical condition effects showed that PS reduced the electrostatic repulsion between Goe and Pb, leading to a fourfold increase in the mass transfer rate of Pb to the Goe surface. However, Pb 4f deconvolution indicated competition between PS and Pb for hydroxyl groups on Goe, resulting in a 7.4% reduction in Pb adsorption. In the GH system, hydrophobic interactions and coordination complexes between PS and humic acid on GH inhibited the electrostatic adsorption and mass transfer processes between Pb and GH. Pb adsorption behavior and changes in Pb-O content under different coexistence orders further verified that competition between PS and Pb for carboxyl and hydroxyl groups on GH led to a 28.0% reduction in Pb adsorption. This study highlights the inhibitory effect of PS on Pb adsorption by Goe and GH, providing a theoretical basis for understanding the migration and transformation patterns of microplastics and heavy metals in sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Wenqiu Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Ruoqun Yan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Xiaoguang Duan
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, PR China.
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9
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Wang Y, Zhao P, Yi H, Tang X. Investigating the adsorption of organic compounds onto microplastics via experimental, simulation, and prediction methods. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2025; 27:849-859. [PMID: 40110709 DOI: 10.1039/d4em00586d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2025]
Abstract
Exploring the adsorption of organic compounds onto microplastics (MPs) is of great significance for understanding their environmental fate and evaluating their ecological risks. To date, various techniques, e.g., experiments, simulations, and prediction models, have been utilized for exploring the adsorption of different organic compounds onto MPs. In this review, we systematically introduce the sources of MPs, the interactions between MPs and organic compounds, the factors influencing the adsorption of organic compounds onto MPs, and research advances in investigating the adsorption of organic compounds by microplastics with different techniques. We also point out that the structures of MPs and environmental factors can have distinct effects on the adsorption mechanisms, and the adsorption mechanisms for numerous organic compounds onto MPs are still unclear. Besides, there is a paucity of multi-dimensional models for predicting the adsorption of organic compounds by MPs under different environmental conditions with a single click. We hope that our review can provide insights into the environmental behavior and fate of organic compounds and microplastics, as well as also guiding future research on the adsorption of organic compounds onto microplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 10083, China.
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 10084, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 10083, China.
| | - Honghong Yi
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 10083, China.
| | - Xiaolong Tang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 10083, China.
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10
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Xiang Y, Wang Z, Liu J, Li Z, Wang J, Lu Q, Xie L. Nanoscale interaction mechanism between bubbles and microplastics under the influence of natural organic matter in simulated marine environment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2025; 487:137281. [PMID: 39842115 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2024] [Revised: 01/05/2025] [Accepted: 01/17/2025] [Indexed: 01/24/2025]
Abstract
Bubble-microplastic (MP) interaction is a significant process that changes the routes of MP circulation in marine environment and thereby determines the risk of MPs, which could be strongly influenced by natural organic matter (NOM) in oceans. However, the quantitative interaction mechanisms between bubbles and MPs under the effect of NOM remain elusive. Herein, bubble-MP interactions in simulated seawater were quantified at nanoscale based on atomic force microscope coupled with the Stokes-Reynold-Young-Laplace model. Bubble-polystyrene (PS)/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MP interactions exhibited stronger hydrophobic interactions (decay length D0 of 0.60 ± 0.03 nm/0.43 ± 0.02 nm for PS/PVC MP) than polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) MPs. Humic acid (HA) considerably reduced the D0 of hydrophobic interaction from 0.43-0.60 nm to 0.30-0.32 nm for PS and PVC MPs by introducing oxygen-containing components as evidenced by spectroscopic analysis. In contrast, alginate (Alg) accumulated less on PS/PVC MP surfaces, thereby negligibly affecting the D0 value. While for PMMA MPs, virtually identical D0 values were observed despite the presence of HA/Alg. Therefore, the bubble-driven transport of PS/PVC MPs were modulated by different types of NOM, whereas PMMA MPs could only be slightly affected. This work provides nanoscale insights into quantitative bubble-MP interactions, shedding light on understanding MPs global cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xiang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China
| | - Zhoujie Wang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China; School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, PR China; Key Laboratory of Icing and Anti/De-icing, China Air Mechanics Research and Development Center, Mianyang, Sichuan 621000, PR China
| | - Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemistry Protection for Civilian, Institute of Chemical Protection, Beijing 100191, PR China; Xinxing Jihua (Beijing) Material Technology Research Institute Co. LTD, Beijing 100195, PR China.
| | - Zhikao Li
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Jingyi Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu 610500, PR China
| | - Qingye Lu
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Lei Xie
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, PR China.
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11
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Malkoske TA, Bérubé PR, Andrews RC. Hydraulic and chemical cleaning efficiency for the release of microplastics retained during coagulation/flocculation-ultrafiltration. WATER RESEARCH 2025; 282:123601. [PMID: 40267594 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.123601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2025] [Revised: 03/18/2025] [Accepted: 04/04/2025] [Indexed: 04/25/2025]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in global drinking water sources (lakes, rivers), with reported concentrations ranging from 0.5 to >7,500 particles/L. Ultrafiltration (UF), widely applied in drinking water treatment, is anticipated to represent an effective barrier to MPs due to its pore size (0.01-0.1 µm), which can retain MPs of potential health concern. To-date limited studies have reported that MPs may contribute to UF fouling, albeit when considering concentrations up to 10 orders of magnitude higher than those typically observed in source waters. The present study evaluated the retention of MPs by UF membranes when incorporating coagulation/flocculation pre-treatment, as well as their release during hydraulic and chemical cleaning. Polyethylene (PE) fragments, representing a range of environmentally relevant sizes (1-50 µm) and concentrations (907 ± 293 particles/L), were spiked into untreated lake waters prior to coagulation/flocculation-UF. Results suggest that in the absence of coagulant (alum) addition, only 50% of MPs retained during UF permeation were subsequently released during hydraulic cleaning. The release of MPs during hydraulic cleaning decreased (<20%) at medium and high (8 mg/L, 15 mg/L) alum dosages when compared to the absence of coagulant addition. Chemical cleaning with sodium hypochlorite (500 mg/L) was only capable of releasing 20% to 60% of retained MPs. Both hydraulic and chemical cleaning were less effective for the release of MPs when compared to reversible fouling resistance, organic matter, and aluminum. As such, future research is required to determine if the accumulation of MPs leads to increased UF fouling over extended operating periods, in addition cleaning practices which specifically target MPs should be further examined. Low and medium alum dosages (2 mg/L, 8 mg/L) were observed to increase the release of retained MPs during chemical cleaning, suggesting that incorporation of coagulation pre-treatment is useful to increase the release of MPs and minimize potential long-term accumulation on membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler A Malkoske
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada.
| | - Pierre R Bérubé
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Robert C Andrews
- Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A4, Canada
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12
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Guchhait S, Choudhary A, Darbha GK. Influence of goethite on the fate of antibiotic (tetracycline) in the aqueous environment: Effect of cationic and anionic surfactants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2025; 964:178495. [PMID: 39837122 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2024] [Revised: 01/10/2025] [Accepted: 01/11/2025] [Indexed: 01/23/2025]
Abstract
Over the last decades, the release and occurrence of organic pollutants in aquatic systems have become a major global concern due to their bioaccumulation, toxicity, and adverse effects on the ecosystem. Tetracycline (TC), a widely used antibiotic, is often found at high concentrations in the aqueous environment and tends to bind with the natural colloids. Post-COVID-19 pandemic, the release of surfactants in the environment has increased due to the excessive use of washing and cleaning products. This study systematically investigated the interaction of goethite with TC in the absence and presence of anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) and cationic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) surfactants. The impact of various environmental parameters like pH, ionic strength, temperature, and organic matter was also studied. It was observed that SDS has drastically increased TC sorption onto goethite from 11 mg/g to 19 mg/g, while CTAB had the opposite effect. To delineate the goethite-TC interaction mechanisms, FTIR with two-dimensional correlation analysis (2D-COS) was performed. The pH of the solution was crucial in the presence of SDS, while ionic strength did not affect the interaction process. The sorption process was endothermic, as evidenced by the increase in sorption capacity with the rise in the temperature. The presence of organic matter hinders the sorption of TC onto goethite, which is also observed in river water where the organic content is very high. Overall, our study helps to predict the fate of organic pollutants like antibiotics in aqueous environments in the coexistence of surfactants and iron oxyhydroxides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumadip Guchhait
- Environmental Nanoscience Laboratory, Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| | - Aniket Choudhary
- Environmental Nanoscience Laboratory, Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| | - Gopala Krishna Darbha
- Environmental Nanoscience Laboratory, Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India; Centre for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India.
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13
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Peng S, Wang F, Wei D, Wang C, Ma H, Du Y. Application of FTIR two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) analysis in characterizing environmental behaviors of microplastics: A systematic review. J Environ Sci (China) 2025; 147:200-216. [PMID: 39003040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment, continuously undergo aging processes and release toxic chemical substances. Understanding the environmental behaviors of MPs is critical to accurately evaluate their long-term ecological risk. Generalized two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) is a powerful tool for MPs studies, which can dig more comprehensive information hiding in the conventional one-dimensional spectra, such as infrared (IR) and Raman spectra. The recent applications of 2D-COS in analyzing the behaviors and fates of MPs in the environment, including their aging processes, and interactions with natural organic matter (NOM) or other chemical substances, were summarized systematically. The main requirements and limitations of current approaches for exploring these processes are discussed, and the corresponding strategies to address these limitations and drawbacks are proposed as well. Finally, new trends of 2D-COS are prospected for analyzing the properties and behaviors of MPs in both natural and artificial environmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Peng
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Feipeng Wang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dongbin Wei
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | | | - Haijun Ma
- North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750001, China
| | - Yuguo Du
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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14
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Xiong W, Hu M, He S, Ye Y, Xiang Y, Peng H, Chen Z, Xu Z, Zhang H, Li W, Peng S. Microplastics enhance the adsorption capacity of zinc oxide nanoparticles: Interactive mechanisms and influence factors. J Environ Sci (China) 2025; 147:665-676. [PMID: 39003081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are of particular concern due to their ubiquitous occurrence and propensity to interact and concentrate various waterborne contaminants from aqueous surroundings. Studies on the interaction and joint toxicity of MPs on engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are exhaustive, but limited research on the effect of MPs on the properties of ENPs in multi-solute systems. Here, the effect of MPs on adsorption ability of ENPs to antibiotics was investigated for the first time. The results demonstrated that MPs enhanced the adsorption affinity of ENPs to antibiotics and MPs before and after aging showed different effects on ENPs. Aged polyamide prevented aggregation of ZnONPs by introducing negative charges, whereas virgin polyamide affected ZnONPs with the help of electrostatic attraction. FT-IR and XPS analyses were used to probe the physicochemical interactions between ENPs and MPs. The results showed no chemical interaction and electrostatic interaction was the dominant force between them. Furthermore, the adsorption rate of antibiotics positively correlated with pH and humic acid but exhibited a negative correlation with ionic strength. Our study highlights that ENPs are highly capable of accumulating and transporting antibiotics in the presence of MPs, which could result in a widespread distribution of antibiotics and an expansion of their environmental risks and toxic effects on biota. It also improves our understanding of the mutual interaction of various co-existing contaminants in aqueous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Xiong
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, China; Hunan Boke Environmental Engineering Co. Ltd., Hengyang 421099, China.
| | - Min Hu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Siying He
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Yuhang Ye
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Yinping Xiang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Haihao Peng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Zhaomeng Chen
- Hunan Boke Environmental Engineering Co. Ltd., Hengyang 421099, China; College of Environmental Protection and Safety Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Zhengyong Xu
- Hunan Modern Environmental Technology Co. Ltd., Changsha 410004, China
| | - Honglin Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Weixiang Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Shudian Peng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, China
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15
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Gao Y, Gao W, Liu Y, Zou D, Li Y, Lin Y, Zhao J. A comprehensive review of microplastic aging: Laboratory simulations, physicochemical properties, adsorption mechanisms, and environmental impacts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 957:177427. [PMID: 39522785 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2024] [Revised: 11/04/2024] [Accepted: 11/05/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
As a new type of ecological environment problem, microplastic pollution is a severe challenge faced by the world, and its threat and potential risk to the ecosystem have become a hot research spot in the current environmental field. Microplastics (MPs) in the natural environment will experience aging effect, aging will change the physical and chemical properties of MPs and affect the adsorption behavior. Recently reported characterization techniques of MPs and laboratory simulation of aging are reviewed. The aging mechanism between MPs and different pollutants and the intervention mechanism of environmental factors (MPs, pollutants and water quality environment) were revealed. In addition, to further understand the potential ecological toxicity of MPs after aging, the release and harm of additives during aging, produce the environmentally persistent free radicals, and the mechanism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) removal of pollutants adsorbed on the surface of MPs were summarized. Future research efforts should focus more on bridging the disparity between laboratory aging simulations and natural environmental conditions to enhance the authenticity and ecological relevance of such studies. The ROS production mechanism of MPs provides a reference direction for removing pollutants adsorbed by aged MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gao
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, School of Municipal & Environmental Engineering, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China; Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Wei Gao
- Jiangsu Key Lab and Engineering Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, National Engineering Research Center for Organic-based Fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yuzhi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Jiefang Road 2519, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Donglei Zou
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Jiefang Road 2519, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Jiefang Road 2519, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Yingzi Lin
- Key Laboratory of Songliao Aquatic Environment, Ministry of Education, School of Municipal & Environmental Engineering, Jilin Jianzhu University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Jun Zhao
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
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16
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Barhoumi B, Metian M, Alonso-Hernández CM, Oberhaensli F, Mourgkogiannis N, Karapanagioti HK, Bersuder P, Tolosa I. Insight into the effect of natural aging of polystyrene microplastics on the sorption of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in seawater. Heliyon 2024; 10:e40490. [PMID: 39654741 PMCID: PMC11626057 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 11/14/2024] [Accepted: 11/15/2024] [Indexed: 12/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are abundant in aquatic environments and due to their small size, surface properties, and strong hydrophobicity, they can easily sorb chemicals, thus potentially acting as pollutant carriers. To date, most studies investigating the sorption of chemicals on MPs have principally focused on virgin MPs. However, MPs in the environment undergo aging effects, which changes their physical-chemical properties and aptitude to interact with chemicals, such as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) referred to as "forever chemicals". In this study, we compared the sorption behavior of nine PFAS, exhibiting different physical-chemical properties, on virgin and naturally aged polystyrene microplastic (PS-MPs) to explore to what extent the environmental aging affects the sorption behavior of the PS-MPs for different legacy and emerging PFAS in seawater. Differences in the morphology and surface properties of aged PS-MPs were examined by infrared spectroscopy, surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Results revealed that compared to virgin PS-MPs, aged PS-MPs exhibited morphological changes (e.g. cavities, pits, and rough surfaces) with biofilm development and signs of oxidation on the MPs surface. PFAS sorption on PS-MPs was enhanced for the aged PS-MPs compared to virgin PS-MPs with Kd values ranging from 327 L kg-1 for PFOA to 3247 L kg-1 for PFOS in aged PS-MPs. The difference in sorption capacity was mainly attributed to the physical-chemical changes and the adhered biofilm observed in aged PS-MPs. Results also showed that virgin PS-MPs adsorb PFAS mainly through steric hindrance, while the aged PS-MPs may involve more complex sorption mechanisms. This research provides additional insights into the ability of aged MPs as potential carriers of legacy and emerging contaminants in the marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Badreddine Barhoumi
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - Marc Metian
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | | | - François Oberhaensli
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | | | | | - Philippe Bersuder
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
| | - Imma Tolosa
- IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, 4a Quai Antoine 1er, 98000, Principality of Monaco, Monaco
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17
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Shen Y, Tan Q, Sun J, Cai X, Shen L, Lin H, Wei X. Membrane fouling characteristics and mechanisms in coagulation-ultrafiltration process for treating microplastic-containing water. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176524. [PMID: 39332724 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2024] [Revised: 09/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as a significant challenge to water treatment processes due to their ability to adsorb or accumulate alginate foulants, impacting the coagulation-ultrafiltration (CUF) process. In this study, the mechanisms of membrane fouling caused by MPs under varying dosages of polymeric aluminum chloride (PAC) coagulant in the CUF process were investigated. It was revealed that MPs contribute to membrane fouling, which initially intensifies and then alleviates as coagulant concentration increases, with a turning point at 0.05 mM PAC dosage. The most significant alleviation of membrane fouling was observed at 0.2 mM PAC dosage. An in-depth analysis of interfacial interaction energy changes during filtration was conducted using the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory, demonstrating how MPs alter the interaction forces between foulants and the membrane surface, leading to either the exacerbation or mitigation of fouling. Additionally, it was shown that at optimal coagulant concentrations, the presence of MPs promotes the formation of a loose and porous cake layer, disrupting the original structure and creating a more open block structure, thereby alleviating membrane fouling. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the CUF process in microplastic-containing water treatment, presenting a novel approach to enhancing efficiency and reducing membrane fouling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Shen
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; Key Laboratory of Watershed Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Security, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
| | - Qiyin Tan
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; Key Laboratory of Watershed Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Security, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Jiahao Sun
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; Key Laboratory of Watershed Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Security, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Xiang Cai
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; Key Laboratory of Watershed Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Security, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
| | - Liguo Shen
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; Key Laboratory of Watershed Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Security, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
| | - Hongjun Lin
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; Key Laboratory of Watershed Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Security, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Wei
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; Key Laboratory of Watershed Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Security, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
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18
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Muthuraja R, Ou B, Thangavelu M, Narhayanan TN, Chittamart N, Janjaroen D. Effects of particle size and aging on heavy metal adsorption by polypropylene and polystyrene microplastics under varying environmental conditions. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 369:143843. [PMID: 39617328 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 11/08/2024] [Accepted: 11/26/2024] [Indexed: 12/08/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics have become a major environmental issue because of their widespread presence and tendency to adsorb heavy metals, which can have harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. The present study investigates the adsorption mechanisms of Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions on both pristine and artificially aged microplastics (MPs) made of polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP). Furthermore, the influence of MP size on the adsorption capacity under different environmental conditions was evaluated. According to the characterization of MPs, aging leads to physical damage and an increase in the number of oxygen-containing functional groups on their surface. The experimental results highlight the significantly higher adsorption ability of smaller and aged MPs compared with that of pristine MPs for both the heavy metal ions. The pseudo-second-order equation provided a better fit for the adsorption kinetics study (R2 = 0.95), suggesting that chemisorption governs the rate-limiting phase in the adsorption mechanism on the MP surfaces. The concordance between the adsorption isotherm model and Freundlich model (R2 > 0.95) indicated a predominance of multilayer adsorption. The environmental factors such as pH, humic acid, temperature, and SO42- concentration significantly affected the adsorption of Pb2⁺ and Cu2⁺ onto PP and PS MPs. These variables play a crucial role in determining the nature of the interactions between heavy metal ions and the microplastic particles under diverse environmental conditions. Electrostatic interactions, surface complexation and van der Waals forces were identified as two factors that could either improve or diminish the metal ion adsorption capacity of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raji Muthuraja
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Bunlong Ou
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Muthukumar Thangavelu
- Root and Soil Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641046, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Thaiyal Nayahi Narhayanan
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Natthapol Chittamart
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.
| | - Dao Janjaroen
- Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Professor Aroon Sorathesn Center of Excellence in Environmental Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
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19
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Rapljenović A, Viskić M, Frančišković-Bilinski S, Cuculić V. Influence of Organic Matter and Speciation on the Dynamics of Trace Metal Adsorption on Microplastics in Marine Conditions. TOXICS 2024; 12:820. [PMID: 39590999 PMCID: PMC11598581 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12110820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2024] [Revised: 11/13/2024] [Accepted: 11/14/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024]
Abstract
Dissolved organic matter (DOM), primarily in the form of humic acid (HA), plays a crucial role in trace metal (TM) speciation and their subsequent adsorption dynamics on microplastics (MP) in aquatic environments. This study evaluates the impact of environmentally relevant concentrations of HA on the adsorption behaviors of essential (Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn) and toxic (Cd and Pb) TMs onto polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) pellets, as well as PP fibers under marine conditions, during a six-week experiment. The HA concentrations were 0.1, 1, and 5 mg/L, while all metals were in the same amounts (10 µg/L). Results reveal that HA significantly influences the adsorption of Cu, Pb, and Zn on MP, particularly on PP fibers, which exhibited the greatest TM adsorption dynamics. The adsorption patterns correspond to the concentrations of these metals in seawater, with the sequence for pellets being Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Co~Cd, and for fibers Cu > Zn > Pb > Co~Ni > Cd. Speciation modeling supported these findings, indicating that Cu, Pb, and Zn predominantly associate with HA in seawater, facilitating their adsorption on MP, whereas Cd, Co, and Ni mainly form free ions and inorganic complexes, resulting in slower adsorption dynamics. Statistical analysis confirmed the influence of HA on the adsorption of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Ni. By investigating the dynamics of TM adsorption on plastics, the influence of DOM on these two contaminants under marine conditions was evaluated. The presented results can help in forming a better understanding of synergistic plastic and trace metal pollution in marine systems that are relevant at the global level, since both contaminants pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rapljenović
- Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Traces, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička c. 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.R.); (M.V.); (S.F.-B.)
| | - Marko Viskić
- Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Traces, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička c. 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.R.); (M.V.); (S.F.-B.)
- Selvita Ltd., Prilaz Baruna Filipovića 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Stanislav Frančišković-Bilinski
- Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Traces, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička c. 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.R.); (M.V.); (S.F.-B.)
| | - Vlado Cuculić
- Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Traces, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička c. 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.R.); (M.V.); (S.F.-B.)
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20
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Liu S, Huang J, Shi L, He W, Zhang W, Li E, Zhang C, Pang H, Tan X. Interaction of Pb(II) with microplastic-sediment complexes: Critical effect of surfactant. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 361:124815. [PMID: 39182819 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
In this study, the impact of surfactants on the adsorption behavior of Pb(II) onto microplastics-sediment (MPs-S) complexes was investigated. Firstly, virgin polyamide (VPA) and polyethylene (VPE) were placed in Xiangjiang River sediment for six months to conduct in-situ aging. The results indicated that the biofilm-developed polyamide (BPA) and polyethylene (BPE) formed new oxygen-containing functional groups and different biofilm species. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of Pb(II) in sediment (S) and MPs-S complexes was in the following order: S > BPA-S > VPE-S > VPA-S > BPE-S. The addition of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) promoted the adsorption of Pb(II), and the adsorption amount of Pb(II) increased with the higher concentration of SDBS, while adding cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) showed the opposite result. The adsorption process of MPs-S complexes to Pb(II) was dominated by chemical adsorption, and the interaction between MPs-S complexes and Pb(II) was multilayer adsorption involving physical and chemical adsorption when the surfactants were added. Besides, the pH exerts a significant effect on Pb(II) adsorption in different MPs-S complexes, and the highest adsorption amount occurred at pH 6. Noteworthy, CTAB promoted the adsorption ability of Pb(II) when the exogenous FA was added. The binding characteristic of sediment endogenous DOM components and Pb(II) was influenced by the addition of MPs and surfactants. Finally, it confirmed that adsorption mechanisms mainly involve electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction. This study provides a new perspective to explore the environmental behaviors of Pb(II) by MPs and sediments with the addition of surfactants, which was conducive to evaluating the ecological risks of MPs and heavy metals in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Jinhui Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, China.
| | - Lixiu Shi
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Wenjuan He
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Enjie Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Chenyu Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Haoliang Pang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, China
| | - Xiaofei Tan
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, China
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21
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Huang Y, Hu T, Lin B, Ke Y, Li J, Ma J. Microplastics-biofilm interactions in biofilm-based wastewater treatment processes: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 361:124836. [PMID: 39216664 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics, pervasive contaminants from plastic, present significant challenges to wastewater treatment processes. This review critically examines the interactions between microplastics and biofilm-based treatment technologies, specifically focusing on the concepts of "biofilm on microplastics" and "microplastics in biofilm". It discusses the implications of these interactions in contaminant removal and process performance. Advanced characterization techniques, including morphological characterization, chemical composition analysis, and bio-information analysis, are assessed to elucidate the complex interplay between microplastics and biofilms within biofilters, biological aerated filters (BAFs), rotating biological contactors (RBCs), and moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs). This review synthesizes current research findings, highlighting that microplastics can either hinder or enhance the treatment processes, contingent on their concentration, physicochemical properties, and the specific biofilm technology employed. The insights gained from this review are essential for developing strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of microplastics and for optimizing the design and operation of wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaning Huang
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Tanqiu Hu
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Bincheng Lin
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Youqing Ke
- China Construction Eighth Engineering Division. Corp. Ltd., Guangzhou, 510663, China
| | - Jibin Li
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Jinxing Ma
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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22
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Xu C, Pan L, Zhai L, Wang W, Lu K, Zhu J, Xia G. The Detection and Analysis of Microplastics in a Typical Mountainous Drinking Water System in China. TOXICS 2024; 12:807. [PMID: 39590987 PMCID: PMC11598732 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12110807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2024] [Revised: 10/25/2024] [Accepted: 11/05/2024] [Indexed: 11/28/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are widely detected in urban drinking water systems. However, the presence and characteristics of MPs in mountainous drinking water systems with independent and simple filtration facilities have been overlooked. In this study, we revealed the ubiquity of MPs and demonstrated that their concentrations increased along with the pipeline length in Bainitan Village, Tiantai County, China. The simple filtration facility in this village did not effectively remove most MPs. Polyethylene, polyurethane, and polyethylene terephthalate were the dominant polymers in water samples (72.32% in total), while polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, and polyethylene were the most prevalent in the sediment (74.00% in total) of the reservoir. Long fragments were the predominant shape of MPs in all samples, with the majority being smaller than 100 μm. The estimated daily intake of MPs through drinking water ingestion was highest in infants (2.14-31.26 MPs/kg bw/day), compared to children (1.41-20.67 MPs/kg bw/day) and adults (1.05-15.35 MPs/kg bw/day), highlighting their increased vulnerability. This emphasizes the need for advanced water treatment systems in mountainous regions. It also underscores the necessity for government attention to improve water safety in remote areas. Our research will contribute valuable baseline data for further research on MP exposure, particularly in mountainous communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoxing Xu
- Institute of Environmental Engineering Technology, School of Life Sciences, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; (C.X.); (K.L.); (J.Z.)
- Taizhou Environmental Science Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China
| | - Lingzhen Pan
- Taizhou Jinghe Testing Technology Co., Ltd., Taizhou 318000, China; (L.P.); (L.Z.)
| | - Linfu Zhai
- Taizhou Jinghe Testing Technology Co., Ltd., Taizhou 318000, China; (L.P.); (L.Z.)
| | - Wenlong Wang
- Zhejiang Taicheng Environmental Technology Co., Ltd., Taizhou 318000, China;
| | - Kejia Lu
- Institute of Environmental Engineering Technology, School of Life Sciences, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; (C.X.); (K.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jianqiang Zhu
- Institute of Environmental Engineering Technology, School of Life Sciences, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; (C.X.); (K.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Guanghua Xia
- Institute of Environmental Engineering Technology, School of Life Sciences, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, China; (C.X.); (K.L.); (J.Z.)
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23
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Sabri M, Kazim H, Tawalbeh M, Al-Othman A, Almomani F. A review of advancements in humic acid removal: Insights into adsorption techniques and hybrid solutions. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 365:143373. [PMID: 39306101 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
Humic acid (HA) is a prominent contaminant in wastewater, and its elimination is crucial to ensure purified drinking water. A variety of sources of HA in wastewater exist, ranging from agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and natural decomposition. Adsorption is a technique that has been heavily investigated in this direction. The process complexities, technological advancements, and sustainable approaches are discussed in this review. A range of adsorbents can be employed for HA removal, including modified membranes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), clay nanoparticles, and acid-modified natural materials. This work compares the effectiveness of the preceding adsorbents along with their advantages and limitations. This review also discusses the optimization of various process parameters, such as pH, ionic strength, and temperature, with an emphasis on response surface methodology for process optimization. Furthermore, the challenges and limitations associated with each removal technique are discussed, along with the potential areas for improvement and future directions in the field of wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moin Sabri
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hisham Kazim
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates
| | - Muhammad Tawalbeh
- Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates; Sustainable Energy & Power Systems Research Centre, RISE, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Amani Al-Othman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates; Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center, College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, PO. Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Fares Almomani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Qatar University, Qatar.
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24
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Hao L, Ma H, Xing B. Surface characteristics and adsorption properties of polypropylene microplastics by ultraviolet irradiation and natural aging. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 944:173962. [PMID: 38876352 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
The vast application and deep integration of plastic commodity with our human lives raise a great concern about the ubiquitous microplastics (MPs) in nature, yet the environmental behavior of MPs remain unclear. As a main type and candidate of MPs, pristine polypropylene MPs (PP-MP-Pris), as well as the influence of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on the degree of aging and surface characteristics, were characterized quantitatively by Fourier infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, contact angle meter, automatic specific surface area and pore analyzer and laser particle analyzer, with natural aged PP-MPs (PP-MP-Age) as comparison. The carbonyl index (CI) of UV aged PP-MPs (PP-MP-U) was increased with extension of exposure time, while biofilm with abundant functional groups and the maximum CI value were the characteristics of PP-MP-Age. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of PP-MP-U for crystal violet (CV) was increased and reached the maximum after 30 days, while that of PP-MP-Age was weakened, probably due to the enhanced hydrophilicity and the shedding of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) during the natural aging process, which was demonstrated by hydrochloric acid treatment, indicating the vital involvement of CaCO3. Moreover, the better fitting to PSO kinetics and Freundlich isotherm models indicated that the multilayered and non-homogeneous surface adsorption was acted as the rate-controlling step. Furthermore, the positive values of ΔGθ, ΔHθ and ΔSθ indicated that the adsorption was a non-spontaneous, endothermic process with increased degree of the freedom on the interface of PP-MPs and CV solution. The presence of divalent salts inhibited CV adsorption, demonstrating that electrostatic attraction played a major role in CV capture. The hydrophobic interaction, micropore filling, hydrogen bonding, and π - π conjugation were possible involved. This study is of great significance for better understanding the complex pollution of MPs and its potential environmental risks in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Hao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'An, Shaanxi 710119, PR China
| | - Hongzhu Ma
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'An, Shaanxi 710119, PR China.
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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25
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Chen L, Xie N, Yuan S, Shao H. Adsorption mechanism of hexavalent chromium on electron beam-irradiated aged microplastics: Novel aging processes and environmental factors. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142741. [PMID: 38977247 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics are widely present in the natural environment and exhibit a strong affinity for heavy metals in water, resulting in the formation of microplastics composite heavy metal pollutants. This study investigated the adsorption of heavy metals by electron beam-aged microplastics. For the first time, electron beam irradiation was employed to degrade polypropylene, demonstrating its ability to rapidly age microplastics and generate a substantial number of oxygen-containing functional groups on aged microplastics surface. Adsorption experiments revealed that the maximum adsorption equilibrium capacity of hexavalent chromium by aged microplastics reached 9.3 mg g-1. The adsorption process followed second-order kinetic model and Freundlich model, indicating that the main processes of heavy metal adsorption by aged microplastics are chemical adsorption and multilayer adsorption. The adsorption of heavy metals on aged microplastics primarily relies on the electrostatic and chelation effects of oxygen-containing functional groups. The study results demonstrate that environmental factors, such as pH, salinity, coexisting metal ions, humic acid, and water matrix, exert inhibitory effects on the adsorption of heavy metals by microplastics. Theoretical calculations confirm that the aging process of microplastics primarily relies on hydroxyl radicals breaking carbon chains and forming oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface. The results indicate that electron beam irradiation can simultaneously oxidize and degrade microplastics while reducing hexavalent chromium levels by approximately 90%, proposing a novel method for treating microplastics composite pollutants. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis reveals that electron beam irradiation can oxidatively degrade microplastics into esters, alcohols, and other small molecules. This study proposes an innovative and efficient approach to treat both microplastics composite heavy metal pollutants while elucidating the impact of environmental factors on the adsorption of heavy metals by electron beam-aged microplastics. The aim is to provide a theoretical basis and guidance for controlling microplastics composite pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chen
- School of Future Membrane Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Nan Xie
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Lisbon, Lisbon 1649-004, Portugal
| | - Shanning Yuan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Lisbon, Lisbon 1649-004, Portugal
| | - Haiyang Shao
- School of Future Membrane Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
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26
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Ma Y, Li TY, Meng H, Wang GX, Ma J, Xiao Y, Xie WM. The effect of salinity on trimethoprim adsorption by activated sludge extracellular polymeric substances at trace concentration. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 368:122090. [PMID: 39126848 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
The saline wastewater produced in industrial activities and seawater use would flow into wastewater treatment plants and affect the characteristic of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of activated sludge, which could potentially impact the removal of antibiotics via adsorption. Nonetheless, the effect of salinity on trimethoprim adsorption by activated sludge extracellular polymeric substances at trace concentration and the underlying mechanism remain largely unknown. In this study, the effect of salinity on the adsorption removal of a typical antibiotic, i.e., trimethoprim (TMP) at trace concentration (25.0 μg/L) was evaluated. The results showed the content of EPS was decreased significantly from 56.36 to 21.70 mg/g VSS when the salinity was increased from 0 to 10 g/L. Protein fractions occupied the predominant component of EPS, whose concentration was decreased from 38.17 to 12.83 mg/g VSS. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of activated sludge for TMP was decreased by 49.70% (from 4.97 to 2.50 μg/g VSS). The fluorescence quenching results indicated the fluorescence intensity of tryptophan-like substances was decreased by 30% and the adsorption sites of EPS were decreased from 0.51 to 0.21 when the salinity was increased. The infrared spectrum and XPS results showed that the nitrogen-containing groups from protein were decreased significantly. The circular dichroic analysis showed α helix structure of protein in EPS was decreased with the increase of salinity, which was responsible for the decrease of adsorption capacity for TMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Ma
- Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Tian-Yu Li
- Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Han Meng
- Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Guo-Xiang Wang
- Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing, 210042, China.
| | - Yan Xiao
- Hangzhou Environmental Protection Research Institute of China Coal Technology & Engineering Group, Hangzhou, 311201, China
| | - Wen-Ming Xie
- Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-remediation, School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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27
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Yang M, Qi Z, Gao H, Chen Z, Yu X, An Y, Xiong D. Role of light microplastics in the dispersion process of spilled crude oil in the marine environment. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 205:116618. [PMID: 38908191 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Oil spill and microplastic (MP) pollution are the main problems in the marine environment. After an oil spill, the oil film may be dispersed into the water column in the form of droplets under the action of ocean waves. In this study, the sea condition was simulated through the batch conical flask oscillation experiment. Merey crude oil was selected as experimental oil, and polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) were used as experimental MP. The effects of MP properties (type, concentration and size) on the dispersion of spilled oil were investigated. It is found that for each MP, the oil dispersion efficiency (ODE) increased rapidly at first and then tended to be stable, which all reached the maximum at 360 min. When the concentrations of PE and PS increased from 0 to 100 mg/L, the maximum ODE decreased from 32.64 % to 13.72 % and 10.75 %, respectively, indicating that the presence of MP inhibits the oil dispersion. At the same oscillation time, the volumetric mean diameter (VMD) of dispersed oil increased with the MP concentration. When the particle size of PE and PS increased from 13 to 1000 μm, the maximum ODE increased from 24.74 % to 31.49 % and 28.60 %, respectively. However, the VMD decreased with the size of MP. In addition, the time series of the oil adsorption rate by the MP were well fitted by the kinetic models. The results of this research deepen the understanding of the migration law of spilled oil to the marine environment in the presence of MP, and may further improve the ability of marine environmental scientists to predict the fate of oil spill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Yang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
| | - Zhixin Qi
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
| | - Huan Gao
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
| | - Zexiong Chen
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
| | - Xinping Yu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
| | - Yaya An
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
| | - Deqi Xiong
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China.
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28
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Yan Y, Xu H, Wang Z, Chen H, Yang L, Sun Y, Zhao C, Wang D. Effect of surface functional groups of polystyrene micro/nano plastics on the release of NOM from flocs during the aging process. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 472:134421. [PMID: 38718517 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Currently, the hidden risk of microplastics in the coagulation process has attracted much attention. However, previous studies aimed at improving the removal efficiency of microplastics and ignored the importance of interactions between microplastics and natural organic matter (NOM). This study investigated how polystyrene micro/nano particles impact the release of NOM during the aging of flocs formed by aluminum-based coagulants Al13 and AlCl3. The results elucidated that nano-particles with small particle sizes and agglomerative states are more likely to interact with coagulants. After 7 years of floc aging, the DOC content of the nano system decreased by more than 40%, while the micron system did not change significantly. During coagulation, the benzene rings in polystyrene particles form complexes with electrophilic aluminum ions through π-bonding, creating new Al-O bonds. NOM tends to adsorb at micro/nano plastic interfaces due to hydrophobic interactions and conformational entropy. In the aging process, the structure of PS-Al13 or PS-AlCl3 flocs and the functional groups on the surface of micro/nano plastics control the absorption and release of organic matter through hydrophobic, van der Waals forces, hydration, and polymer bridging. In the system with the addition of nano plastics, several DBPs such as TCAA, DCAA, TBM, DBCM and nitrosamines were reduced by more than 50%. The reaction order of different morphological structures and surface functional groups of microplastics to Al13 and AlCl3 systems is aromatic C-H > C-OH > C-O > NH2 > aromatic CC > aliphatic C-H and C-O>H-CO> NH2 >C-OH> aliphatic C-H. The results provided a new sight to explore the effect of micro/nano plastics on the release of NOM during flocs aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yan
- Chang' an University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Advanced Structural Materials and Carbon Neutralization, School of Materials and Environment, Guangxi Minzu University, Nanning, Guangxi 530006, China.
| | - Zijie Wang
- China Railway Design Corporation, Tianji 300308, China
| | - Hongni Chen
- Chang' an University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Liwei Yang
- Chang' an University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Chang' an University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Chuanliang Zhao
- Chang' an University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
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29
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Kamalakannan M, Rajendran D, Thomas J, Chandrasekaran N. Synergistic impact of nanoplastics and nanopesticides on Artemia salina and toxicity analysis. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2024; 6:3119-3134. [PMID: 38868821 PMCID: PMC11166108 DOI: 10.1039/d4na00013g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) when exposed to nanopermethrin (NPER) exacerbate toxicity on Artemia salina. In the environment, NPs act as a vector for other pollutants mainly heavy metals and pesticides. Nanopesticides are efficient compared to their bulk form. The adsorption of NPER on PSNPs was studied systematically and it was found that the binding of NPER is inversely proportional to its concentration. NPER adsorption on PSNPs followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with an adsorption percentage of 1.7%, 3.7%, 7.7%, 15.4%, and 30.8% when PSNPs were incubated with 2 mg L-1,4 mg L-1, 8 mg L-1, 16 mg L-1, and 32 mg L-1 of NPER. The adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm. The increased hydrodynamic size of the NPER/PSNP complex was observed. Different characterization studies were performed for NPER, PSNPs, and their complex using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The LC50 value for the NPER/PSNP complex treated with Artemia salina was 3.127 mg L-1, compared to LC50 NPER which was found to be 4.536 mg L-1. PSNPs had a lower mortality rate in Artemia salina, where 50% mortality (LC50) was not observed at their working concentration. Both the nanoforms led to morphological changes in Artemia salina. Reactive oxygen species increased to 87.94% for the NPER/PSNP complex, 78.93% for NPER, and 23.65% for PSNPs. Greater amounts of ROS in the cells may have led to SOD degradation. Superoxide dismutase activity for the NPER/PSNP complex was 1.2 U mg-1, NPER was 1.3 U mg-1, and PSNPs was 2.1 U mg-1. A lipid peroxidation study reveals that the melondialdehyde synthesis by NPER/PSNPs complex, NPER and PSNPs were found to be 2.21 nM mg-1, 1.59 nM mg-1, and 0.91 nM mg-1 respectively. Catalase activity in a complex of NPER/PSNPs, NPER, and PSNPs was found to be 1.25 U mg-1, 0.94 U mg-1, and 0.49 U mg-1. This study envisages the individual and combined toxicity of nanopesticides and PSNPs on aquatic organisms. Increased plastic usage and new-age chemicals for agriculture could result in the formation of a PSNPs-NPER complex potentially causing highly toxic effects on aquatic animals, compared to their pristine forms. Therefore, we should also consider the other side of nanotechnology in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahalakshmi Kamalakannan
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore-632014 Tamil Nadu India +91 416 2243092 +91 416 2202624
| | - Durgalakshmi Rajendran
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore-632014 Tamil Nadu India +91 416 2243092 +91 416 2202624
| | - John Thomas
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore-632014 Tamil Nadu India +91 416 2243092 +91 416 2202624
| | - Natarajan Chandrasekaran
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology Vellore-632014 Tamil Nadu India +91 416 2243092 +91 416 2202624
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30
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Park Y, Noda I, Jung YM. Diverse Applications of Two-Dimensional Correlation Spectroscopy (2D-COS). APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY 2024:37028241256397. [PMID: 38835153 DOI: 10.1177/00037028241256397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
This second of the two-part series of a comprehensive survey review provides the diverse applications of two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) covering different probes, perturbations, and systems in the last two years. Infrared spectroscopy has maintained its top popularity in 2D-COS over the past two years. Fluorescence spectroscopy is the second most frequently used analytical method, which has been heavily applied to the analysis of heavy metal binding, environmental, and solution systems. Various other analytical methods including laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, capillary electrophoresis, seismologic, and so on, have also been reported. In the last two years, concentration, composition, and pH are the main effects of perturbation used in the 2D-COS fields, as well as temperature. Environmental science is especially heavily studied using 2D-COS. This comprehensive survey review shows that 2D-COS undergoes continuous evolution and growth, marked by novel developments and successful applications across diverse scientific fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeonju Park
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Molecular Science and Fusion Technology, and Kangwon Radiation Convergence Research Support Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Isao Noda
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Young Mee Jung
- Department of Chemistry, Institute for Molecular Science and Fusion Technology, and Kangwon Radiation Convergence Research Support Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea
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Bayode AA, Ore OT, Nnamani EA, Sotunde B, Koko DT, Unuabonah EI, Helmreich B, Omorogie MO. Perovskite Oxides: Syntheses and Perspectives on Their Application for Nitrate Reduction. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:19770-19785. [PMID: 38737083 PMCID: PMC11080040 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Over the decades, the rise in nitrate levels in the ecosystem has posed a serious threat to the continuous existence of humans, fauna, and flora. The deleterious effects of increasing levels of nitrates in the ecosystem have led to adverse health and environmental implications in the form of methemoglobinemia and eutrophication, respectively. Different pathways/routes for the syntheses of perovskites and their oxides were presented in this review. In recent times, electrocatalytic reduction has emerged as the most utilized technique for the conversion of nitrates into ammonia, an industrial feedstock. According to published papers, the efficiency of various perovskites and their oxides used for the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate achieved a high Faradaic efficiency of 98%. Furthermore, studies published have shown that there is a need to improve the chemical stability of perovskites and their oxides during scale-up applications, as well as their scalability for industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajibola A. Bayode
- College
of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University
of Science and Engineering, Zigong 643000, P. R. China
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
| | - Odunayo T. Ore
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, Achiever’s
University, P.M.B. 1030, 341101 Owo, Nigeria
| | - Esther A. Nnamani
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
- Environmental
Science and Technology Unit, African Centre of Excellence for Water
and Environmental Research (ACEWATER), Redeemer’s
University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
| | - Babajide Sotunde
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
- Environmental
Science and Technology Unit, African Centre of Excellence for Water
and Environmental Research (ACEWATER), Redeemer’s
University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
| | - Daniel T. Koko
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
- Environmental
Science and Technology Unit, African Centre of Excellence for Water
and Environmental Research (ACEWATER), Redeemer’s
University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel I. Unuabonah
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
- Environmental
Science and Technology Unit, African Centre of Excellence for Water
and Environmental Research (ACEWATER), Redeemer’s
University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
| | - Brigitte Helmreich
- Chair
of Urban Water Systems Engineering, School
of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Martins O. Omorogie
- Department
of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
- Environmental
Science and Technology Unit, African Centre of Excellence for Water
and Environmental Research (ACEWATER), Redeemer’s
University, P.M.B. 230, 232101 Ede, Nigeria
- Chair
of Urban Water Systems Engineering, School
of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
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32
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Wang E, Huang T, Wu Q, Huang L, Kong D, Wang H. Influence of Hydrothermal Modification on Adsorptive Performance of Clay Minerals for Malachite Green. Molecules 2024; 29:1974. [PMID: 38731464 PMCID: PMC11085210 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29091974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Artificially modified adsorbing materials mainly aim to remedy the disadvantages of natural materials as much as possible. Using clay materials such as rectorite, sodium bentonite and metakaolinite (solid waste material) as base materials, hydrothermally modified and unmodified materials were compared. CM-HT and CM (adsorbing materials) were prepared and used to adsorb and purify wastewater containing malachite green (MG) dye, and the two materials were characterized through methods such as BET, FT-IR, SEM and XRD. Results: (1) The optimal conditions for hydrothermal modification of CM-HT were a temperature of 150 °C, a time of 2 h, and a liquid/solid ratio 1:20. (2) Hydrothermal modification greatly increased the adsorptive effect. The measured maximum adsorption capacity of CM-HT for MG reached 290.45 mg/g (56.92% higher than that of CM). The theoretical maximum capacity was 625.15 mg/g (186.15% higher than that of CM). (3) Because Al-OH and Si-O-Al groups were reserved in unmodified clay mineral adsorbing materials with good adsorbing activity, after hydrothermal modification, the crystal structure of the clay became loosened along the direction of the c axis, and the interlayer space increased to partially exchange interlayer metal cations connected to the bottom oxygen, giving CM-HT higher electronegativity and creating more crystal defects and chemically active adsorbing sites for high-performance adsorption. (4) Chemical adsorption was the primary way by which CM-HT adsorbed cationic dye, while physical adsorption caused by developed pore canal was secondary. The adsorption reaction occurred spontaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enwen Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anshun University, Anshun 561000, China
| | - Teng Huang
- School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
- Key Laboratory of Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Qian Wu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anshun University, Anshun 561000, China
| | - Lanchun Huang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anshun University, Anshun 561000, China
| | - Desong Kong
- School of Environment and Resource, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Hai Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anshun University, Anshun 561000, China
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33
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Li Y, Ke S, Xu D, Zhuo H, Liu X, Gao B. Preferential deposition of buoyant small microplastics in surface sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China: Insights from biomineralization. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 468:133693. [PMID: 38367432 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Sediments act as sinks of microplastics (MPs) derived from terrestrial ecosystems. However, the fate and transport of MPs at the zone of sediment-overlying water in reservoir environment are poorly understood. Here, the MPs distribution patterns in surface sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) and dominant mechanisms responsible for the sinking of MPs at the zone of sediment-overlying water were comprehensively investigated. The predominant occurrence of small microplastics (<300 µm, SMPs) in surface sediments of the TGR was found, with buoyant polyethene (PE) was dominant polymer types. Interestingly, the high abundance of SMPs in sediments correlated well with the Ca2+/Mg2+ in overlying water, suggesting that divalent cations in overlying water may enhance the preferential deposition of SMPs. Simulation sinking experiments under the presence of Microcystis aeruginosa and two divalent cations using different-sized PE MPs demonstrated that the greater deposition of SMPs was mainly the result of the formation of biogenic calcite on the surface of MPs rather than magnesium minerals, which provides stronger ballasting effects for SMPs than for large MPs. This study first highlights that the impact of biomineralization on preferential sinking of SMPs and enhances the understanding of the transport behaviour of MPs in aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Sun Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Dongyu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Haihua Zhuo
- Changjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Monitoring and Scientific Research Center, Changjiang Basin Ecology and Environment Administration, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430010, China
| | - Xiaobo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Bo Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China.
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Shao Y, Liu B, Guo K, Gao Y, Yue Q, Gao B. Coagulation performance and mechanism of different hydrolyzed aluminum species for the removal of composite pollutants of polyethylene and humic acid. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133076. [PMID: 38029592 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and natural organic matter (NOM) composite pollutants have become emerging contaminants with potential threats. Coagulation has been widely used to remove MPs and NOM, but the underlying mechanisms for the removal of MPs-NOM composite pollutants by hydrolyzed Al species remain unclear. Therefore, the coagulation performance and mechanism of AlCl3, polyaluminum chloride with basicity of 2.2 (PAC22), and PAC25 in treating polyethylene (PE), humic acid (HA), and PE-HA composite systems were systematically investigated. The results showed that in the single PE system, PAC25 with hexagonal clusters achieved the maximum removal (68.09 %) (pH: 5, dosage: 0.5 mM) since adsorption bridging and sweeping effect were the main mechanisms for PE removal. The adsorption of HA on the PE surface enhanced its hydrophilicity and electrostatic repulsion, resulting in decreased PE removal. In the AlCl3-PE-HA system, the oligomeric Al first interacted with the -COOH and C-OH of HA through complexation, followed by the meso- and polymers of Al interacted with PE by electrostatic adsorption. The pre-formed medium polymeric Al species (Alb) and colloidal or solid Al species (Alc) in PAC22 and PAC25 formed complexes with the -OH and -COOH groups of HA, respectively, and then removed PE by adsorption bridging and sweeping effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlei Shao
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 26600, China
| | - Beibei Liu
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 26600, China
| | - Kangying Guo
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 26600, China
| | - Yue Gao
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 26600, China
| | - Qinyan Yue
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 26600, China
| | - Baoyu Gao
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 26600, China.
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35
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Zheng Z, Wang X, Zhang W, Wang L, Lyu H, Tang J. Regulation of ARGs abundance by biofilm colonization on microplastics under selective pressure of antibiotics in river water environment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 355:120402. [PMID: 38428183 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Interactions of microplastics (MPs) biofilm with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotics in aquatic environments have made microplastic biofilm an issue of keen scholarly interest. The process of biofilm formation and the degree of ARGs enrichment in the presence of antibiotic-selective pressure and the impact on the microbial community need to be further investigated. In this paper, the selective pressure of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and illumination conditions were investigated to affect the physicochemical properties, biomass, and extracellular polymer secretion of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastic biofilm. In addition, relative copy numbers of nine ARGs were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In the presence of CIP, microorganisms in the water and microplastic biofilm were more inclined to carry associated ARGs (2-3 times higher), which had a contributing effect on ARGs enrichment. The process of pre-microplastic biofilm formation might have an inhibitory effect on ARGs (total relative abundance up to 0.151) transfer and proliferation compared to the surrounding water (total relative abundance up to 0.488). However, in the presence of CIP stress, microplastic biofilm maintained the abundance of ARGs (from 0.151 to 0.149) better compared to the surrounding water (from 0.488 to 0.386). Therefore, microplastic biofilm act as abundance buffer island of ARGs stabilizing the concentration of ARGs. In addition, high-throughput analyses showed the presence of antibiotic-resistant (Pseudomonas) and pathogenic (Vibrio) microorganisms in biofilm under different conditions. The above research deepens our understanding of ARGs enrichment in biofilm and provides important insights into the ecological risks of interactions between ARGs, antibiotics, and microplastic biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Zheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Wenzhu Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Lan Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Honghong Lyu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Clean Energy and Pollution Control, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, China
| | - Jingchun Tang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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36
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Huang W, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Gao H, Xu W, Xia X. Insights into adsorption behavior and mechanism of Cu(II) onto biodegradable and conventional microplastics: Effect of aging process and environmental factors. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123061. [PMID: 38042467 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
The widespread promotion attempt of biodegradable plastics is considered as an effective solution to address conventional plastic pollution. However, the interaction of microplastics (MPs) easily broken down from biodegradable plastics with the coexisting pollutants in aquatic environments has gained less attention. Herein, we investigated the effects of the aging process and environmental factors on copper (Cu(II)) adsorption behavior by biodegradable polylactic acid and conventional polystyrene MPs. Results demonstrated that the aging process significantly altered physicochemical properties of both types of MPs, and PLA showed less resistance to aging. The aged polylactic acid MPs (aged-PLA) exhibited the far highest Cu(II) maximum adsorption capacity (7.13 mg/g) mainly due to its abundant oxygen-containing functional groups (OCFGs), followed by pristine polylactic acid (PLA, 6.08 mg/g), aged polystyrene (aged-PS, 0.489 mg/g) and pristine polystyrene (PS, 0.365 mg/g). The adsorption kinetics of Cu(II) on PLA MPs were controlled by film and intraparticle diffusion, while film diffusion governed the Cu(II) adsorption onto PS MPs. In addition to roles of rougher surface structure, greater surface area and pore filling, the complexation of OCFGs and electrostatic interaction were critical to the adsorption mechanism of aged-PLA and aged-PS, and cation-π interaction was associated with adsorption of aged-PS. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of Cu(II) on aged MPs gradually grew with the increasing pH from 4 to 7. Besides, humic acid significantly promoted the adsorption of Cu(II) at a low concentration (0-20 mg/L) due to the formation of binary mixtures of MPs-HA but inhibited the adsorption at a high concentration (50 mg/L) because of its competitive effect, suggesting the dual roles of humic acid in the adsorption process. Overall, our findings provide a better understanding of the adsorption behavior of metals on biodegradable MPs and emphasize their non-negligible risk as carriers of contaminant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, PR China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, PR China
| | - Zhenrui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, PR China
| | - Hui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, PR China
| | - Wenhao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, PR China
| | - Xinghui Xia
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, PR China.
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37
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Pedroza RHP, David C, Lodeiro P, Rey-Castro C. Interactions of humic acid with pristine poly (lactic acid) microplastics in aqueous solution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168366. [PMID: 37939936 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics and natural organic matter are present in the aquatic environment and their reciprocal interaction plays important roles in the transport and behavior of nutrients and contaminants. Nevertheless, we lack mechanistic understanding on these interactions, especially in the case of biodegradable plastics. Here we investigate the adsorption of a commercial humic acid onto poly (lactic acid) (PLA) microplastics in aqueous solution. While the pseudo-second order kinetic model provided a more accurate representation of the adsorption kinetics, the Elovich model also produced a good fit, suggesting that chemisorption may be the rate-limiting step. The equilibrium data was better fit by the Langmuir model, that provided a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.118 ± 0.006 mg·g-1. The obtained values for the separation factor (RL) and free energy (E) suggest that adsorption of humic acid onto PLA is controlled by physisorption. We studied the effects of pH, ionic strength, and PLA concentration on the adsorption of humic acid onto PLA and demonstrated that electrostatic interactions and aggregation are important. The humic acid was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), before and after interacting with PLA. This set of analyses demonstrated that PLA caused alterations in the molecular structure of humic acid, primarily attributed to modifications in hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Therefore, we hypothesize that the carboxylic groups of humic acid formed dimers in contact with PLA. This study provides new insights into the interactions between organic matter and a biodegradable microplastic in aqueous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo H P Pedroza
- Department of Chemistry, Physics, Environmental and Soil Sciences, University of Lleida - AGROTECNIO-CERCA Center, Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Calin David
- Department of Chemistry, Physics, Environmental and Soil Sciences, University of Lleida - AGROTECNIO-CERCA Center, Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Pablo Lodeiro
- Department of Chemistry, Physics, Environmental and Soil Sciences, University of Lleida - AGROTECNIO-CERCA Center, Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
| | - Carlos Rey-Castro
- Department of Chemistry, Physics, Environmental and Soil Sciences, University of Lleida - AGROTECNIO-CERCA Center, Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
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38
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Wang R, Yang L, Guo M, Lin X, Wang R, Guo S. Effects of microplastic properties and dissolved organic matter on phosphorus availability in soil and aqueous mediums. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122784. [PMID: 37871740 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Plastic mulching films and phosphate fertilizers have been widely used to improve agricultural soil productivity. Microplastics (MP) and phosphorus (P) significantly accumulate in agricultural soil and water bodies. However, the effects of residual MP on P availability in soil and aqueous mediums remain unclear. In this study, available P (Olsen-P) in soils and P adsorption capacity in aqueous medium were determined to examine the influence of MP properties on P availability in laboratory. In agricultural soils, Olsen-P was significantly affected by MP types. Conventional MP (mulching film particles), such as polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and biodegradable MP, such as polylactic acid (PLA), substantially reduced soil Olsen-P by 9.7-38.6% and 38.4-73.6%, respectively. The size and concentration of MP strongly affected soil Olsen-P, with smaller (25 μm) and more concentrated (5%) MP causing greater reductions in Olsen-P. In the soil contaminated with MP, increased fulvic acid content significantly increased Olsen-P levels. Microplastics exhibited strong P adsorption capacities, leading to decreased P availability in aqueous medium. Conventional MP exhibited a higher P adsorption capacity than biodegradable MP, with P distribution coefficients (Kd values) ordered as PVC (5.19 L kg-1) > PE (4.23 L kg-1) > PLA (2.48 L kg-1). Notably, the Kd values increased with decreasing sizes of conventional MP, whereas the opposite trend was observed for PLA. The presence of fulvic acid affected the adsorption of P by MP in aqueous medium. Increased fulvic acid content reduced P adsorption capacity of MP, thus enhancing P availability. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of P dynamics in MP-contaminated agricultural soil and aqueous medium, which could aid in formulating sustainable agricultural practices and effective environmental management strategies for plastic mulching films and P contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runze Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Lin Yang
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Miaomiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaohua Lin
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shengli Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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39
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Kamalakannan M, Thomas J, Chandrasekaran N. Humic acid alleviates the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics in combination with their copper nanoparticle co-pollutants in Artemia salina. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: NANO 2024; 11:4074-4088. [DOI: 10.1039/d4en00437j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2025]
Abstract
Polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) have become a ubiquitous environmental threat that can harm living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahalakshmi Kamalakannan
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - John Thomas
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Natarajan Chandrasekaran
- Centre for Nanobiotechnology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
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40
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Phasukarratchai N. Effects and applications of surfactants on the release, removal, fate, and transport of microplastics in aquatic ecosystem: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:121393-121419. [PMID: 37999837 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30926-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) and surfactants (STs) are emerging pollutants in the environment. While many studies have focused on the interactions of STs with MPs, there has not been a comprehensive review focusing on the effect of STs on MPs in aquatic ecosystems. This review summarizes methods for removal of MPs from wastewater (e.g., filtration, flotation, coagulation/flocculation, adsorption, and oxidation-reduction) and the interactions and effects of STs with MPs (adsorption, co-adsorption, desorption, and toxicity). STs can modify MPs surface properties and influence their removal using different wastewater treatments, as well as the adsorption-desorption of both organic and inorganic chemicals. The concentration of STs is a crucial factor that impacts the removal or adsorption of pollutants onto MPs. At low concentrations, STs tend to facilitate MPs removal by flotation and enhance the adsorption of pollutants onto MPs. High ST concentrations, mainly above the critical micelle concentrations, cause MPs to become dispersed and difficult to remove from water while also reducing the adsorption of pollutants by MPs. Excess STs form emulsions with the pollutants, leading to electrostatic repulsion between MPs/STs and the pollutant/STs. As for the toxicity of MPs, the addition of STs to MPs shows complicated results, with some cases showing an increase in toxicity, some showing a decrease, and some showing no effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naphatsarnan Phasukarratchai
- Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
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41
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Wang Y, Chen X. Aggregation behavior of polyethylene microplastics in the nearshore environment: The role of particle size, environmental condition and turbulent flow. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165941. [PMID: 37536586 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Estuary and coastal waters are hotspot areas for microplastics (MPs) pollution. MPs of varying sizes converge in this complex nearshore environment. Aggregation is an important process that affects the transport and fate of MPs in the aqueous environment. Nevertheless, the influence of different factors on the aggregation behavior and the aggregates structure of MPs is unclear. In this study, the aggregation behavior and the aggregates structure of polyethylene microplastics (PEs) of different sizes under the impact of nearshore environmental conditions (i.e., salinity gradient, dissolved organic matter-DOM, turbulent flow) were investigated. The results show that particle size was the dominant factor affecting the stability of PEs in the aqueous environment, and the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of PEs shifts to the right with increasing size. It was also found that the size of PEs stable aggregates is negatively correlated with the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate. The particle size of PEs can significantly affect the fractal dimension (FD) of stable aggregates, and the smaller the particle size, the more compact the aggregates formed. Moreover, salinity and DOM control the size and FD of PEs stable aggregates through different mechanisms. The findings of this study will be helpful for the prediction of the transport and fate of MPs in the aqueous environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center for Monitoring and Assessing Terrestrial Disasters, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; School of Geographical Sciences, School of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; State Key Laboratory for Subtropical Mountain Ecology, Ministry of Science and Technology and Fujian Province, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China
| | - Xingwei Chen
- Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center for Monitoring and Assessing Terrestrial Disasters, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; School of Geographical Sciences, School of Carbon Neutrality Future Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; State Key Laboratory for Subtropical Mountain Ecology, Ministry of Science and Technology and Fujian Province, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China.
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42
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Shahi NK, Kim JY, Dockko S. Process analysis of microplastic aging during the photochemical oxidation process and its effect on the adsorption behavior of dissolved organic matter. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:139980. [PMID: 37648171 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Information on microplastics (MPs) interactions with dissolved organic matter (DOM) is essential for understanding their environmental impacts. However, research is scarce regarding the adsorption behavior of DOM with different characteristics onto pristine and aged MPs. This research thus investigates MPs aging behavior accelerated by UV/Persulfate and UV/chlorine oxidation processes and the adsorption behavior of organic matter with low-specific ultraviolet absorbance (L-SUVA) and high-SUVA (H-SUVA) characteristics. MPs were degraded by UV/Cl and UV/Persulfate for 30 days. Changes in thermal properties, surface morphology, and chemistry were studied using different analytical techniques. The adsorption behavior was assessed by adsorption kinetic and isotherm study. After oxidation, the surface of the MPs showed a significant increase in the oxygen-containing functional groups, contact angle, surface roughness, and surface energy, and a decrease in crystallinity. The oxidation effect follows the order of UV/Cl > UV/Persulfate. The kinetic and equilibrium data of H-SUVA adsorption on pristine and aged MPs well-fitted the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir model. In contrast, L-SUVA well-fitted the pseudo-first-order and Freundlich model. The adsorption capacity (qm) increased in the following orders: 8.11 > 5.87>4.29 mg g-1 for H-SUVA and 19.81 > 6.662>5.315 mg g-1 for L-SUVA by MPs aged with UV/Cl, UV/Persulfate and pristine MPs, respectively. The larger the surface damage of MPs, the greater the adsorption affinity of DOM. The result was attributed to the physical adsorption process, hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic, hydrogen, and halogen bonding. These findings are beneficial to provide new insights involving the adsorption behavior and interaction mechanisms of DOM onto MPs for the environmental risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirmal Kumar Shahi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook University, 152, Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Yup Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Dankook University, 152, Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok Dockko
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dankook University, 152, Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
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Liang S, Wang K, Wang K, Wang T, Guo C, Wang W, Wang J. Adsorption Behavior of Diclofenac on Polystyrene and Poly(butylene adipate- co-terephthalate) Microplastics: Influencing Factors and Adsorption Mechanism. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:12216-12225. [PMID: 37581507 PMCID: PMC10469442 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
To unveil the intricacies surrounding the interaction between microplastics (MPs) and pollutants, diligent investigation is warranted to mitigate the environmental perils they pose. This exposition delves into the sorption behavior and mechanism of diclofenac sodium (DCF), a contaminant, upon two distinct materials: polystyrene (PS) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). Experimental adsorption endeavors solidify the observation that the adsorption capacity of DCF onto the designated MPs amounts to Q(PBAT) = 9.26 mg g-1 and Q(PS) = 9.03 mg g-1, respectively. An exploration of the factors governing these discrepant adsorption phenomena elucidates the influence of MPs and DCF properties, environmental factors, as well as surfactants. Fitting procedures underscore the suitability of the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich models in capturing the intricacies of the DCF adsorption process onto MPs, corroborating the notion that the mentioned process is characterized by non-homogeneous chemisorption. Moreover, this inquiry unveils that the primary adsorption mechanisms of DCF upon MPs encompass electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and halo hydrogen bonding. An additional investigation concerns the impact of commonly encountered surfactants in aqueous environments on the adsorption of DCF onto MPs. The presence of surfactants elicits modifications in the surface charge properties of MPs, consequently influencing their adsorption efficacy vis-à-vis DCF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Liang
- Key
Laboratory of Oil and Gas Fine Chemicals, Ministry of Education &
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, School of Chemical Engineering and
Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
| | - Kangkang Wang
- Key
Laboratory of Oil and Gas Fine Chemicals, Ministry of Education &
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, School of Chemical Engineering and
Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
| | - Kefu Wang
- Key
Laboratory of Oil and Gas Fine Chemicals, Ministry of Education &
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, School of Chemical Engineering and
Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Key
Laboratory of Oil and Gas Fine Chemicals, Ministry of Education &
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, School of Chemical Engineering and
Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
| | - Changyan Guo
- Key
Laboratory of Oil and Gas Fine Chemicals, Ministry of Education &
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, School of Chemical Engineering and
Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Bergen 5007, Norway
- Centre
for Pharmacy, University of Bergen, Bergen 5020, Norway
| | - Jide Wang
- Key
Laboratory of Oil and Gas Fine Chemicals, Ministry of Education &
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, School of Chemical Engineering and
Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
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Qiu Y, Zhang T, Zhang P. Fate and environmental behaviors of microplastics through the lens of free radical. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 453:131401. [PMID: 37086675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), as plastics with a size of less than 5 mm, are ubiquitously present in the environment and become an increasing environmental concern. The fate and environmental behavior of MPs are significantly influenced by the presence of free radicals. Free radicals can cause surface breakage, chemical release, change in crystallinity and hydrophilicity, and aggregation of MPs. On the other hand, the generation of free radicals with a high concentration and oxidation potential can effectively degrade MPs. There is a limited review article to bridge the fate and environmental behaviors of MP with free radicals and their reactions. This paper reviews the sources, types, detection methods, generation mechanisms, and influencing factors of free radicals affecting the environmental processes of MPs, the environmental effects of MPs controlled by free radicals, and the degradation strategies of MPs based on free radical-associated technologies. Moreover, this review elaborates on the limitations of the current research and provides ideas for future research on the interactions between MPs and free radicals to better explain their environmental impacts and control their risks. This article aims to keep the reader abreast of the latest development in the fate and environmental behaviors of MP with free radicals and their reactions and to bridge free radical chemistry with MP control methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Qiu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Rd., Tianjin 300350, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Tong Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Rd., Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao Special Administrative Region of China.
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Chen Y, Tang H, Cheng Y, Huang T, Xing B. Interaction between microplastics and humic acid and its effect on their properties as revealed by molecular dynamics simulations. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 455:131636. [PMID: 37196445 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The characteristics and fates of microplastics (MPs) and humic acid (HA) in the environment are significantly influenced by their interactions. Thus, the influence of the MP-HA interaction on their dynamic characteristics was explored. Upon MP-HA interaction, the number of hydrogen bonds established in the HA domains decreased significantly, and the water molecules bridging the hydrogen bonds shifted to the exterior regions of the MP-HA aggregates. The distribution intensity of Ca2+ located at ∼0.21 nm around HA deceased, indicating that the coordination of Ca2+ with the carboxyl on HA was impaired in the presence of MPs. Additionally, the Ca2+-HA electrostatic interaction was suppressed because of the steric hindrance of the MPs. However, the MP-HA interaction improved the distribution of water molecules and metal cations around the MPs. The diffusion coefficient of HA decreased from 0.34 × 10-5 cm2/s to 0.20-0.28 × 10-5 cm2/s in the presence of MPs, implying that the diffusion of HA was retarded. The diffusion coefficients of polyethylene and polystyrene increased from 0.29 × 10-5 cm2/s and 0.18 × 10-5 cm2/s to 0.32 × 10-5 cm2/s and 0.22 × 10-5 cm2/s, respectively, indicating that the interaction with HA accelerated the migration of polyethylene and polystyrene. These findings highlight the potential environmental hazards posed by MPs in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Huan Tang
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China.
| | - Ya Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Tinglin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Baoshan Xing
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Tian Y, Zhu J, Ying C, Luo H, Zhang S, Zhang L, Li R, Li J. Photoaging processes of polyvinyl chloride microplastics enhance the adsorption of tetracycline and facilitate the formation of antibiotic resistance. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 320:137820. [PMID: 36736841 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), antibiotics and microorganism ubiquitously coexist in aquatic environments. MPs inevitably undergo photoaging processes in aquatic environments, affecting the interactions between MPs and antibiotics and the antibiotic resistance of microorganism. In this study, the impact of photoaging processes of MPs on their adsorption behavior of tetracycline (TC) and related formation of antibiotic resistance were investigated. It was found that the photoaging processes significantly increased the adsorption capacity of TC onto MPs, with the Qe increasing from 0.387 to 0.507 mg/g at 288 K and from 0.507 to 0.688 mg/g at 308 K. The site energy distribution (SED) analysis further confirmed that the enhanced adsorption capacity was attributed to more high-energy adsorption sites acquired from MPs photoaging processes. Moreover, the enhanced adsorption of TC further facilitated the formation of seven antibiotic resistance genes (i.e., tetA, tetB, tetC, tetD, tetE, tetG, tetK) when MPs adsorbed with TC was covered by biofilm. This study helps comprehensively understand the environmental behaviors of co-existing MPs, antibiotics and microorganisms, providing a theoretical basis for evaluating and mitigating their coexistence risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Tian
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, China; College of Environment Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jianyu Zhu
- Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Zheda Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Chuhan Ying
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Hongwei Luo
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Shoufeng Zhang
- National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, 42 Linghe Street, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Liqiu Zhang
- College of Environment Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Renna Li
- Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Zheda Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
| | - Jun Li
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
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Ultra-high adsorption of CR from aqueous solution using LDHs decorated magnetic hydrochar: Selectivity and Anti-interference exploration. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
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