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Sima J, Wang J, Song J, Du X, Lou F, Zhu Y, Lei J, Huang Q. Efficient degradation of polystyrene microplastic pollutants in soil by dielectric barrier discharge plasma. J Hazard Mater 2024; 468:133754. [PMID: 38394892 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
In this study, the atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma was proposed for the degradation of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) for the first time, due to its ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). The local temperature in plasma was found to play a crucial role, as it enhanced the degradation reaction induced by ROS when it exceeded the melting temperature of PS-MPs. Factors including applied voltage, air flow rate, and PS-MPs concentration were investigated, and the degradation products were analyzed. High plasma energy and adequate supply of ROS were pivotal in promoting degradation. At 20.1 kV, the degradation efficiency of PS-MPs reached 98.7% after 60 min treatment, with gases (mainly COx, accounting for 96.4%) as the main degradation products. At a concentration of 1 wt%, the PS-MPs exhibited a remarkable conversion rate of 90.6% to COx, showcasing the degradation performance and oxidation degree of this technology. Finally, the degradation mechanism of PS-MPs combined with the detection results of ROS was suggested. This work demonstrates that DBD plasma is a promising strategy for PS-MPs degradation, with high energy efficiency (8.80 mg/kJ) and degradation performance (98.7% within 1 h), providing direct evidence for the rapid and comprehensive treatment of MP pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyuan Sima
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China; Jiaxing Research Institute, Zhejiang University, Jiaxing 314000, China
| | - Jiaxing Song
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Xudong Du
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Fangfang Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Youqi Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Jiahui Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Qunxing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Institute for Thermal Power Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
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Chen L, Shao H, Ren Y, Mao C, Chen K, Wang H, Jing S, Xu C, Xu G. Investigation of the adsorption behavior and adsorption mechanism of pollutants onto electron beam-aged microplastics. Sci Total Environ 2024; 917:170298. [PMID: 38272098 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics, as an emerging pollutant, are widely distributed worldwide. Extensive research has been conducted to address the issue of microplastic pollution; however, effective methods for microplastic treatment are still lacking. This study innovatively utilizes electron beam technology to age and degrade microplastics. Compared to other treatment methods, electron beam technology can effectively promote the aging and degradation of microplastics. The Oxygen - carbon ratio of aged microplastics reached 0.071, with a mass loss of 48 % and a carbonyl index value of 0.69, making it the most effective method for short-term aging treatment in current research efforts. Theoretical calculations and experimental results demonstrate that a large number of oxygen-containing functional groups are generated on the surface of microplastics after electron beam irradiation, changing their adsorption performance for pollutants. Theoretical calculations show that an increase in oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface leads to a gradual decrease in hydrophobic pollutant adsorption capacity while increasing hydrophilic pollutant adsorption capacity for aged microplastics. Experimental studies were conducted to investigate the adsorption behavior and process of typical pollutants by aged microplastics which conform to pseudo-second-order kinetics and Henry model during the adsorption process, and the adsorption results are consistent with theoretical calculations. The results show that the degradation of microplastics is mainly due to hydroxyl radicals generated by electron beam irradiation, which can break the carbon chain of microplastics and gradually degrade them into small molecular esters and alcohols. Furthermore, studies have shown that microplastics can desorb pollutants in pure water and simulated gastric fluid. Overall, electron beam irradiation is currently the most effective method for degrading microplastics. These results also clearly elucidate the characteristics and mechanisms of the interaction between aged microplastics and organic pollutants, providing further insights for assessing microplastic pollution in real-world environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chen
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Haiyang Shao
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Yingfei Ren
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Chengkai Mao
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Kang Chen
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Hongyong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200444, PR China.
| | - Shuting Jing
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Chengwei Xu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Gang Xu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, PR China; Key Laboratory of Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200444, PR China.
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Crispin A, Parthasarathy P. Seasonal influence on microplastics in the sediments of a non-perennial river - Noyyal, Tamil Nadu, India. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:97712-97722. [PMID: 37597138 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29393-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) is a contaminant presently causing a significant environmental risk. The present study aims to extract, measure, and classify MP in sediment samples from two seasons (monsoon and summer) in Noyyal River, South India. Microplastic was separated from sediments using the Sediment Microplastic Isolation technique. Microplastics were detected in four forms: foams, films, fragments, and fibres. Dominant polymer types during monsoon are Polystyrene (29%), Polycarbonate (13%), Nylon (13%), and Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (13%). Throughout summer, Polystyrene (17%) was the prevalent polymer type, followed by Nylon (14%), Polycarbonate (11%), and Polyvinyl Chloride (9%). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) demonstrated that MPs exhibit diverse surface morphologies, including foamy, fibrous, and granular nature. It also shows tearing and fracturing of MPs and aging, indicating substantial summer degradation. Using Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) and Pollution Load Index (PLI), MP vulnerability in sediments indicates that despite lesser PLI, the MPs pose an extreme danger threat to the environment during the summer season compared to the monsoon. The study thus provides insight into the seasonal variation of MPs and their threat in Noyyal River sediments, which will aid in formulating guidelines for the minimization of MPs in river systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustine Crispin
- Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
| | - Purushothaman Parthasarathy
- Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India.
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Acosta-Coley I, Mendez-Cuadro D, Rodriguez-Cavallo E, de la Rosa J, Olivero-Verbel J. Trace elements in microplastics in Cartagena: A hotspot for plastic pollution at the Caribbean. Mar Pollut Bull 2019; 139:402-411. [PMID: 30686444 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics are new pollutants considered a source of concern for the oceans worldwide. This research reports the concentrations of trace metals on microplastics collected on beaches from Cartagena, an industrialized city in the Caribbean. Mercury (Hg) was quantified using a Hg analyzer and forty-seven trace elements were assessed by ICP/MS. Most abundant microplastics in beaches were those with the lower degree of surface degradation features (SDF), categorized as white-new polyethylene pellets, followed by secondary microplastics (SM). Greater Hg levels were found in SM, white-degraded (WDP) and black pellets. Trace elements concentrations were linked to the degree of SDF registered in examined pellets, with larger concentrations in WDP. Compared to white-new pellets, Ba, Cr, Rb, Sr, Ce, Zr, Ni, Pb were the most accumulated elements in WDP, as their surface enhance the sorption processes. Microplastic pollution represents a toxicological hazard because its ability to accumulate and transport toxic elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Acosta-Coley
- Environmental and Computational Chemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zaragocilla Campus, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, 130014, Colombia; Analytical Chemistry and Biomedicine Group, School of Exact and Natural Sciences, San Pablo Campus, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Dario Mendez-Cuadro
- Analytical Chemistry and Biomedicine Group, School of Exact and Natural Sciences, San Pablo Campus, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Erika Rodriguez-Cavallo
- Analytical Chemistry and Biomedicine Group, School of Exact and Natural Sciences, San Pablo Campus, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Jesus de la Rosa
- Center for Research in Sustainable Chemistry (CIQSO), University of Huelva, Robert H. Grubbs Building, Campus de el Carmen, s/n. E21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Jesus Olivero-Verbel
- Environmental and Computational Chemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zaragocilla Campus, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, 130014, Colombia.
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