Effect of Mass Fraction on Leaching Kinetics of Hydrophobic Ultraviolet Stabilizers in Low-Density Polyethylene

The leaching kinetics of five hydrophobic ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (micro)­fibers into water was evaluated in this study, with variation of the mass fraction (ω = 0.1–2.0 wt %) of the stabilizers. A one-dimensional convection–diffusion model for a cylindrical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2023-12, Vol.57 (50), p.21428-21437
Main Authors: Do, Anh T. Ngoc, Ha, Yeonjeong, Kwon, Jung-Hwan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Additives
Aquatic environment
Boundary layers
Convection
Crystallization
Density
Diffusion
Diffusion coefficient
Diffusion layers
Diffusion rate
Environmental conditions
Fibers
Half-life
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Hydrophobicity
Kinetics
Leaching
Low density polyethylenes
Occurrence, Fate, and Transport of Aquatic and Terrestrial Contaminants
Plastics
Polyethylene
Polyethylene - chemistry
UV stabilizers
Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
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Summary:The leaching kinetics of five hydrophobic ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (micro)­fibers into water was evaluated in this study, with variation of the mass fraction (ω = 0.1–2.0 wt %) of the stabilizers. A one-dimensional convection–diffusion model for a cylindrical geometry, requiring partitioning between the LDPE fibers and water (K LDPEw) and the internal diffusion coefficients (D LDPE), was used to evaluate the leaching process and the leaching half-life of the target UV stabilizers at ω < 0.5 wt % (Case I). Diffusion through the aqueous boundary layer is the rate-determining step, and the leaching half-life is predicted to be very long (a few months to years) under unaffected conditions. When the UV stabilizers are supersaturated within LDPE fibers (i.e., ω > 0.5 wt %, Case II), the possible formation of a surficial crystal layer of the additives on the LDPE fiber extends the time scale for leaching compared to that in Case I due to the requirement of overcoming the crystallization energy. This study provides a fundamental understanding of the leaching profiles of plastic additives for assessing their potential chemical risks in aquatic environments; further studies under the relevant environmental conditions are required.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.3c06817