Laboratory Studies about Microplastic Aging and Its Effects on the Adsorption of Chlorpyrifos

The constant change in microplastics (MP) due to exposure to environmental conditions leads to physical and chemical changes that enhance their ability to transport other pollutants, increasing the concern about their widespread presence in the environment. This work aimed to simulate the aging proc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymers 2023-08, Vol.15 (16), p.3468
Main Authors: Martinho, Sílvia D., Fernandes, Vírgínia Cruz, Figueiredo, Sónia A., Vilarinho, Rui, Moreira, J. Agostinho, Delerue-Matos, Cristina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adsorption
Aging
Agriculture
Agrochemicals
Chlorpyrifos
Coasts
Ecosystems
Enzyme inhibitors
Food
Fourier transforms
Fresh water
Hydroxyl groups
Infrared analysis
Infrared spectroscopy
Ketones
Low density polyethylenes
Optical microscopes
Particle size
PCB
Pesticides
Plastic pollution
Political aspects
Pollutants
Polyamide resins
Polyamides
Polychlorinated biphenyls
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polystyrene resins
Polyvinyl chloride
Radiation
Raman spectroscopy
Sea-water
Seawater
Thermal analysis
Thermogravimetric analysis
Vinyl acetate
Weathering
Weight loss
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Summary:The constant change in microplastics (MP) due to exposure to environmental conditions leads to physical and chemical changes that enhance their ability to transport other pollutants, increasing the concern about their widespread presence in the environment. This work aimed to simulate the aging process of six MP (polyamide 6, unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, low-density polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate, polypropylene) in freshwater and seawater ecosystems at laboratory scale and evaluate its effects through optical microscope observation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR), Raman spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Through a combined experimental study of aged MP, the degradation by UV interaction was evidenced by the appearance of new infrared bands in the FTIR spectra assigned to ketones and hydroxyl groups. While Raman analysis and microscope images reveal the appearance of pores, wrinkles, and roughness in the MP surfaces. Variations in the temperature of the maximum weight loss of the MP were observed in the TGA analysis. The adsorption of chlorpyrifos (CPF), a common pesticide widely used in agriculture, by the pristine and aged MP was also studied. The highest affinity for CPF was observed for pristine LDPE and the lowest for PP. The batch adsorption studies revealed an increase in adsorption capacity as a consequence of the aging process for both MP. These results proved that the weathering effects caused changes in the behavior of MP, namely in the interaction with other pollutants.
ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym15163468