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Zafar R, Lee YK, Li X, Hur J. Environmental condition-dependent effects of aquatic humic substances on the distribution of phenanthrene in microplastic-contaminated aquatic systems. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123809. [PMID: 38493869 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123809] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Numerous studies have focused on the interaction between microplastics (MPs) and phenanthrene (PHE) in aquatic environments. However, the intricate roles of aquatic humic substances (HS), which vary with environmental conditions, in influencing PHE-MP interactions are not yet fully understood. This study investigates the variable and environmentally sensitive roles of HS in modifying the interactions between PHE and polyethylene (PE) MPs under laboratory-simulated aquatic conditions with varying solution chemistry, including pH, HS types, HS concentrations, and ionic strength. Our findings show that the presence of HS significantly reduces the adsorption of PHE onto both pristine and aged PE MPs, with a more pronounced reduction observed in aged PEs. This effect is highlighted by a notable decrease in the partitioning coefficient (Kd) of PHE, which falls from 2.60 × 104 to 1.30 × 104 L/kg on MPs in the presence of HS. The study also demonstrates that alterations in the net charge of HS solutions are crucial in modifying PHE distribution onto PEs. An initial decrease in Kd values at higher pH levels is reversed when HS is introduced. Furthermore, an increase in HS concentrations is associated with lower Kd values. In conditions of higher ionic strength, the retention of PHE by HS is intensified, likely due to an enhanced salting-out effect. This research highlights the significant role of aquatic HS in modulating the distribution of PHE in MP-polluted waters, which is highly influenced by various solution chemistry factors. The findings are vital for understanding the fate of PHE in MP-contaminated aquatic environments and can contribute to refining predictive models that consider diverse solution chemistry scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabia Zafar
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Kyung Lee
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Xiaowei Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, PR China
| | - Jin Hur
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, Republic of Korea.
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Pulitika A, Karamanis P, Kovačić M, Božić AL, Kušić H. An Atomic-Level Perspective on the interactions between Organic Pollutants and PET particles: A Comprehensive Computational Investigation. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202300854. [PMID: 38193762 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300854] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have recently attracted a lot of attention worldwide due to their abundance and potentially harmful effects on the environment and on human health. One of the factors of concern is their ability to adsorb and disperse other harmful organic pollutants in the environment. To properly assess the adsorption capacity of MP for organic pollutants in different environments, it is pivotal to understand the mechanisms of their interactions in detail at the atomic level. In this work, we studied interactions between polyethylene terephthalate (PET) MP and small organic pollutants containing different functional groups within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). Our computational outcomes show that organic pollutants mainly bind to the surface of a PET model via weak non-bonding interactions, mostly hydrogen bonds. The binding strength between pollutant molecules and PET particles strongly depends on the adsorption site while we have found that the particle size is of lesser importance. Specifically, carboxylic sites are able to form strong hydrogen bonds with pollutants containing hydrogen bond donor or acceptor groups. On the other hand, it is found that in such kind of systems π-π interactions play a minor role in adsorption on PET particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamarija Pulitika
- University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Marin Kovačić
- University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Lončarić Božić
- University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Hrvoje Kušić
- University of Zagreb Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
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Chen Y, Li H, Yin Y, Shan S, Huang T, Tang H. Effect of microplastics on the adherence of coexisting background organic contaminants to natural organic matter in water. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167175. [PMID: 37730023 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) may interact with background organic substances (including natural organic matter and organic pollutants) after entering the aquatic environment and affect their original binding. Thus, the interaction of MPs with background organic substances (i.e., humic acid (HA), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and hydroxy PCBs) were elucidated. According to the results, PCB and hydroxy PCB displayed a strong propensity to adhere to HAs in the absence of MPs. However, the PCBs and hydroxy PCBs that were initially bound to HAs shifted from HAs to MPs in the presence of MPs. Further analysis demonstrated that this transfer was dominated by van der Waals interactions, with hydrogen bond interactions as an additional driving force. Upon the interaction, large MPs-HA-PCB/ hydroxy PCB aggregates with MPs as the core and HAs as the outermost layer were formed. Significant changes in the properties of background organic matter, including the distribution of PCB/hydroxy PCB around HA, diffusion coefficient, and hydrogen bond networks in the HA-PCB/ hydroxy PCB domains, occurred during the MP-HA-PCB/hydroxy PCB interaction. These results provide molecular-level evidence that the intrusion of MPs changes the binding preference of background organic pollutants and can lead to a redistribution of background organic pollutants.
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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
| | - Hangzhe Li
- 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
| | - Yue Yin
- 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
| | - Sujie Shan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, 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
| | - 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.
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Yan R, Lin S, Jiang W, Yu X, Zhang L, Zhao W, Sui Q. Effect of aggregation behavior on microplastic removal by magnetic Fe 3O 4 nanoparticles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165431. [PMID: 37437640 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic nanotechnologies have been shown to be an efficient approach to the reduction of microplastic (MP) pollution in aquatic environments. However, uncertainties remain regarding the relationship between particle stability and MP removal under varying water conditions, hindering the practical application of magnetic nanotechnologies for MP removal. Herein, the influence of particle aggregation behavior on nano-scale MP removal by Fe3O4 nanoparticles (FNPs) was investigated, by monitoring dynamic light scattering parameters and analyzing the microstructures of particle aggregates. Results showed that 83.1 %-92.9 % of MPs could be removed by FNPs within 1 h, and MP removal exhibited a high degree of Pearson correlation (R = 0.95; P = 0.04) with particle aggregation behavior mediated by the FNPs dosage. Furthermore, pH-dependent electrostatic interactions significantly influenced particle aggregation behavior and the removal of MPs. Under pH <6.7 conditions, electrostatic attraction between electropositive FNPs and electronegative MPs led to charge neutralization-induced aggregation and efficient removal MP performance. Under increasingly saline conditions, compression of the electrical double layer enhanced the self-aggregation behavior of MPs, weakening the electrostatic repulsion between FNPs and MPs under alkaline conditions. Therefore, salinity improved the MP removal efficiency, especially under alkaline conditions, with MP removal increasing from 4.47 % to 55.1 % when the mass fraction of NaCl was increased from 0 % to 1 %. These findings further our understanding of the effect of aggregation behavior on MP removal by FNPs and highlight the potential for magnetic nanotechnology application in the removal of nano-scale MPs from aquatic environments, while also providing valuable insights for the design of FNP-based materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Yan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Sen Lin
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Weinan Jiang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xia Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wentao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qian Sui
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, 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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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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