Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of
(micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on
polyethylene

J 2023

Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene

BINDA, Gilberto; Giorgio ZANETTI; Arianna BELLASI; Davide SPANU; Ginevra BOLDROCCHI et al.

Základní údaje

Originální název

Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene

Autoři

BINDA, Gilberto; Giorgio ZANETTI; Arianna BELLASI; Davide SPANU; Ginevra BOLDROCCHI; Roberta BETTINETTI; Andrea POZZI a Luca NIZZETTO

Vydání

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Springer, 2023, 0944-1344

Další údaje

Jazyk

angličtina

Typ výsledku

Článek v odborném periodiku

Obor

10511 Environmental sciences

Stát vydavatele

Německo

Utajení

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Odkazy

URL

Impakt faktor

Impact factor: 5.800 v roce 2022

Označené pro přenos do RIV

Ano

Kód RIV

RIV/00216224:14310/23:00133172

Organizační jednotka

Přírodovědecká fakulta

Klíčová slova anglicky

Pollution; Water chemistry; UV radiation; Biofouling; Microplastics

Štítky

143180, rivok

Příznaky

Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno

Změněno: 23. 1. 2024 14:34, Mgr. Marie Novosadová Šípková, DiS.

Anotace

V originále

Pollution by plastic and microplastic impacts the environment globally. Knowledge on the ageing mechanisms of plastics in natural settings is needed to understand their environmental fate and their reactivity in the ecosystems. Accordingly, the study of ageing processes is gaining focus in the context of the environmental sciences. However, laboratory-based experimental research has typically assessed individual ageing processes, limiting environmental applicability. In this study, we propose a multi-tiered approach to study the environmental ageing of polyethylene plastic fragments focusing on the combined assessment of physical and biological processes in sequence. The ageing protocol included ultraviolet irradiation in air and in a range of water solutions, followed by a biofouling test. Changes in surface characteristics were assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and water contact angle. UV radiation both in air and water caused a significant increase in the density of oxidized groups (i.e., hydroxyl and carbonyl) on the plastic surface, whereby water solution chemistry influenced the process both by modulating surface oxidation and morphology. Biofouling, too, was a strong determinant of surface alterations, regardless of the prior irradiation treatments. All biofouled samples present (i) specific infrared bands of new surface functional groups (e.g., amides and polysaccharides), (ii) a further increase in hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, (iii) the diffuse presence of algal biofilm on the plastic surface, and (iv) a significant decrease in surface hydrophobicity. This suggests that biological-driven alterations are not affected by the level of physicochemical ageing and may represent, in real settings, the main driver of alteration of both weathered and pristine plastics. This work highlights the potentially pivotal role of biofouling as the main process of plastic ageing, providing useful technical insights for future experimental works. These results also confirm that a multi-tiered laboratory approach permits a realistic simulation of plastic environmental ageing in controlled conditions.

Citovat

BINDA, Gilberto; Giorgio ZANETTI; Arianna BELLASI; Davide SPANU; Ginevra BOLDROCCHI; Roberta BETTINETTI; Andrea POZZI a Luca NIZZETTO. Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Springer, 2023, roč. 30, č. 3, s. 6298-6312. ISSN 0944-1344. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4.

@article{2364782,
   author = {Binda, Gilberto and Zanetti, Giorgio and Bellasi, Arianna and Spanu, Davide and Boldrocchi, Ginevra and Bettinetti, Roberta and Pozzi, Andrea and Nizzetto, Luca},
   article_number = {3},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4},
   keywords = {Pollution; Water chemistry; UV radiation; Biofouling; Microplastics},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0944-1344},
   journal = {Environmental Science and Pollution Research},
   title = {Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene},
   url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4},
   volume = {30},
   year = {2023}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2364782
AU  - Binda, Gilberto - Zanetti, Giorgio - Bellasi, Arianna - Spanu, Davide - Boldrocchi, Ginevra - Bettinetti, Roberta - Pozzi, Andrea - Nizzetto, Luca
PY  - 2023
TI  - Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene
JF  - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
VL  - 30
IS  - 3
SP  - 6298-6312
EP  - 6298-6312
PB  - Springer
SN  - 09441344
KW  - Pollution
KW  - Water chemistry
KW  - UV radiation
KW  - Biofouling
KW  - Microplastics
UR  - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4
N2  - Pollution by plastic and microplastic impacts the environment globally. Knowledge on the ageing mechanisms of plastics in natural settings is needed to understand their environmental fate and their reactivity in the ecosystems. Accordingly, the study of ageing processes is gaining focus in the context of the environmental sciences. However, laboratory-based experimental research has typically assessed individual ageing processes, limiting environmental applicability. In this study, we propose a multi-tiered approach to study the environmental ageing of polyethylene plastic fragments focusing on the combined assessment of physical and biological processes in sequence. The ageing protocol included ultraviolet irradiation in air and in a range of water solutions, followed by a biofouling test. Changes in surface characteristics were assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and water contact angle. UV radiation both in air and water caused a significant increase in the density of oxidized groups (i.e., hydroxyl and carbonyl) on the plastic surface, whereby water solution chemistry influenced the process both by modulating surface oxidation and morphology. Biofouling, too, was a strong determinant of surface alterations, regardless of the prior irradiation treatments. All biofouled samples present (i) specific infrared bands of new surface functional groups (e.g., amides and polysaccharides), (ii) a further increase in hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, (iii) the diffuse presence of algal biofilm on the plastic surface, and (iv) a significant decrease in surface hydrophobicity. This suggests that biological-driven alterations are not affected by the level of physicochemical ageing and may represent, in real settings, the main driver of alteration of both weathered and pristine plastics. This work highlights the potentially pivotal role of biofouling as the main process of plastic ageing, providing useful technical insights for future experimental works. These results also confirm that a multi-tiered laboratory approach permits a realistic simulation of plastic environmental ageing in controlled conditions.
ER  -

BINDA, Gilberto; Giorgio ZANETTI; Arianna BELLASI; Davide SPANU; Ginevra BOLDROCCHI; Roberta BETTINETTI; Andrea POZZI a Luca NIZZETTO. Physicochemical and biological ageing processes of (micro)plastics in the environment: a multi-tiered study on polyethylene. \textit{Environmental Science and Pollution Research}. Springer, 2023, roč.~30, č.~3, s.~6298-6312. ISSN~0944-1344. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22599-4.

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