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The effects of functional groups on the sorption of naphthalene on microplastics
Haodan Yu1, Bing Yang2, Michael Gatheru Waigi2
1Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, PR China; Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, PR China.
Abstract:
Ubiquitous microplastics were recognized as an ideal carrier for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to spread in nature or transfer to biota, thus posing risks to human health. However, little is known about how the functional groups in PAH derivatives influence their sorption onto microplastics as compared to parent PAHs. This study investigated the sorption of naphthalene (NAP) and its derivatives onto polystyrene microspheres with (MP-COOH) or without (MP) surface modification of the carboxyl group. NAP derivatives with charged groups (e.g., -NH2, -OH and -COOH) reached the sorption equilibrium more early than NAP and its derivative with an uncharged group (e.g., -CH3), whereas their sorption capacities (Kd = 6.0-8.4 L/g for MP, Kd = 4.5-6.3 L/g for MP-COOH) were significantly lower than that of the latter (Kd = 11.6-12.0 L/g for MP, Kd = 9.4-10.0 L/g for MP-COOH). The inhibition of charged groups on sorption could be attributed to their facilitation on molecular polarity and, thus, their lower hydrophobicity (LogKOW) since hydrophobicity was the crucial factor controlling the sorption of NAP and NAP derivatives onto both MP and MP-COOH. Computational modeling further showed that charged functional groups would weaken the π-π interaction or strengthen the repulsion between NAP or NAP derivative molecule and MP or MP-COOH molecule, which might also contribute to the suppressed sorption. This study provides new insight into the affinity of PAH derivatives with microplastics, which, therefore, improves our understanding of the environmental fates of microplastics and the organic pollutants.
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02:22Overview of Advanced Functional Groups
Functional groups are groups of atoms with specific chemical properties that occur within organic molecules and are sometimes denoted as “R”. Functional groups can “functionalize” a compound by enabling it to adopt different physical and chemical properties.
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The table below summarizes some of the major functional groups in organic chemistry.
02:08Introduction to Functional Groups
Functional groups are group of atoms with specific chemical properties that occur within organic molecules and sometimes denoted as “R”. Functional groups are found along the carbon backbone of macromolecules can form chains or rings of carbon atoms. Functional groups can “functionalize” a compound by enabling it to adopt different physical and chemical properties.
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The table below summarizes some of the major functional groups in organic chemistry....