Adsorption of typical natural organic matter on microplastics in aqueous solution: Kinetics, isotherm, influence factors and mechanism
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Published on: December 16, 2016
Jian Zhang1, Siyan Zhan2, Lu-Bin Zhong3
1CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Regional Atmospheric Environment, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, Fujian 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Resources Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
Abstract:
With rapid urbanization, microplastics and natural organic matters (NOMs) are ubiquitous in aquatic environment, and microplastics could act as carriers for organic matters in the aqueous solution and may pose a potential risk. In this study, the adsorption behaviors and mechanism of typical NOM, humic acid (HA), on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS) microplastics were investigated. Various influence factors such as solution pH, ions species and concentrations, particle size, and coexisting surfactants were studied. The results suggested that HA adsorption onto PVC and PS was low pH-dependent, and ion species and concentrations have a significant impact on the adsorption capacity. In addition, the particle size of PVC and PS microplastics exhibited a significant correlation with HA adsorption, and the adsorption process was influenced by the surfactant species and concentrations. Moreover, the adsorption behaviors of HA in different real water environments were tested, and UV aging exhibited the opposite effects on adsorption capacity of PVC and PS. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanisms of HA onto PVC and PS were explored, indicating halogen bonding, hydrogen bonding, and π-π interaction play important roles in the adsorption process.
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