[Characteristics of Microplastic-derived Dissolved Organic Matter(MPDOM) and the Complexation Between MPDOM and...

Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter(MPDOM) during the aging process could be complexed with organic pollutants, heavy metals, and other contaminants and thus affect their migration and transformation. In this study, two types of microplastics, polyethylene terephthalate(PET) and polystyrene(PS), were selected to investigate the spectral properties of MPDOM and their effect on the complexation between MPDOM and sulfadiazine(SDZ)/copper ion(Cu²⁺) using the fluorescence quenching method, various spectroscopic analysis techniques, and the Ryan-Weber quenching model. The results of UV-vis absorption spectroscopy analysis showed that the molecular weight of the two MPDOMs decreased; the aromaticity and humification increased; and the carboxyl, carbonyl, hydroxyl, and ester substituents on aromatic rings increased after aging. The fluorescence quenching process between MPDOM and SDZ/Cu²⁺ was static quenching. After quenching, the aromaticity and humification of the two MPDOMs were similar, and the molecular weights were comparable. Combined with three-dimensional fluorescence spectra and parallel factor analysis, two humic-like components and one protein-like component were identified. In addition, the protein-like components of MPDOM reacted preferentially with SDZ and were more sensitive to Cu²⁺. The results of the Ryan-Weber quenching model revealed that the binding ability of humic-like components to PET-DOM was higher in both SDZ and Cu²⁺ quenching systems, but the binding ability of MPDOM in the SDZ quenching system was generally stronger than that in the Cu²⁺ system.