Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Colloidal precipitates

Colloidal precipitates

The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Trapping and Detecting Nanoplastics Using Metal-Phenolic Networks-Functionalized Membranes with SERS.

Environmental science & technology·2026

Same author

Cellulose nanocrystal gels as radical reservoirs.

Nanoscale·2026

Same author

The Mechanisms of Heterogeneous Ice Nucleation by Amphiphilic Alcohol Monolayers Formed by Alkyl Hydroxy Esters and Bromo Alcohols.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2026

Same author

Quantification of Soil Organic Carbon by Shifted-Excitation Raman Difference Spectroscopy with Machine Learning and Common Mode Rejection.

Analytical chemistry·2026

Same author

Enhanced Supercapacitor Performance through Morphology Engineering of CNC-Derived Chiral Nematic Activated Carbon Aerogels.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2025

Same author

Contact Line Ice Nucleation Is the Dominant Freezing Mechanism for Water on Macro- and Microscopic Polypropylene Surfaces.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

Published on: July 27, 2022

Microplastic Particles Contain Ice Nucleation Sites That Can Be Inhibited by Atmospheric Aging.

Teresa M Seifried¹, Sepehr Nikkho¹, Aurelio Morales Murillo²

¹Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada.

Environmental Science & Technology

|August 22, 2024

Summary

Microplastics in the atmosphere can act as ice nucleating particles, influencing cloud formation and potentially limiting their own long-range transport. This study quantifies their ice nucleation ability, comparable to natural aerosols.

Keywords:

atmospheric oxidation ice nucleation microplastics ozone

More Related Videos

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

Experimental Protocol to Investigate Particle Aerosolization of a Product Under Abrasion and Under Environmental Weathering

Experimental Protocol to Investigate Particle Aerosolization of a Product Under Abrasion and Under Environmental Weathering

Published on: September 16, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 20, 2025

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

Published on: July 27, 2022

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

Experimental Protocol to Investigate Particle Aerosolization of a Product Under Abrasion and Under Environmental Weathering

Experimental Protocol to Investigate Particle Aerosolization of a Product Under Abrasion and Under Environmental Weathering

Published on: September 16, 2016

Area of Science:

Atmospheric Chemistry
Environmental Science
Cloud Physics

Background:

Microplastics are increasingly detected in the atmosphere, yet their role in cloud processes remains largely unknown.
Understanding microplastic ice nucleation is crucial for assessing their atmospheric impact and transport.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the heterogeneous ice-nucleating ability of various microplastic types.
To determine the impact of atmospheric aging on microplastic ice nucleation.
To assess the implications of microplastic ice nucleation for atmospheric transport.

Main Methods:

Tested seven microplastic samples for ice nucleation in immersion freezing mode.
Quantified ice nucleation site density (n_s(T)) across a temperature range.
Simulated atmospheric aging using ozone and UV light exposure.

Main Results:

Polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate samples exhibited heterogeneous ice nucleation.
Ice nucleation site density was comparable to volcanic ash and fungal spores.
Atmospheric aging showed variable effects on ice nucleation activity.

Conclusions:

Microplastics possess ice nucleation capabilities, potentially influencing cloud droplet ice formation.
Microplastic ice nucleation can affect their long-range atmospheric transport and global distribution.