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Surfactants can compete with microplastics for surfaces using adhesives as substrates for microplastic sequestration
Tolulope D Lawal1, Timothy Jugovic2, Griffin Josephs1
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2117, USA.
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|November 23, 2024
Summary
Detergent additives, like tergitol, can significantly reduce the effectiveness of polyacrylate adhesives in capturing microplastics. This interference occurs through competitive binding, hindering microplastic collection in water.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Microplastic pollution is a growing environmental concern.
- Polyacrylate adhesives show promise for microplastic capture.
- The impact of common detergent additives on adhesive performance is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interference of common soap and laundry detergent additives with polyacrylate adhesive-based microplastic capture.
- To evaluate the effects of specific additives (solvents, softeners, non-ionic surfactants) on adhesive performance.
Main Methods:
- Experimental evaluation using poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) (PEHA) with gravimetric analysis, probe tack, and functional assessments.
- Adhesive-coated slides immersed in solutions with microplastics and additives.
- Microplastic adsorption quantified using ImageJ imaging analysis.
- Molecular dynamics simulations of adhesive-microplastic interactions with additives.
Main Results:
- Tergitol significantly reduced microplastic collection (94.5% for nylon, 54.5% for PETE) and Work of Adhesion (WoAaq).
- Computational models confirmed reduced adhesion in the presence of tergitol.
- Adhesives swelled in additive solutions, and tergitol appeared to block the adhesive substrate.
Conclusions:
- Common detergent additives, particularly tergitol, interfere with polyacrylate adhesive microplastic capture.
- Tergitol's interference is likely due to competitive blocking of the adhesive surface.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms of interference for other additives.
