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Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
Published on: July 28, 2018
Dynamic formation of microplastics from plastic waste in landfill leachate pressure-bearing zone
Yuyang Long1, Dongyan Jin1, Jing Hou1
1Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China.
Abstract:
The leachate pressure-bearing zone in landfill sites is an important source and sink of microplastics (MPs), yet the formation processes and mechanisms under these conditions remain unclear. This study investigated MPs dynamics from plastic waste under simulated landfill conditions, revealing critical differences between plastic types. Polyethylene (PE) showed minimal fragmentation, while poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/polylactic acid (PBAT/PLA) generated substantial MPs (up to 1.39 × 106 items/L) under atmospheric pressure, with particles below 100 μm progressively dominating the size distribution. Temperature emerged as the primary driver of MP formation, accelerating PBAT/PLA depolymerization and leading to surface formation of carbonyl, hydroxyl, and ether groups. Conversely, pressure indirectly suppressed MP release by inhibiting microbial activity. Leachate parameters (DOC/COD) effectively predicted MP dynamics, providing practical monitoring indicators. These results elucidated the mechanisms of MP generation in landfill pressure environments, offering valuable insights for MP pollution control and waste management strategies.
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