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Balancing NOM Removal and Polymer Stability in PVC Microplastics: A Comparative Evaluation of H2O2 Digestion
Sanaz Rezagholi1, Saber Entezari1, Hossein Ganjidoust2
1Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Optimizing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) digestion for microplastic (MP) analysis is crucial. We found room temperature for 24 hours best balances removing natural organic matter (NOM) while minimizing damage to sensitive polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) digestion is standard for removing natural organic matter (NOM) from microplastics (MPs).
- Sensitive polymers like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) may degrade under aggressive H2O2 oxidation, complicating MP analysis.
- A balance is needed between effective NOM removal and preserving PVC integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate nine H2O2 digestion protocols for PVC microplastics.
- To quantify the trade-off between NOM removal efficiency and PVC degradation.
- To identify optimal digestion conditions for PVC MP analysis in NOM-rich environments.
Main Methods:
- Tested H2O2 digestion protocols ranging from 25-70°C for 6-48 hours.
- Used humic acid (HA) as a proxy for NOM.
- Assessed PVC degradation using optical microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
Main Results:
- High temperatures (70°C/48h) achieved 88.5% HA removal but caused significant PVC swelling (53.8%).
- FTIR showed minimal chemical changes (Carbonyl Index ≤ 0.081) across conditions.
- Optical microscopy indicated temperature-dependent physical fragmentation of PVC.
Conclusions:
- Room temperature for 24 hours offers an optimal compromise for PVC MP analysis.
- This protocol achieved ~61% NOM removal with ≤15% physical deformation.
- Findings provide crucial guidance for analyzing PVC MPs in complex environmental matrices.
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