Insights into the Characteristics, Adsorption, and Desorption Behaviors of Polylactic Acid Aged with or without Salinities
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 9
Abstract
Degradable plastics, the substitute for conventional plastics, are becoming the new pollutant in the ocean. However, studies investigating the impact of freshwater and seawater on the basic aging process of microplastics and involving degradable plastics are still lacking. To accurately compare the potential hazards of degradable microplastics aging in seawater and freshwater, the role of salinity in the ultra-violet ray (UV) aging process of degradable microplastics (MPs) was explored in this study. Polylactic acid (PLA) aged under UV and 0‰, 10‰, and 40‰ salinities was taken as the subject. The results showed that salinity combined with UV accelerated the aging process, and PLA had more holes and cracks on the surface, larger specific area (), and significantly more oxygen-containing functional groups and negative charges. The of PLA aged under UV and 40‰ salinity was , 33% more than that aged by UV only. Additionally, salinity increased the adsorption capacity of PLA. The adsorption quantity of oxytetracycline (OTC) and by 40‰ salinity-aged PLA were 4.822 and , 30% and 32% more than that aged by UV only. There was a drop in the desorption rate of OTC but a rise in that of by PLA aged in salinities. Moreover, the desorption quantity and rate of pollutants on PLA in simulated intestinal fluid were greater than those in water, and PLA might have a higher carrier effect on pollutants after aging under salinity conditions. These results showed that the potential hazard of PLA existing in seawater may be more serious than that in freshwater. This study also revealed the effect of salinity, enabling the environmental risk assessment of degradable MPs to be more scientific and more comprehensive.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful for the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52000153), the Xuzhou Key Research and Development Plan Project (social development) (No. KC 20163), the Water Conservancy Technology Project of Jiangsu Province (No. 2021077), and the Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology Young Scientific and Technological Talents Project (TJ-2021-061).
References
Anirudhan, T. S., C. D. Bringle, and P. G. Radhakrishnan. 2012. “Heavy metal interactions with phosphatic clay: Kinetic and equilibrium studies.” Chem. Eng. J. 200–202 (Aug): 149–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2012.06.024.
Bakir, A., S. J. Rowland, and R. C. Thompson. 2014. “Enhanced desorption of persistent organic pollutants from microplastics under simulated physiological conditions.” Environ. Pollut. 185 (13): 16–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.10.007.
Barletta, M., A. Lima, and M. F. Costa. 2018. “Distribution, sources and consequences of nutrients, persistent organic pollutants, metals and microplastics in South American estuaries.” Sci. Total Environ. 651 (Part 1): 1199–1218.
Bhattacharyya, K. G., and A. Sharma. 2004. “Azadirachta indica leaf powder as an effective biosorbent for dyes: A case study with aqueous Congo Red solutions.” J. Environ. Manage. 71 (3): 217–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2004.03.002.
Cai, L., J. Wang, J. Peng, Z. Wu, and X. Tan. 2018. “Observation of the degradation of three types of plastic pellets exposed to UV irradiation in three different environments.” Sci. Total Environ. 628–629 (1): 740–747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.079.
Cesa, F. S., A. Turra, and J. Baruque-Ramos. 2017. “Synthetic fibers as microplastics in the marine environment: A review from textile perspective with a focus on domestic washings.” Sci. Total Environ. 598 (Nov): 1116–1129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.172.
Chen, H., S. Liu, X. Xu, G. Zhou, S. Liu, W. Yue, K. Sun, and G. Ying. 2015. “Antibiotics in the coastal environment of the Hailing Bay region, South China Sea: Spatial distribution, source analysis and ecological risks.” Mar. Pollut. Bull. 95 (1): 365–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.04.025.
Chen, M. 2009. Chemical oceanography. San Francisco: Academia.
Ding, L., R. Mao, S. Ma, X. Guo, and L. Zhu. 2020. “High temperature depended on the ageing mechanism of microplastics under different environmental conditions and its effect on the distribution of organic pollutants.” Water Res. 174 (May): 115634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.115634.
Dong, H., X. Guo, C. Yang, and Z. Ouyang. 2018. “Synthesis of g- by different precursors under burning explosion effect and its photocatalytic degradation for tylosin.” Appl. Catal. B-Environ. 230 (Aug): 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.02.044.
Eriksen, M., L. C. Lebreton, H. S. Carson, M. Thiel, C. J. Moore, J. C. Borerro, F. Galgani, P. G. Ryan, and J. Reisser. 2014. “Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans: More than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons afloat at sea.” PLoS One 9 (12): e111913. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111913.
Fan, X., Y. Zou, N. Geng, J. Liu, J. Hou, D. Li, C. Yang, and Y. Li. 2020. “Investigation on the adsorption and desorption behaviors of antibiotics by degradable MPs with or without UV ageing process.” J. Hazard. Mater. 401 (Jan): 123363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123363.
Feng, Q., C. An, Z. Chen, J. Yin, B. Zhang, K. Lee, and Z. Wang. 2021. “Investigation into the impact of aged microplastics on oil behavior in shoreline environments.” Sci. Total Environ. 421 (Jan): 126711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126711.
Guo, X., and J. Wang. 2019a. “The chemical behaviors of microplastics in marine environment: A review.” Mar. Pollut. Bull. 142 (May): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.03.019.
Guo, X., and J. Wang. 2019b. “A general kinetic model for adsorption: Theoretical analysis and modeling.” J. Mol. Liq. 288 (Aug): 111100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2019.111100.
Gupta, V. K., A. Rastogi, and A. Nayak. 2010. “Biosorption of nickel onto treated alga (Oedogonium hatei): Application of isotherm and kinetic models.” J. Colloid Interface Sci. 342 (2): 533–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2009.10.074.
Haider, T. P., C. Völker, J. Kramm, K. Landfester, and F. R. Wurm. 2019. “Plastics of the future? The impact of biodegradable polymers on the environment and on society.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 58 (1): 50–62. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201805766.
Huffer, T., A. K. Weniger, and T. Hofmann. 2018. “Data on sorption of organic compounds by aged polystyrene microplastic particles.” Data Brief 18: 474–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2018.03.053.
Jambeck, J. R., R. Geyer, C. Wilcox, T. R. Siegler, M. Perryman, A. Andrady, R. Narayan, and K. L. Law. 2015. “Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean.” Science 347 (6223): 768–771. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1260352.
Kaczmarek, H., A. Kamińska, M. Świątek, and S. Sanyal. 2000. “Photoinitiated degradation of polystyrene in the presence of low-molecular organic compounds.” Eur. Polym. J. 36 (6): 1167–1173. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0014-3057(99)00175-5.
Lee, H., H.-J. Lee, and J.-H. Kwon. 2019. “Estimating microplastic-bound intake of hydrophobic organic chemicals by fish using measured desorption rates to artificial gut fluid.” Sci. Total Environ. 651 (Part 1): 162–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.068.
Li, C., Q. Cui, M. Zhang, R. D. Vogt, and X. Lu. 2021. “A commonly available and easily assembled device for extraction of bio/non-degradable microplastics from soil by flotation in NaBr solution.” Sci. Total Environ. 759 (Mar): 143482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143482.
Li, S., H. Garreau, and M. Vert. 1990. “Structure-property relationships in the case of the degradation of massive aliphatic poly-(-hydroxy acids) in aqueous media.” J. Mater. Sci.-Mater. Med. 1 (4): 198–206. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00701077.
Liu, F., G. Zhu, Z. Wang, and S. Zhao. 2019a. “Interactions between microplastics and phthalate esters as affected by microplastics characteristics and solution chemistry.” Chemosphere 214 (Jan): 688–694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.09.174.
Liu, G., Z. Zhu, Y. Yang, Y. Sun, F. Yu, and J. Ma. 2019b. “Sorption behavior and mechanism of hydrophilic organic chemicals to virgin and aged microplastics in freshwater and seawater.” Environ. Pollut. 246 (Mar): 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.100.
Liu, P., K. Lu, J. Li, X. Wu, L. Qian, M. Wang, and S. Gao. 2019c. “Effect of aging on adsorption behavior of polystyrene microplastics for pharmaceuticals: Adsorption mechanism and role of aging intermediates.” J. Hazard. Mater. 384 (Feb): 121193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121193.
Liu, P., L. Qian, H. Wang, X. Zhan, K. Lu, C. Gu, and S. Gao. 2019d. “New insights into the aging behavior of microplastics accelerated by advanced oxidation processes.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 53 (7): 3579–3588. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b00493.
Liu, P., Y. Shi, X. Wu, H. Wang, H. Huang, X. Guo, and S. Gao. 2021a. “Review of the artificially-accelerated aging technology and ecological risk of microplastics.” Sci. Total Environ. 768 (May): 144969. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.144969.
Liu, P., X. Wu, H. Liu, H. Wang, K. Lu, and S. Gao. 2020. “Desorption of pharmaceuticals from pristine and aged polystyrene microplastics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions.” J. Hazard. Mater. 392 (Jun): 122346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122346.
Liu, X., P. Sun, G. Qu, J. Jing, T. Zhang, H. Shi, and Y. Zhao. 2021b. “Insight into the characteristics and sorption behaviors of aged polystyrene microplastics through three type of accelerated oxidation processes.” J. Hazard. Mater. 407 (Apr): 124836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124836.
Luo, H., Y. Zhao, Y. Li, Y. Xiang, D. He, and X. Pan. 2020. “Aging of microplastics affects their surface properties, thermal decomposition, additives leaching and interactions in simulated fluids.” Sci. Total Environ. 714 (Apr): 136862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136862.
Lv, S., Y. Zhang, J. Gu, and H. Tan. 2017. “Biodegradation behavior and modelling of soil burial effect on degradation rate of PLA blended with starch and wood flour.” Colloids Surf., B 159 (Nov): 800–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2017.08.056.
Mai, L., H. He, L.-J. Bao, L.-Y. Liu, and E. Y. Zeng. 2020. “Plastics are an insignificant carrier of riverine organic pollutants to the coastal oceans.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 54 (24): 15852–15860. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c05446.
Malaizé, B., M. T. Vénec-Peyré, C. Joly, F. Bassinot, N. Caillon, and K. Charlier. 2009. “Imprints of high-salinity water plumes originating from the Red Sea during termination II.” Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 276 (1–4): 69–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.02.027.
Mao, R., M. Lang, X. Yu, R. Wu, X. Yang, and X. Guo. 2020. “Aging mechanism of microplastics with UV irradiation and its effects on the adsorption of heavy metals.” J. Hazard. Mater. 393 (Jul): 122515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122515.
Mohamed Nor, N. H., and A. A. Koelmans. 2019. “Transfer of PCBs from microplastics under simulated gut fluid conditions is biphasic and reversible.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 53 (4): 1874–1883. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b05143.
Müller, A., R. Becker, U. Dorgerloh, F. G. Simon, and U. J. E. P. Braun. 2018. “The effect of polymer aging on the uptake of fuel aromatics and ethers by microplastics.” Environ. Pollut. 240 (Sep): 639–646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.127.
Narancic, T., S. Verstichel, S. R. Chaganti, L. Morales-Gamez, S. T. Kenny, B. D. Wilde, R. B. Padamati, and K. E. O’Connor. 2018. “Biodegradable plastic blends create new possibilities for end-of-life management of plastics but they are not a panacea for plastic pollution.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 52 (18): 10441–10452. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02963.
Oyama, H. T., Y. Tanaka, S. Hirai, S. Shida, and A. Kadosaka. 2011. “Water-disintegrative and biodegradable blends containing poly(L-lactic acid) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate).” J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 49 (5): 342–354. https://doi.org/10.1002/polb.22193.
Pages, P., F. Carrasco, J. Saurina, and X. Colom. 1996. “FTIR and DSC study of HDPE structural changes and mechanical properties variation when exposed to weathering aging during Canadian winter.” J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 60 (2): 153–159.
Pellini, G., A. Gomiero, T. Fortibuoni, C. Ferr, F. Grati, N. Tassetti, P. Polidori, G. Fabi, and G. Scarcella. 2018. “Characterization of microplastic litter in the gastrointestinal tract of Solea solea from the Adriatic Sea.” Environ. Pollut. 234 (Mar): 943–952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.038.
Rangabhashiyam, S., N. Anu, M. S. Giri Nandagopal, and N. Selvaraju. 2014. “Relevance of isotherm models in biosorption of pollutants by agricultural byproducts.” J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 2 (1): 398–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2014.01.014.
Reddad, Z., C. Gerente, Y. Andres, and P. L. Cloirec. 2002. “Adsorption of several metal ions onto a low-cost biosorbent: Kinetic and equilibrium studies.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 36 (9): 2067–2073. https://doi.org/10.1021/es0102989.
Salvador Cesa, F., A. Turra, and J. Baruque-Ramos. 2017. “Synthetic fibers as microplastics in the marine environment: A review from textile perspective with a focus on domestic washings.” Sci. Total Environ. 598 (Nov): 1116–1129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.172.
Stammer, D., M. S. Martins, J. Köhler, and A. Köhl. 2021. “How well do we know ocean salinity and its changes?” Prog. Oceanogr. 190 (Jan): 102478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2020.102478.
Şucu, T., and M. P. Shaver. 2020. “Inherently degradable cross-linked polyesters and polycarbonates: Resins to be cheerful.” Polym. Chem. 11 (40): 6397–6412. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0PY01226B.
Sun, W., B. Jiang, F. Wang, and N. Xu. 2015. “Effect of carbon nanotubes on Cd(II) adsorption by sediments.” Chem. Eng. J. 264 (Mar): 645–653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.11.137.
Sun, Y., X. Wang, S. Xia, and J. Zhao. 2021. “New insights into oxytetracycline (OTC) adsorption behavior on polylactic acid microplastics undergoing microbial adhesion and degradation.” Chem. Eng. J. 416 (Jul): 129085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.129085.
Turner, A., and L. A. Holmes. 2015. “Adsorption of trace metals by microplastic pellets in fresh water.” Environ. Chem. 12 (5): 600–610. https://doi.org/10.1071/EN14143.
van Sebille, E., C. Wilcox, L. Lebreton, N. Maximenko, B. D. Hardesty, J. A. Van Franeker, M. Eriksen, D. Siegel, F. Galgani, and K. L. Law. 2015. “A global inventory of small floating plastic debris.” Environ. Res. Lett. 10 (12): 124006. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/10/12/124006.
Wang, C., X. Fan, P. Wang, J. Hou, Y. Ao, and L. Miao. 2016. “Adsorption behavior of lead on aquatic sediments contaminated with cerium dioxide nanoparticles.” Environ. Pollut. 219 (16): 416–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.05.025.
Wang, F., K. M. Shih, and X. Y. Li. 2015. “The partition behavior of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA) on microplastics.” Chemosphere 119 (Jan): 841–847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.08.047.
Wang, J., and X. Guo. 2020. “Adsorption isotherm models: Classification, physical meaning, application and solving method.” Chemosphere 258 (Nov): 127279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127279.
Wang, Z., B. Xiang, R. Cheng, and Y. Li. 2010. “Behaviors and mechanism of acid dyes sorption onto diethylenetriamine-modified native and enzymatic hydrolysis starch.” J. Hazard. Mater. 183 (1–3): 224–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.07.015.
Weng, F., M. Wang, E. Koranteng, N. Ma, Z. Wu, and Q. Wu. 2019. “Effects of PBA-based polyurethane prepolymer as compatibilizer on the properties of polylactic acid-starch composites.” Starch-Stärke 71 (3–4): 1800205. https://doi.org/10.1002/star.201800205.
Wu, C., K. Zhang, X. Huang, and J. Liu. 2016. “Sorption of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to polyethylene debris.” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 23 (9): 8819–8826. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6121-7.
Wu, X., P. Liu, H. Wang, H. Huang, Y. Shi, C. Yang, and S. Gao. 2021. “Photo aging of polypropylene microplastics in estuary water and coastal seawater: Important role of chlorine ion.” Water Res. 202 (Sep): 117396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117396.
Xu, P., G. Zeng, D. Huang, C. Lai, H. Mei, Z. Wei, N. Li, C. Huang, and G. Xie. 2012. “Adsorption of Pb(II) by iron oxide nanoparticles immobilized Phanerochaete chrysosporium: Equilibrium, kinetic, thermodynamic and mechanisms analysis.” Chem. Eng. J. 203: 423–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2012.07.048.
Yu, F., Y. Li, G. Huang, C. Yang, C. Chen, T. Zhou, Y. Zhao, and J. Ma. 2020. “Adsorption behavior of the antibiotic levofloxacin on microplastics in the presence of different heavy metals in an aqueous solution.” Chemosphere 260 (Dec): 127650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127650.
Zeenat, E. A., D. A. Bukhari, S. Shamim, and A Rehman. 2021. “Plastics degradation by microbes: A sustainable approach.” J. King Saud Univ. Sci. 33 (6): 101538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2021.101538.
Zhang, P., P. Huang, H. Sun, J. Ma, and B. Li. 2020. “The structure of agricultural microplastics (PT, PU and UF) and their sorption capacities for PAHs and PHE derivates under various salinity and oxidation treatments.” Environ. Pollut. 257 (Feb): 113525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113525.
Zhang, Q., G. Ying, C. Pan, Y. Liu, and J. Zhao. 2015. “Comprehensive evaluation of antibiotics emission and fate in the river basins of China: Source analysis, multimedia modeling, and linkage to bacterial resistance.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 49 (11): 6772–6782. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00729.
Zhang, X., M. Xia, X. Su, P. Yuan, X. Li, C. Zhou, Z. Wan, and W. Zou. 2021. “Photolytic degradation elevated the toxicity of polylactic acid microplastics to developing zebrafish by triggering mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis.” J. Hazard. Mater. 413 (Jul): 125321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125321.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 148 • Issue 9 • September 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 21, 2022
Accepted: Mar 17, 2022
Published online: Jun 17, 2022
Published in print: Sep 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Nov 17, 2022
ASCE Technical Topics:
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.