A comprehensive review of microplastic aging: Laboratory simulations, physicochemical properties, adsorption mechanisms, and environmental impacts

Yu Gao, Wei Gao, Yuzhi Liu, Donglei Zou, Yuan Li, Yingzi Lin*, Jun Zhao

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

As a new type of ecological environment problem, microplastic pollution is a severe challenge faced by the world, and its threat and potential risk to the ecosystem have become a hot research spot in the current environmental field. Microplastics (MPs) in the natural environment will experience aging effect, aging will change the physical and chemical properties of MPs and affect the adsorption behavior. Recently reported characterization techniques of MPs and laboratory simulation of aging are reviewed. The aging mechanism between MPs and different pollutants and the intervention mechanism of environmental factors (MPs, pollutants and water quality environment) were revealed. In addition, to further understand the potential ecological toxicity of MPs after aging, the release and harm of additives during aging, produce the environmentally persistent free radicals, and the mechanism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) removal of pollutants adsorbed on the surface of MPs were summarized. Future research efforts should focus more on bridging the disparity between laboratory aging simulations and natural environmental conditions to enhance the authenticity and ecological relevance of such studies. The ROS production mechanism of MPs provides a reference direction for removing pollutants adsorbed by aged MPs.

Original languageEnglish
Article number177427
Number of pages16
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume957
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Dec 2024

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution

User-Defined Keywords

  • Aging
  • Free radicals
  • Microplastics
  • Organic pollutants
  • Reactive oxygen species

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