Identification of naturally weathering microplastics and their interactions with ion dyes in aquatic environments

Here, naturally weathering plastics were collected and identified to understand the effect of the weathering conditions on their properties. The adsorption and desorption of crystal Violet (CV), a candidate of cationic organic pollutant, on microplastics (MPs) under various environmental conditions were simultaneously explored. The first type was the aged polyethylene (PE-MPs), which exhibited a fibrous structure with a smoother and uniform surface attached some flaps, while the second type was recognized as the aged polypropylene (PP-MPs), which showed a lamellar structure with less smooth and distorted texture surface attached with fragments and small grains. The experiment data fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models. The possible interactions between CV and MPs included electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. This study demonstrates that the high possibility of transport ionic pollutants from fresh water to ocean by the naturally weathering microplastics, highlighting their potential risk in various environments.

Automated summary

This study collected and identified naturally weathering plastics to understand their properties under different weathering conditions, and explored the adsorption and desorption of crystal violet on microplastics in various environmental contexts. The results showed that different types of weathered plastics exhibited distinct surface structures, and there were various possible interactions between the organic pollutant and microplastics.