Combined Effects of UV Exposure Duration and Mechanical Abrasion on Microplastic Fragmentation by Polymer Type SCIE SCOPUS

Cited 700 time in WEB OF SCIENCE Cited 879 time in Scopus
Title
Combined Effects of UV Exposure Duration and Mechanical Abrasion on Microplastic Fragmentation by Polymer Type
Author(s)
Song, Young Kyoung; Hong, Sang Hee; Jang, Mi; Han, Gi Myung; Jung, Seung Won; Shim, Won Joon
KIOST Author(s)
Hong, Sang Hee(홍상희)Jang, Mi(장미)Han, Gi Myung(한기명)Jung, Seung Won(정승원)Shim, Won Joon(심원준)
Alternative Author(s)
송영경; 홍상희; 장미; 한기명; 정승원; 심원준
Publication Year
2017-04-18
Abstract
It is important to understand the fragmentation processes and mechanisms of plastic litter to predict microplastic production in the marine environment. In this study, accelerated weathering experiments were performed in the laboratory, with ultraviolet (UV) exposure for up to 12 months followed by mechanical abrasion (MA) with sand for 2 months. Fragmentation of low-density polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and expanded polystyrene (EPS) was evaluated under conditions that simulated a beach environment. PE and PP were minimally fragmented by MA without photooxidation by UV (8.7 +/- 2.5 and 10.7 +/- 0.7 particles/pellet, respectively). The rate of fragmentation by UV exposure duration increased more for PP than PE. A 12-month UV exposure and 2-month MA of PP and PE produced 6084 +/- 1061 and 20 +/- 8.3 partides/pellet, respectively. EPS pellets were susceptible to MA alone (4220 +/- 33 particles/pellet), while the combination of 6 months of DV exposure followed by 2 months of MA produced 12,152 +/- 3276 particles/pellet. The number of fragmented polymer particles produced by UV exposure and mechanical abrasion increased with decreasing size in all polymer types. The size-normalized abundance of the fragmented PE, PP, and EPS particles according to particle size after UV exposure and MA was predictable. Up to 76.5% of the initial EPS volume was unaccounted for in the final volume of pellet produced particle fragments, indicating that a large proportion of the particles had fragmented into undetectable submicron particles.
ISSN
0013-936X
URI
https://sciwatch.kiost.ac.kr/handle/2020.kiost/1250
DOI
10.1021/acs.est.6b06155
Bibliographic Citation
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, v.51, no.8, pp.4368 - 4376, 2017
Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
Subject
PLASTIC MARINE DEBRIS; SEA-SURFACE MICROLAYER; SOUTH-KOREA; DEGRADATION; POLYSTYRENE; ENVIRONMENT; PARTICLES; INGESTION; QUANTIFICATION; PHOTOOXIDATION
Type
Article
Language
English
Document Type
Article
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