Journal
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Volume 463, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132911
Keywords
Biodegradable plastics; Oxygen-containing functional groups; Micromechanical property; Microplastic formation; Aging mechanism
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Research has found that biodegradable plastics are more prone to generating harmful microplastics in a short amount of time. The oxidation process of the plastics significantly affects their micromechanical properties, further exacerbating the formation of microplastics. The increased presence of oxygen-containing functional groups leads to higher adhesion and roughness of the plastic, indicating that the environmental risks of biodegradable plastics should not be ignored.
Biodegradable plastics (BPs) are more prone to generate harmful microplastics (MPs) in a short time, which have always been ignored. Oxygenated functional group formation is considered to be a key indicator for assessing microplastic formation, while it is difficult to characterize at a very early stage. The micromechanical properties of the aging plastic during the formation of the MPs are highly influenced by the evolution of oxygen-containing functional groups, however, their relationship has rarely been revealed. Herein, we compared changes in the physicochemical properties of BPs and non-degradable plastic bags during aging in artificial seawater, soil, and air. The results showed that the oxidation of plastics in the air was the most significant, with the most prominent oxidation in BPs. The accumulation of carbonyl groups leads to a significant increase in the micromechanical properties and surface brittleness of the plastic, further exacerbating the formation of MPs. It was also verified by the FTIR, 2D-COS, AFM, and Raman spectroscopy analyses. Furthermore, the increased adhesion and roughness caused by oxygen-containing functional groups suggest that the environmental risks of BPs cannot be ignored. Our findings suggest that the testing of micromechanical properties can predicate the formation of the MPs at an early stage.
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