Microplastics existence affected heavy metal affinity to ferrihydrite as a representative sediment mineral

Lu, Xiao1; Hu, Hongwei1,2; Li, Jiawei1; Li, Jiangpeng1; Wang, Lijuan1; Liu, Lili3; Tang, Yuanyuan1

2023-02-10

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160227

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT   Impact Factor & Quartile

0048-9697

1879-1026

The coexistence of minerals, heavy metals and microplastics in sediment has been widely reported, while the interac-tions between minerals and heavy metals may be affected by the presence of microplastics. Therefore, to elucidate the effect of microplastics on the interactions between heavy metals and sediment minerals, this study conducted a series of experiments using polystyrene (PS) microplastics, Pb/Cr/Cd and ferrihydrite (Fh). The presence of PS microplastics with ferrihydrite (Fh-MPs200, mass ratio of ferrihydrite to PS of 200:1) improved the adsorption capacity of ferrihy-drite, especially with an increase of 36 % for Pb. Morphological characterization demonstrated that the nano-ferrihydrite particles were dispersed on the surface of the PS microplastics, increasing the available reaction sites of the ferrihydrite particles. Furthermore, the results of zeta potential and pH effect showed that the reduction in electro-static repulsion after adding PS was another critical reason for the increase in Pb adsorption by Fh-MP200. As a result, the presence of PS microplastics enhanced the complexation of Pb ions and the hydroxyl groups on the ferrihydrite surface. This study demonstrated that the presence of microplastics in the sedimentary environment can alter the dispersion and surface properties of minerals, thereby affecting the accumulation and transportation of heavy metals at the water-sediment interface.

Microplastics Heavy metal Ferrihydrite Polystyrene (PS) Interaction

SCI

English

First ; Corresponding

National Natural Science Foundation of China["41977329","42277403"] ; Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province[2021B1515020041]

Environmental Sciences & Ecology

Environmental Sciences

WOS:000895327800001

ELSEVIER

ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY

Web of Science

1.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Coll Engn, Sch Environm Sci & Engn, State Environm Protect Key Lab Integrated Surface, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
2.Xiamen Univ, Coll Environm & Ecol, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, Peoples R China
3.East China Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Resource & Environm Engn, State Environm Protect Key Lab Environm Risk Asses, Shanghai 200237, Peoples R China

Lu, Xiao,Hu, Hongwei,Li, Jiawei,et al. Microplastics existence affected heavy metal affinity to ferrihydrite as a representative sediment mineral[J]. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT,2023,859.

Lu, Xiao.,Hu, Hongwei.,Li, Jiawei.,Li, Jiangpeng.,Wang, Lijuan.,...&Tang, Yuanyuan.(2023).Microplastics existence affected heavy metal affinity to ferrihydrite as a representative sediment mineral.SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT,859.

Lu, Xiao,et al."Microplastics existence affected heavy metal affinity to ferrihydrite as a representative sediment mineral".SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 859(2023).