Fate and environmental behaviors of microplastics through the lens of free radical

Ye Qiu; Tong Zhang; Ping Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131401

Fate and environmental behaviors of microplastics through the lens of free radical

J Hazard Mater. 2023 Jul 5:453:131401. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131401. Epub 2023 Apr 13.

Authors

Ye Qiu¹, Tong Zhang², Ping Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Rd., Tianjin 300350, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao Special Administrative Region of China.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Rd., Tianjin 300350, China. Electronic address: zhangtong@nankai.edu.cn.
³ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao Special Administrative Region of China. Electronic address: pzhang@um.edu.mo.

PMID: 37086675
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131401

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs), as plastics with a size of less than 5 mm, are ubiquitously present in the environment and become an increasing environmental concern. The fate and environmental behavior of MPs are significantly influenced by the presence of free radicals. Free radicals can cause surface breakage, chemical release, change in crystallinity and hydrophilicity, and aggregation of MPs. On the other hand, the generation of free radicals with a high concentration and oxidation potential can effectively degrade MPs. There is a limited review article to bridge the fate and environmental behaviors of MP with free radicals and their reactions. This paper reviews the sources, types, detection methods, generation mechanisms, and influencing factors of free radicals affecting the environmental processes of MPs, the environmental effects of MPs controlled by free radicals, and the degradation strategies of MPs based on free radical-associated technologies. Moreover, this review elaborates on the limitations of the current research and provides ideas for future research on the interactions between MPs and free radicals to better explain their environmental impacts and control their risks. This article aims to keep the reader abreast of the latest development in the fate and environmental behaviors of MP with free radicals and their reactions and to bridge free radical chemistry with MP control methodology.

Keywords: Aging; Degradation; Fate; Free radicals; Microplastics; Redox.

Publication types

Review