Real-world natural passivation phenomena can limit microplastic generation in water
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2022Access:
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Yunhong Shi, Dunzhu Li, Liwen Xiao*, Daragh Mullarkey, Daniel K. Kehoe, Emmet D. Sheerin, Sebastian Barwich, Luming Yang, Yurii K. Gun?ko, Igor V. Shvets, Matthias E. M?bius, John J. Boland*, Jing Jing Wang*, Real-world natural passivation phenomena can limit microplastic generation in water, Chemical Engineering Journal, 425, 2022Download Item:
Abstract:
Previous studies using Deionized (DI) water found that household plastic products used in food preparation and
storage are a local and immediate source of extremely high quantities of microplastics (MPs) released directly
into to the human body and the environment. However, DI water is rarely used outside of laboratories. Here, MP
release from plastic products exposed to ordinary drinking water was studied. To facilitate this study, the concept
of Synthetic drinking water (SDW) was introduced, which involved preparing water in accordance with the WHO
standard but modified to mimic the composition of local Tap drinking water (TDW). It was found that the level of
MP released from plastics exposed to TDW and SDW are very similar, demonstrating that SDW is an appropriate
real-world reference standard to test MP release levels from plastic products. In contrast with the use of DI water,
plastics exposed to hot (40–100 ◦C) SDW and TDW showed the progressive development of a Copper (II) oxide
(CuO) passivation film due to the presence of Cu2+ ions in the water samples. Similar passivation films formed on
97% of all food grade plastics. Longitudinal studies of polypropylene products (kettles) exposed to boiling TDW
during normal use resulted in the continuous growth of CuO passivation films that ultimately yielded a 99.8%
reduction in MP release. Engineered reductions in MP release levels were observed following separate controlled
exposures to SDW with elevated Cu2+ levels, yielding denser CuO passivation films. This study underscores the
importance of reproducing real world conditions in microplastic studies and also the potential for nature-inspired
engineered films to mitigate against the release of MPs and the possibility of sustainable MP-free products.
Sponsor
Grant Number
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
20/FIP/PL/ 8733
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
16/IA/4462sci
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
12/RC/2278_P2
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/lxiaohttp://people.tcd.ie/shiy1
http://people.tcd.ie/ivchvets
http://people.tcd.ie/lid3
http://people.tcd.ie/mobiusm
http://people.tcd.ie/igounko
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Chemical Engineering Journal425
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Full text availableKeywords:
Deionized (DI) water, Microplastics (MPs) release, Kettles, CuO passivation films, Synthetic drinking water (SDW), Natural passivation phenomenaSubject (TCD):
Creative Technologies , Smart & Sustainable Planet , microplasticsMetadata
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