Nanoplastic in aqueous environments : The role of chemo-electric properties for nanoplastic-mineral interaction
(2025) In Science of the Total Environment 964.- Abstract
Due to increasing plastic production, the continuous release of primary and secondary nanoplastic particles (NPs, <1 μm) has become an emerging contaminant in terrestrial environments. The fate and transport of NPs in subsurface environments remain poorly understood, largely due to the complex interplay of mineralogical, chemical, biological, and morphological heterogeneity. This study examines interactions between abundant subsurface minerals and NPs under controlled water chemistry (1 mM KCl, pH 5.5). These conditions minimize potential chemical effects from ions in solution, isolating the impact of mineral complexity. Surface-modified polystyrene nanoparticles (-COOH and -NH2 functional groups) are proxies for degradation products... (More)
Due to increasing plastic production, the continuous release of primary and secondary nanoplastic particles (NPs, <1 μm) has become an emerging contaminant in terrestrial environments. The fate and transport of NPs in subsurface environments remain poorly understood, largely due to the complex interplay of mineralogical, chemical, biological, and morphological heterogeneity. This study examines interactions between abundant subsurface minerals and NPs under controlled water chemistry (1 mM KCl, pH 5.5). These conditions minimize potential chemical effects from ions in solution, isolating the impact of mineral complexity. Surface-modified polystyrene nanoparticles (-COOH and -NH2 functional groups) are proxies for degradation products and organic associations found in environmental plastics. Experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions using DLVO (Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek) double-layer force models. Despite all studied minerals maintaining negative surface charges across varying pH, electrostatic double-layer (EDL) interactions played a minor role in NP attachment. Instead, mechanisms such as specific ion-binding interactions (mediated by trace metal ions), bridging via divalent ions, and hydrogen bonding were more significant. Evidence suggests that kinetic effects for most mineral-NP combinations persist beyond 24 h. This study highlights the critical role of biogeochemical and mineralogical composition in controlling NP attachment and release in subsurface environments, with implications for their transport and fate in aquifers.
(Less)
- author
- Müller, Sascha LU ; Fiutowski, Jacek ; Rasmussen, Maja Bar ; Balic Zunic, Tonci ; Rubahn, Horst Gunter and Posth, Nicole R.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-02
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Groundwater, Mineral, Nanoplastic, Sorption
- in
- Science of the Total Environment
- volume
- 964
- article number
- 178529
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:39848159
- scopus:85215395707
- ISSN
- 0048-9697
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178529
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 0155396c-fba5-4acf-803c-0b46a2b52c8c
- date added to LUP
- 2025-03-24 15:32:02
- date last changed
- 2025-06-30 21:37:49
@article{0155396c-fba5-4acf-803c-0b46a2b52c8c,
abstract = {{<p>Due to increasing plastic production, the continuous release of primary and secondary nanoplastic particles (NPs, <1 μm) has become an emerging contaminant in terrestrial environments. The fate and transport of NPs in subsurface environments remain poorly understood, largely due to the complex interplay of mineralogical, chemical, biological, and morphological heterogeneity. This study examines interactions between abundant subsurface minerals and NPs under controlled water chemistry (1 mM KCl, pH 5.5). These conditions minimize potential chemical effects from ions in solution, isolating the impact of mineral complexity. Surface-modified polystyrene nanoparticles (-COOH and -NH2 functional groups) are proxies for degradation products and organic associations found in environmental plastics. Experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions using DLVO (Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek) double-layer force models. Despite all studied minerals maintaining negative surface charges across varying pH, electrostatic double-layer (EDL) interactions played a minor role in NP attachment. Instead, mechanisms such as specific ion-binding interactions (mediated by trace metal ions), bridging via divalent ions, and hydrogen bonding were more significant. Evidence suggests that kinetic effects for most mineral-NP combinations persist beyond 24 h. This study highlights the critical role of biogeochemical and mineralogical composition in controlling NP attachment and release in subsurface environments, with implications for their transport and fate in aquifers.</p>}},
author = {{Müller, Sascha and Fiutowski, Jacek and Rasmussen, Maja Bar and Balic Zunic, Tonci and Rubahn, Horst Gunter and Posth, Nicole R.}},
issn = {{0048-9697}},
keywords = {{Groundwater; Mineral; Nanoplastic; Sorption}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Science of the Total Environment}},
title = {{Nanoplastic in aqueous environments : The role of chemo-electric properties for nanoplastic-mineral interaction}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178529}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178529}},
volume = {{964}},
year = {{2025}},
}