Characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on Cu2+ and Fe3+ in environmental matrices
Abstract As the world faces growing environmental challenges, understanding the nature of microplastics—such as Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyurethane (PU)—and their transformation in water-based environments is necessary for predicting and mitigating their effects. In this study, we inves...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Environmental Sciences Europe |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01061-5 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1823862801889755136 |
|---|---|
| author | Ilaria Zanoni Lucia Briccolani Lara Faccani Magda Blosi Simona Ortelli Matteo Crosera Giovanna Marussi Stefania Albonetti Anna Luisa Costa |
| author_facet | Ilaria Zanoni Lucia Briccolani Lara Faccani Magda Blosi Simona Ortelli Matteo Crosera Giovanna Marussi Stefania Albonetti Anna Luisa Costa |
| author_sort | Ilaria Zanoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract As the world faces growing environmental challenges, understanding the nature of microplastics—such as Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyurethane (PU)—and their transformation in water-based environments is necessary for predicting and mitigating their effects. In this study, we investigated their physicochemical characteristics, presence of impurities, colloidal behavior, and sorption capacity to understand better how microplastics behave and transform in the environment, including their role in transporting heavy metals. The two types of microparticles investigated fall into distinct size ranges, approximately 70 microns for PE particles and around 5 microns for PU particles. Both samples showed a spherical morphology and an evident surface micro-roughness. The elemental and thermal analysis did not show the presence of any significant metal impurities. The zeta-potential measurements as a function of pH provided insights into the dispersion behavior of microplastics (MPs) in freshwaters, suitable for the growth of Zebrafish (Egg water) and Daphnia magna (Elendt M7 Water). Both materials showed in bidistilled water negative zeta potential (ZP) at natural pH (ZP = − 51.0 ± 4.3 mV at pH = 6.6 and ZP = − 29.5 ± 1.4 mV at pH = 5.6 for LDPE and PU, respectively), justified by the presence of surface-active charged impurities. In saline media, ZP vs. pH curves were flatter, with ZP values near 0 mV, confirming the reduced colloidal stability from higher ionic strength and double-layer compression. Finally, we assessed the metal adsorption capacity to establish the role of microplastics in the transport of heavy metals in the environment. We observed selective adsorption for Cu2⁺ ions, which was both medium-dependent (more ions adsorbed in Elendt M7) and plastic-dependent, with PU showing a stronger affinity for Cu2⁺ in MilliQ and Egg water. On the contrary, both plastics showed similar adsorption capacity for Fe3⁺ ions across all media. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-44335f3f19f748f4b3a2fb5070d160d0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2190-4715 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Sciences Europe |
| spelling | doaj-art-44335f3f19f748f4b3a2fb5070d160d02025-02-09T12:24:50ZengSpringerOpenEnvironmental Sciences Europe2190-47152025-02-0137111110.1186/s12302-025-01061-5Characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on Cu2+ and Fe3+ in environmental matricesIlaria Zanoni0Lucia Briccolani1Lara Faccani2Magda Blosi3Simona Ortelli4Matteo Crosera5Giovanna Marussi6Stefania Albonetti7Anna Luisa Costa8CNR-ISSMC National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Science, Technology and Sustainability for CeramicsDepartment of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of BolognaCNR-ISSMC National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Science, Technology and Sustainability for CeramicsCNR-ISSMC National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Science, Technology and Sustainability for CeramicsCNR-ISSMC National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Science, Technology and Sustainability for CeramicsDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of TriesteDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of TriesteDepartment of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of BolognaCNR-ISSMC National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Science, Technology and Sustainability for CeramicsAbstract As the world faces growing environmental challenges, understanding the nature of microplastics—such as Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polyurethane (PU)—and their transformation in water-based environments is necessary for predicting and mitigating their effects. In this study, we investigated their physicochemical characteristics, presence of impurities, colloidal behavior, and sorption capacity to understand better how microplastics behave and transform in the environment, including their role in transporting heavy metals. The two types of microparticles investigated fall into distinct size ranges, approximately 70 microns for PE particles and around 5 microns for PU particles. Both samples showed a spherical morphology and an evident surface micro-roughness. The elemental and thermal analysis did not show the presence of any significant metal impurities. The zeta-potential measurements as a function of pH provided insights into the dispersion behavior of microplastics (MPs) in freshwaters, suitable for the growth of Zebrafish (Egg water) and Daphnia magna (Elendt M7 Water). Both materials showed in bidistilled water negative zeta potential (ZP) at natural pH (ZP = − 51.0 ± 4.3 mV at pH = 6.6 and ZP = − 29.5 ± 1.4 mV at pH = 5.6 for LDPE and PU, respectively), justified by the presence of surface-active charged impurities. In saline media, ZP vs. pH curves were flatter, with ZP values near 0 mV, confirming the reduced colloidal stability from higher ionic strength and double-layer compression. Finally, we assessed the metal adsorption capacity to establish the role of microplastics in the transport of heavy metals in the environment. We observed selective adsorption for Cu2⁺ ions, which was both medium-dependent (more ions adsorbed in Elendt M7) and plastic-dependent, with PU showing a stronger affinity for Cu2⁺ in MilliQ and Egg water. On the contrary, both plastics showed similar adsorption capacity for Fe3⁺ ions across all media.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01061-5MicroplasticEnvironmental mediumCharacterizationColloidal behaviorAdsorption capacity |
| spellingShingle | Ilaria Zanoni Lucia Briccolani Lara Faccani Magda Blosi Simona Ortelli Matteo Crosera Giovanna Marussi Stefania Albonetti Anna Luisa Costa Characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on Cu2+ and Fe3+ in environmental matrices Environmental Sciences Europe Microplastic Environmental medium Characterization Colloidal behavior Adsorption capacity |
| title | Characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on Cu2+ and Fe3+ in environmental matrices |
| title_full | Characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on Cu2+ and Fe3+ in environmental matrices |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on Cu2+ and Fe3+ in environmental matrices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on Cu2+ and Fe3+ in environmental matrices |
| title_short | Characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on Cu2+ and Fe3+ in environmental matrices |
| title_sort | characterization of polyethylene and polyurethane microplastics and their adsorption behavior on cu2 and fe3 in environmental matrices |
| topic | Microplastic Environmental medium Characterization Colloidal behavior Adsorption capacity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01061-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ilariazanoni characterizationofpolyethyleneandpolyurethanemicroplasticsandtheiradsorptionbehavioroncu2andfe3inenvironmentalmatrices AT luciabriccolani characterizationofpolyethyleneandpolyurethanemicroplasticsandtheiradsorptionbehavioroncu2andfe3inenvironmentalmatrices AT larafaccani characterizationofpolyethyleneandpolyurethanemicroplasticsandtheiradsorptionbehavioroncu2andfe3inenvironmentalmatrices AT magdablosi characterizationofpolyethyleneandpolyurethanemicroplasticsandtheiradsorptionbehavioroncu2andfe3inenvironmentalmatrices AT simonaortelli characterizationofpolyethyleneandpolyurethanemicroplasticsandtheiradsorptionbehavioroncu2andfe3inenvironmentalmatrices AT matteocrosera characterizationofpolyethyleneandpolyurethanemicroplasticsandtheiradsorptionbehavioroncu2andfe3inenvironmentalmatrices AT giovannamarussi characterizationofpolyethyleneandpolyurethanemicroplasticsandtheiradsorptionbehavioroncu2andfe3inenvironmentalmatrices AT stefaniaalbonetti characterizationofpolyethyleneandpolyurethanemicroplasticsandtheiradsorptionbehavioroncu2andfe3inenvironmentalmatrices AT annaluisacosta characterizationofpolyethyleneandpolyurethanemicroplasticsandtheiradsorptionbehavioroncu2andfe3inenvironmentalmatrices |