AUTHOR=Han Xiaoxin , Wang Shiyu , Yu Xue , Vogt Rolf D. , Feng Jianfeng , Zhai Lifang , Ma Weiqi , Zhu Lin , Lu Xueqiang 

TITLE=Kinetics and Size Effects on Adsorption of Cu(II), Cr(III), and Pb(II) Onto Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastic Particles

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2021.785146

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2021.785146

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=Due to its small size, large specific surface area and hydrophobicity, microplastics and the adsorbed contaminants may together cause potential negative effects on ecosystems and human beings. In this study, kinetics and size effects on adsorption of Cu (II), Cr (III) and Pb(II) onto PE, PP and PET microplastic particles were explored. Results indicated that the PE and PET microplastics have the higher adsorption capacity for Cu (II), Cr (III) and Pb(II) than that for PP. The adsorption capacity was affected by microplastic types and metal species. Moreover, the adsorption capacities of microplastics increase with the decrease of particle size. The metal adsorption capacity of <0.9mm microplastics is generally greater than that of 0.9-2mm and 2-5mm microplastics.