Adsorption characteristics and mechanisms of water-soluble polymers (PVP and PEG) on kaolin and montmorillonite minerals

The excessive use and accumulation of water-soluble polymers (WSPs, known as “liquid plastics”) in the environment can pose potential risks to both ecosystems and human health, but the environmental fate of WSPs remains unclear. Here, the adsorption behavior of WSPs with different molecular weight on kaolinite (Kaol) and montmorillonite (Mt)...

Appearance of Recalcitrant Dissolved Black Carbon and Dissolved Organic Sulfur in River Waters Following Wildfire Events

Increasing wildfire frequency, a consequence of global climate change, releases incomplete combustion byproducts such as aquatic pyrogenic dissolved organic matter (DOM) and black carbon (DBC) into waters, posing a threat to water security. In August 2022, a series of severe wildfires occurred in Chongqing, China. Samples from seven locations...

Assessing the Mass Concentration of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The level of microplastics (MPs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) has been well evaluated by the particle number, while the mass concentration of MPs and especially nanoplastics (NPs) remains unclear. In this study, pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the mass concentrations of MPs and NPs with different...

Combined effects of photoaging and natural organic matter on the colloidal stability of nanoplastics in aquatic environments

The transport and fate of nanoplastics (NPs) in aquatic environments are closely associated with their colloidal stability, which is affected by aging and natural organic matter (NOM) adsorption. This study systematically investigated the combined effects of photoaging and NOM (e.g. humic acids, HA; and a model protein, bovine serum albumin, BSA...