http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es405721v
I. Velzeboer, C. J. A. F. Kwadijk, and A. A. Koelmans
Strong Sorption of PCBs to Nanoplastics, Microplastics, Carbon
Nanotubes, and Fullerenes
Environ. Sci. Technol., 2014, 48 (9), pp 4869?4876
DOI: 10.1021/es405721v
Abstract
The presence of microplastic and carbon-based nanoparticles in the
environment may have implications for the fate and effects of
traditional hydrophobic chemicals. Here we present parameters for the
sorption of 17 CB congeners to 10?180 ?m sized polyethylene (micro-PE),
70 nm polystyrene (nano-PS), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT),
fullerene (C60), and a natural sediment in the environmentally relevant
10?5?10?1 ?g L?1 concentration range. Effects of salinity and sediment
organic matter fouling were assessed by measuring the isotherms in
fresh- and seawater, with and without sediment present. Sorption to the
?bulk? sorbents sediment organic matter (OM) and micro-PE occurred
through linear hydrophobic partitioning with OM and micro-PE having
similar sorption affinity. Sorption to MWCNT and nano-PS was nonlinear.
PCB sorption to MWCNT and C60 was 3?4 orders of magnitude stronger than
to OM and micro-PE. Sorption to nano-PS was 1?2 orders of magnitude
stronger than to micro-PE, which was attributed to the higher
aromaticity and surface?volume ratio of nano-PS. Organic matter effects
varied among sorbents, with the largest OM fouling effect observed for
the high surface sorbents MWCNT and nano-PS. Salinity decreased sorption
for sediment and MWCNT but increased sorption for the polymers nano-PS
and micro-PE. The exceptionally strong sorption of (planar) PCBs to C60,
MWCNT, and nano-PS may imply increased hazards upon membrane transfer of
these particles.