Raman spectroscopy is commonly used in microplastics identification, but equipment variations yield inconsistent data structures that disrupt the development of communal analytical tools. We report a strategy to overcome the issue using a database of high-resolution, full-window Raman spectra. This approach enables customizable analytical tools to be easily createda feature we demonstrate by creating machine-learning classification models using open-source random-forest, K-nearest neighbors, and multi-layer perceptron algorithms. These models yield >95% classification accuracy when trained on spectroscopic data with spectroscopic data downgraded to 1, 2, 4, or 8 cm–1 spacings in Raman shift. The accuracy can be maintained even in non-ideal conditions, such as with spectroscopic sampling rates of 1 kHz and when microplastic particles are outside the focal plane of the laser. This approach enables the creation of classification models that are robust and adaptable to varied spectrometer setups and experimental needs.
Wettability of microplastics may change due to chemical or physical transformations at their surface. In this work, we studied the adsorption of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) with a gold nanoparticle core and linear DNA of the same sequence to probe the wettability of microplastics. Soaking microplastics in water at room temperature for 3 months resulted in the enhancement of SNA adsorption capacity and affinity, whereas linear DNA adsorption was the same on the fresh and soaked microplastics. Drying of the soaked microplastics followed by rehydration decreased the adsorption of the SNA, suggesting that the effect of soaking was reversible and related to physical changes instead of chemical changes of the microplastics. Raman spectroscopy data also revealed no chemical transformations of the soaked microplastics. Heating of microplastics over a short period induced a similar effect to long-term soaking. We propose that soaking or heating removes air entrapped in the nanosized pores at the water–plastic interface, increasing the contact surface area of the SNA to afford stronger adsorption. However, such wetted porosity would not change the adsorption of linear DNA because of its much smaller size.
Abstract. Lab-based experimental and computational methods were used to study the atmospheric degradation of two promising “green” solvents: pinacolone, (CH3)3CC(O)CH3, and methyl pivalate, (CH3)3CC(O)OCH3. Pulsed laser photolysis coupled to pulsed laser-induced fluorescence was used to determine absolute rate coefficients (in 10−12 cm3 molec.−1 s−1) of k1(297 K) = (1.2 ± 0.2) for OH + (CH3)3CC(O)CH3 (Reaction R1) and k2(297 K) = (1.3 ± 0.2) for OH + (CH3)3CC(O)OCH3 (Reaction R2), in good agreement with one previous experimental study. Rate coefficients for both reactions were found to increase at elevated temperature, with k1(T) adequately described by k1(297–485 K) = 2.1 × 10−12 exp(-200/T) cm3 molec.−1 s−1. k2(T) exhibited more complex behaviour, with a local minimum at around 300 K. In the course of this work, k3(295–450 K) was obtained for the well-characterised reaction OH + C2H5OH (ethanol; Reaction R3), in satisfactory agreement with the evaluated literature. UV–Vis spectroscopy experiments and computational calculations were used to explore cross-sections for (CH3)3CC(O)CH3 photolysis (Reaction R4), while (CH3)3CC(O)OCH3 showed no sign of absorption over the wavelengths of interest. Absorption cross-sections for (CH3)3CC(O)CH3, σ4(λ), in the actinic region were larger, and the maximum was red-shifted compared to estimates (methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) values) used in current state-of-science models. As a consequence, we note that photolysis (Reaction R4) is likely the dominant pathway for removal of (CH3)3CC(O)CH3 from the troposphere. Nonetheless, large uncertainties remain as quantum yields φ4(λ) remain unmeasured. Lifetime estimates based upon Reactions (R1) and (R4) span the range 2–9 d and are consequently associated with a poorly constrained estimated photochemical ozone creation potential (POCPE). In accord with previous studies, (CH3)3CC(O)OCH3 did not absorb in the actinic region, allowing for straightforward calculation of an atmospheric lifetime of ≈ 9 d and a small POCPE ≈ 11.
Abstract. Lab-based experimental and computational methods were used to study the atmospheric degradation of two promising “green” solvents: pinacolone, (CH3)3CC(O)CH3 and methyl pivalate, (CH3)3CC(O)OCH3. Pulsed laser photolysis coupled to pulsed laser induced fluorescence was used to determine absolute rate coefficients (in 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1) of k1(297 K) = (1.2 ± 0.2) for OH + (CH3)3CC(O)CH3 (R1) and k2(297 K) = (1.3 ± 0.3) for OH + (CH3)3CC(O)OCH3 (R2), in good agreement with one previous experimental study. Rate coefficients for both reactions were found to increase at elevated temperature, with k1(T) adequately described by k1(297 – 485 K) = 2.1 × 10−12 exp(−200/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1. k2(T) exhibited more complex behaviour, with a local minimum at around 300 K. In the course of this work, k3(295 – 450 K) for the well-characterised reaction OH + C2H5OH (ethanol, R3) were obtained, in satisfactory agreement with the evaluated literature. UV-vis. spectroscopy experiments and computational calculations were used to explore (CH3)3CC(O)CH3 photolysis (R4). Absorption cross sections for (CH3)3CC(O)CH3, σ4(λ) in the actinic region were larger and the maximum was red-shifted compared to estimates used in current state-of-science models. As a consequence, we note that photolysis (R4) is likely the dominant pathway for removal of (CH3)3CC(O)CH3 from the troposphere. Nonetheless, large uncertainties remain as quantum yields ϕ4(λ) remain unmeasured. Lifetime estimates based upon (R1) and (R4) span the range 2–9 days and are consequently associated with a poorly constrained Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential estimate (POCPE). In accord with previous studies, (CH3)3CC(O)CH3 did not absorb in the actinic region, allowing for straightforward calculation of an atmospheric lifetime of ≈ 9 days and a small POCPE ≈ 11.
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