The degradation potential of PET bottles in the marine environment: An ATR-FTIR based approach

Ioakeimidis, Christos; Fotopoulou, Kalliopi N.; Karapanagioti, Hrissi K.; Geraga, Maria; Zeri, Christina; Papathanassiou, E.; Galgani, François; Papatheodorou, George

doi:10.1038/srep23501

Cited by 258 publications

(116 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…It is more accurate than the buoyancy method often used (Hidalgo-Ruz et al, 2012). Ioakeimidis et al (2016) also used FTIR spectroscopy to determine the exposure time of plastic marine debris, though they looked at PET plastic bottles. They also observed plastic change its chemical bond structure with weathering, measuring bonds that had never been documented in PET before.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term aging and degradation of microplastic particles: Comparing in situ oceanic and experimental weathering patterns

Brandon

Goldstein

Ohman

2016

Marine Pollution Bulletin

457

218

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Polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, and high-density polyethylene pre-production plastic pellets were weathered for three years in three experimental treatments: dry/sunlight, seawater/sunlight, and seawater/darkness. Changes in chemical bond structures (hydroxyl, carbonyl groups and carbon-oxygen) with weathering were measured via Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. These indices from experimentally weathered particles were compared to microplastic particles collected from oceanic surface waters in the California Current, the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, and the transition region between the two, in order to estimate the exposure time of the oceanic plastics. Although chemical bonds exhibited some nonlinear changes with environmental exposure, they can potentially approximate the weathering time of some plastics, especially high-density polyethylene. The majority of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre polyethylene particles we measured have inferred exposure times>18months, with some >30months. Inferred particle weathering times are consistent with ocean circulation models suggesting a long residence time in the open ocean.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term aging and degradation of microplastic particles: Comparing in situ oceanic and experimental weathering patterns

Brandon

Goldstein

Ohman

2016

Marine Pollution Bulletin

457

218

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“…The energy of IR radiation excites a specific molecular vibration when interacting with a sample, which enables the measurement of characteristic IR spectra 22 . FTIR spectroscopy can also provide additional information on particles, such as intensity of oxidation 23 and level of degradation 24 . While ATR-FTIR is suitable for chemical identification of larger particles (>0.5 mm), micro ATR-FTIR spectroscopy can provide information on the chemical structure of particles <0.5 mm, as it combines the function of a microscope and an infrared spectrometer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Viršek

Palatinus

Koren

et al. 2016

JoVE

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Microplastic pollution in the marine environment is a scientific topic that has received increasing attention over the last decade. The majority of scientific publications address microplastic pollution of the sea surface. The protocol below describes the methodology for sampling, sample preparation, separation and chemical identification of microplastic particles. A manta net fixed on an »A frame« attached to the side of the vessel was used for sampling. Microplastic particles caught in the cod end of the net were separated from samples by visual identification and use of stereomicroscopes. Particles were analyzed for their size using an image analysis program and for their chemical structure using ATR-FTIR and micro FTIR spectroscopy. The described protocol is in line with recommendations for microplastics monitoring published by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Technical Subgroup on Marine Litter. This written protocol with video guide will support the work of researchers that deal with microplastics monitoring all over the world.

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“…(B) Processed images of SMB-2 strips following fragmentation with mild mechanical stress; also shown the number of fragments with their total area in pixels and the area decrease (%) from initial sample. FTIR has been frequently used to measure abiotic or biotic degradation of polymer pieces (Ioakeimidis et al, 2016) as well as to support mechanical properties test results and visual observations, for verifying changes in the chemical structure of the examined polymers. Higher peaks and slightly broader bands in the characteristic areas of the 2,923 and 1,471 cm −1 attest to the fact that the polymer has undergone oxidation and chemical alteration, dependent on the period of time the sample was exposed to UV radiation (Figures 8-10).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics Generation: Onset of Fragmentation of Polyethylene Films in Marine Environment Mesocosms

et al. 2017

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The fragmentation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) films from single-use supermarket plastic bags to microplastics under laboratory-simulated onshore and nearshore conditions was investigated for a period of 6 months. The weathering process of the plastic strips either on beach sand or in seawater under direct natural sunlight was monitored by tensile strength, molecular weight measurements, FTIR, weight loss, and image processing of photographs of the plastic strips before and after mild mechanical stress was applied. The latter represents a novel method proposed for determining the onset of fragmentation through the application of mild mechanical stress on the weathered plastic samples emulating the action of sand and wind on a beach. It was found that 12 h of application of mild mechanical stress in rotating glass bottles filled partially with sand was sufficient time to reach the maximum degree of fragmentation that could occur for the weathered plastics samples being tested. For example, applied mechanical stress yielded an area loss of almost 14% for samples weathered for a period of 5 months and about 16.7% after 5.5 months. While tensile strength tests and molecular weight measurements were rather inconclusive till the very last month when the onset of fragmentation was identified; FTIR measurements revealed that samples under ultraviolet irradiation were gradually modified chemically until fragmentation commenced. After 6 months of weathering, molecular weight measurements showed a 60% reduction for sample SMB-1 whereas for sample SMB-2 the measurement was not possible due to extensive fragmentation. The onset of fragmentation for SMB-1 and SMB-2 samples occurred at a cumulative luminance of 5.3 × 10 6 lux•d and in the presence of atmospheric oxygen whereby the polymer films broke down partially to microplastics. When the UV exposure reached 7.2 × 10 6 lux•d the weathered plastic strips broke down fully to microplastics with the application of a mild mechanical stress. Samples placed in seawater proved to be resistant to fragmentation compared to those on sand over the 6-month period of the weathering experiment. The direct implication of this work is that beached macroplastic debris should be regularly collected from the seashore before they are weathered by sunlight and returned to the sea as microplastics by the action of high waves or strong winds.

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The degradation potential of PET bottles in the marine environment: An ATR-FTIR based approach

Cited by 258 publications

References 41 publications

Long-term aging and degradation of microplastic particles: Comparing in situ oceanic and experimental weathering patterns

Long-term aging and degradation of microplastic particles: Comparing in situ oceanic and experimental weathering patterns

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Microplastics Generation: Onset of Fragmentation of Polyethylene Films in Marine Environment Mesocosms

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