Quantification of photooxidative defects in weathered microplastics using ¹³C multiCP NMR spectroscopy.

ABSTRACT: Weathering of microplastics made of commodity plastics like polystyrene, polypropylene and polyethylene introduces polar polymer defects as a result of photooxidation and mechanical stress. Thus, hydrophobic microplastic particles gradually become hydrophilic, consisting of polar oligomers with a significant amount of oxygen-bearing functional groups. This turnover continuously changes interactions between microplastics and natural colloidal matter. To be able to develop a better understanding of this complex weathering process, quantification of the corresponding defect proportions is a first and essential step. Using polystyrene, ¹³C enriched at the α position to 23%, we demonstrate that ¹³C cross polarisation (CP) NMR spectroscopy allows for probing the typical alc

SUBMITTER: Mauel A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8988274 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature