Photoaging of Baby Bottle-Derived Polyethersulfone and Polyphenylsulfone Microplastics and the Resulting Bisphenol S Release

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Abstract

This study evaluated the release of bisphenol S (BPS) from polyethersulfone (PES) and polyphenylsulfone microplastics (MPs) derived from baby bottles under UV irradiation. Released BPS fluctuates over time because it undergoes photolysis under UV254 irradiation. Under UV365 irradiation, the highest released concentration at 50 °C was 1.7 and 3.2 times that at 35 and 25 °C, respectively, as the activation energy of the photochemical reactions responsible for MP decay was reduced at high temperatures. Low concentrations of humic acid (HA, ≤10 mg·L-1) promote BPS release because HA acts as a photosensitizer. A high concentration of HA (10∼50 mg·L-1) decreases the BPS release because HA shields MPs from light and scavenges reactive radicals that are produced via photochemical reactions. For example, under UV irradiation, hydroxyl radicals (•OH) attack results in the breakage of ether bonds and the formation of phenyl radicals (Ph•) and phenoxy radicals (Ph-O•).The•OH addition and hydrogen extractions further produce BPS from the decayed MPs. A leaching kinetics model was developed and calibrated by the experimental data. The calibrated model predicts the equilibrium level of BPS release from MPs that varies with the surface coverage density of BPS and leaching rate constants. This study provides groundwork that deepens our understanding of environmental aging and the chemical release of MPs.

Identifier

85124893082 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Environmental Science and Technology

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c05812

e-ISSN

15205851

ISSN

0013936X

PubMed ID

35142490

First Page

3033

Last Page

3044

Issue

5

Volume

56

Grant

2017YFA0605001

Fund Ref

New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute

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