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Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Jul 2016Microplastic has become an emerging contaminant of global concern. Bulk plastic can degrade to form smaller particles down to the nanoscale (<100 nm), which are...
Microplastic has become an emerging contaminant of global concern. Bulk plastic can degrade to form smaller particles down to the nanoscale (<100 nm), which are referred to as nanoplastics. Because of their high surface area, nanoplastic may bind hydrophobic chemicals very effectively, increasing their hazard when such nanoplastics are taken up by biota. The present study reports distribution coefficients for sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to 70 nm polystyrene in freshwater, and PAH adsorption isotherms spanning environmentally realistic aqueous concentrations of 10(-5) μg/L to 1 μg/L. Nanopolystyrene aggregate state was assessed using dynamic light scattering. The adsorption isotherms were nonlinear, and the distribution coefficients at the lower ends of the isotherms were very high, with values up to 10(9) L/kg. The high and nonlinear sorption was explained from π-π interactions between the planar PAHs and the surface of the aromatic polymer polystyrene and was higher than for micrometer-sized polystyrene. Reduction of nanopolystyrene aggregate sizes had no significant effect on sorption, which suggests that the PAHs could reach the sorption sites on the pristine nanoparticles regardless of the aggregation state. Pre-extraction of the nanopolystyrene with C18 polydimethylsiloxane decreased sorption of PAHs, which could be explained by removal of the most hydrophobic fraction of the nanopolystyrene. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1650-1655. © 2015 SETAC.
Topics: Adsorption; Fresh Water; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Nanoparticles; Particle Size; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Polystyrenes; Surface Properties; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 26588181
DOI: 10.1002/etc.3311 -
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Nov 2011A series of water-insoluble, biologically compatible dyes, meso-tetraphenylchlorin, meso-tetraphenylporphyrin and chlorophyll-a, were successfully incorporated into...
A series of water-insoluble, biologically compatible dyes, meso-tetraphenylchlorin, meso-tetraphenylporphyrin and chlorophyll-a, were successfully incorporated into beads composed of linear polystyrene (PS) via a tunable combined swelling-diffusion process. Dyed PS beads were prepared by the addition of a dye solution in tetrahydrofuran to an aqueous suspension of 10 μm PS beads in the presence of a poly((ethylene glycol)-b-(propylene glycol)-b-(ethylene glycol)) block copolymer surfactant. The presence of surfactant was found to be beneficial to prevent particle aggregation, especially at tetrahydrofuran contents above 30%. Dye loading was shown to be tunable by simple adjustments in dye composition. Confocal fluorescence microscopy indicated that dyes were distributed uniformly throughout the entire PS bead, but heterogeneously with ~500 nm diameter droplets, indicative of a separate dye phase within the PS matrix. The stability of dyed beads, indicated by resistance to dye leaching in solvent, was found to be governed by the degree of swelling of PS in the solvent medium. Hence, no leaching was observed even when a good solvent for the dye was used (ethanol), as long as that solvent did not swell the carrier particle, PS. No leaching of dyes from the beads was observed during long-term (2 years) storage in water.
Topics: Diffusion; Microspheres; Molecular Structure; Particle Size; Polystyrenes; Stereoisomerism; Surface Properties; Surface-Active Agents
PubMed: 21839463
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2011.07.047 -
The Science of the Total Environment Oct 2023Concerns about the environmental effects of nanoplastics on marine ecosystems are increasing. Ocean acidification (OA) has also become a global environmental problem....
Concerns about the environmental effects of nanoplastics on marine ecosystems are increasing. Ocean acidification (OA) has also become a global environmental problem. Plastic pollution occurs concomitantly with anthropogenic climate stressors such as OA. However, the combined effects of NP and OA on marine phytoplankton are still not well understood. Therefore, we have investigated the behavior of ammonia (NH) polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NP) in f/2 medium under 1000 μatm pCO and discussed the toxicity of PS NP (100 nm; 0.5 and 1.5 mg/L) on Nannochloropsis oceanica under long and short-term acidification (LA and SA; pCO ~ 1000 μatm). We observed PS NP suspended in pCO 1000 μatm f/2 medium aggregated to a size greater than nanoscale (1339.00 ± 76.10 nm). In addition, we found that PS NP significantly inhibited the growth of N. oceanica at two concentrations, which also produced oxidative stress. Whereas, the growth of algal cells under the coupling of acidification and PS NP was significantly better than that of single PS NP exposure. This indicated that acidification significantly alleviated the toxic effects of PS NP on N. oceanica, and long-term acidification can even promote the growth of N. oceanica under low-density NP. To further understand the mechanism, we analyzed a comparative transcriptome. The results showed that PS NP exposure inhibited the expression of genes involved in the TCA cycle. The acidification was possibly reflected in ribosomes and corresponding processes, which alleviated the negative effects of PS NP on N. oceanica by promoting the synthesis of related enzymes and proteins. This study provided a theoretical basis for assessing the damage of NP to marine phytoplankton under OA. We propose that future studies evaluating the toxicology of NP to marine ecology should consider the changing ocean climate.
Topics: Seawater; Microalgae; Polystyrenes; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ecosystem; Phytoplankton; Nanoparticles; Carbon Dioxide
PubMed: 37364831
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164985 -
Chemosphere Apr 2017Conventional synthetic polymers typically are highly resistant to microbial degradation, which is beneficial for their intended purpose but highly detrimental when such...
Conventional synthetic polymers typically are highly resistant to microbial degradation, which is beneficial for their intended purpose but highly detrimental when such polymers get lost into the environment. Polystyrene is one of the most widespread of such polymers, but knowledge about its biological degradability is scarce. In this study, we investigated the ability of the polymer-degrading brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum to attack polystyrene via Fenton chemistry driven by the redox-cycling of quinones. Indications of superficial oxidation were observed, but the overall effects on the polymer were weak. To assess factors constraining biodegradation of polystyrene, the small water-soluble model compounds ethylbenzene and isopropylbenzene (cumene) were also subjected to biodegradation by G. trabeum. Likewise, ethylbenzene sulfonate, cumene sulfonate and the dimer 1,3-diphenylbutane sulfonate were used as model compounds for comparison with polystyrene sulfonate, which G. trabeum can substantially depolymerise. All model compounds but cumene were degraded by G. trabeum and yielded a large variety of oxidised metabolites, suggesting that both the very poor bioavailability of polystyrene and its inert basic structure play important roles constraining biodegradability via biologically driven Fenton chemistry.
Topics: Basidiomycota; Biodegradation, Environmental; Hydrogen Peroxide; Iron; Oxidation-Reduction; Polymerization; Polystyrenes
PubMed: 28131922
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.01.089 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Feb 2014A new type of dual-biomimetic hierarchically rough polystyrene (PS) superhydrophobic micro/nano-fibrous membrane was fabricated via a one-step electrospinning technique...
A new type of dual-biomimetic hierarchically rough polystyrene (PS) superhydrophobic micro/nano-fibrous membrane was fabricated via a one-step electrospinning technique at various polymer concentrations from 15 to 30 wt %. The obtained micro/nano-fibers exhibited a nanopapillose, nanoporous, and microgrooved surface morphology that originated from mimicking the micro/nanoscale hierarchical structures of lotus leaf and silver ragwort leaf, respectively. Superhydrophobicity and high porosity of such resultant electrospun nanofibrous membranes make them attractive candidates for membrane distillation (MD) application with low energy water recovery. In this study, two kinds of optimized PS nanofibrous membranes with different thicknesses were applied for desalination via direct contact MD. The membranes maintained a high and stable permeate water vapor flux (104.8 ± 4.9 kg/m(2)·h, 20 g/L NaCl salt feed for a thinner PS nanofibrous membrane with thickness of 60 μm; 51 ± 4.5 kg/m(2)·h, 35 g/L NaCl salt feed for the thicker sample with thickness of 120 μm; ΔT = 50 °C) for a test period of 10 h without remarkable membrane pores wetting detected. These results were better than those of typical commercial polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) MD membranes or related PVDF nanofibrous membranes reported in literature, suggesting excellent competency of PS nanofibrous membranes for MD applications.
Topics: Biomimetics; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanofibers; Polystyrenes; Surface Properties
PubMed: 24467347
DOI: 10.1021/am4048128 -
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces... Feb 2012This study presents the synthesis of microporous polystyrene particles and the potential use of these materials in CO(2) capture for biogas purification. Highly...
This study presents the synthesis of microporous polystyrene particles and the potential use of these materials in CO(2) capture for biogas purification. Highly cross-linked polystyrene particles are synthesized by the emulsion copolymerization of styrene (St) and divinylbenzene (DVB) in water. The cross-link density of the polymer is varied by altering the St/DVB molar ratio. The size and the morphology of the particles are characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Following supercritical point drying with carbon dioxide or lyophilization from benzene, the polystyrene nanoparticles exhibit a significant surface area and permanent microporosity. The dried particles comprising 35 mol % St and 65 mol % DVB possess the largest surface area, ∼205 m(2)/g measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and ∼185 m(2)/g measured by the Dubinin-Radushkevich method, and a total pore volume of 1.10 cm(3)/g. Low pressure measurements suggest that the microporous polystyrene particles exhibit a good separation performance of CO(2) over CH(4), with separation factors in the range of ∼7-13 (268 K, CO(2)/CH(4) = 5/95 gas mixture), which renders them attractive candidates for use in gas separation processes.
Topics: Carbon Dioxide; Molecular Structure; Particle Size; Polystyrenes; Porosity; Surface Properties
PubMed: 22214360
DOI: 10.1021/la204991n -
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces... Aug 2008A new approach to the surface functionalization of magnetic polystyrene microbeads with chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride was reported....
A new approach to the surface functionalization of magnetic polystyrene microbeads with chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of aluminum chloride was reported. Composite microbeads consisting of polymer-coated iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by spraying suspension polymerization. Functional chloride groups were introduced onto the surface of magnetic polystyrene microbeads by surface chemical reaction without destroying the magnetite nanoparticles within the microbeads. First, a complex was synthesized by a reaction between aluminum chloride and chloroacetyl chloride. Then, the complex was added dropwise to the solution of magnetic polystyrene microbeads, and a surface acylation reaction between complex and polystyrene microbeads was carried out. Subsequently, the amino groups were coupled to the magnetic microbeads via an ammonolysis reaction between ethylenediamine and chloride groups on the acylated magnetic polystyrene microbeads. The chemical composition, surface functional groups, and magnetism of the magnetic polystyrene microbeads before and after surface functionalization were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results showed that the surface functionalization reaction had little impact on the magnetism of the microbeads. The content of surface amino groups on the magnetic polystyrene microbeads was found to be 0.2 mmol/g. An affinity dye, Cibacron Blue F3G-A (CB), was then immobilized to prepare a magnetic affinity adsorbent. It was confirmed from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra that the CB molecules were covalently coupled on the magnetic microbeads.
Topics: Magnetics; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microspheres; Molecular Structure; Polystyrenes; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Spectrum Analysis; Surface Properties
PubMed: 18624417
DOI: 10.1021/la7040604 -
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry Apr 2015A polystyrene (PS)-supported 9-amino(9-deoxy)epi quinine derivative catalyzes Michael reactions affording excellent levels of conversion and enantioselectivity using...
A polystyrene (PS)-supported 9-amino(9-deoxy)epi quinine derivative catalyzes Michael reactions affording excellent levels of conversion and enantioselectivity using different nucleophiles and structurally diverse enones. The highly recyclable, immobilized catalyst has been used to implement a single-pass, continuous flow process (residence time: 40 min) that can be operated for 21 hours without significant decrease in conversion and with improved enantioselectivity with respect to batch operation. The flow process has also been used for the sequential preparation of a small library of enantioenriched Michael adducts.
Topics: Cinchona; Polystyrenes; Quinolizines
PubMed: 25723553
DOI: 10.1039/c5ob00325c -
Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry Jul 2012Polystyrene-supported TBD (PS-TBD) catalyzes the ring-opening of N-tosylaziridines with silylated nucleophiles to give the corresponding products in high yields. PS-TBD...
Polystyrene-supported TBD (PS-TBD) catalyzes the ring-opening of N-tosylaziridines with silylated nucleophiles to give the corresponding products in high yields. PS-TBD was easily recovered and reused without significant loss of catalytic activity.
Topics: Azabicyclo Compounds; Aziridines; Catalysis; Molecular Structure; Polystyrenes; Silicon Compounds
PubMed: 22614120
DOI: 10.1039/c2ob25435b -
Journal of Chromatography. A May 2019The successful off-line coupling of asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation (AF4) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) for separation of nanoparticles (NPs) with...
Separation of polystyrene nanoparticles with different coatings using two-dimensional off-line coupling of asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation and capillary electrophoresis.
The successful off-line coupling of asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation (AF4) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) for separation of nanoparticles (NPs) with different surface coatings was shown. We could successfully demonstrate that, in a certain NP size range, hyphenation of both techniques significantly improved the separation of differently coated NPs. Three mixtures of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) with comparable core sizes but different coatings (no coating/carboxyl-coated) were studied. Separation in either method resulted in non-baseline resolved or non-separated peaks. In contrast, two-dimensional off-line coupling of AF4 and CE resulted in clearly separated regions in their 2 D plots in case of 20 and 50 nm particle mixtures, whereas the 100 nm NP mixture could not be separated at all. Various factors affecting the separation like hydrodynamic diameter or SDS concentration were discussed.
Topics: Electrophoresis, Capillary; Fractionation, Field Flow; Nanoparticles; Particle Size; Polystyrenes
PubMed: 30704773
DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2019.01.056