Comparison of sulfide-induced transformation of biodegradable and conventional microplastics: Mechanism and environmental fate

Abstract

Biodegradable plastics have been massively produced and used as potential substitutes for conventional plastics, resulting in their inevitable entry into the environment and generation of biodegradable microplastics (MPs). The sulfidation transformation of MPs is an important process for their transformation in anoxic environments (e.g., sediments, anaerobic activated sludges) that can alter their environmental effects and risks. However, how sulfides induce the transformation of biodegradable MPs and whether they are similar to conventional MPs remains unknown. In the present study, we compared the transformation and mechanism of conventional polyethylene (PE) MPs and biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) MPs during sulfidation. The results demonstrated that sulfidation resulted in oxidation of PE MPs, whereas PBAT MPs underwent reduction and had higher physical damage, as evidenced by fragmentation, chain scission and organic compound release. Besides, reactive oxygen species and sulfide species played important roles in the sulfidation of PE and PBAT MPs, respectively. The presence of ester groups in PBAT MPs led to their hydrolysis, causing chain scission and further reduction. Furthermore, sulfidation caused a higher degree of adsorption and toxicity alterations in PBAT MPs than in PE MPs. This work uncovers critical abiotic transformation behaviors of biodegradable microplastics and highlights the necessity of considering microplastic structural features to accurately predict microplastic occurrence.