Abstract
Microplastics and chlorinated phenols (CPs) are pollutants found ubiquitously in freshwater systems. Meanwhile, bioplastics are attracting much attention as alternatives to conventional plastics, but there is little data about their effect on the behaviour of pollutants. This work therefore investigates the sorption of four CPs (4-chlorophenol—4-CP, 2,4-dichlorophenol—2,4-DCP, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol—2,4,6-TCP and pentachlorophenol—PCP) on three different plastics (polyethylene (PЕg), polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA)) using kinetics and isotherm studies. All experiments were carried out in a synthetic water matrix and in spiked Danube river water. In all cases, adsorption kinetics fitted well with the pseudo-second order rate model. Adsorption proceeded through two linear phases, corresponding to transport from the bulk solution to the external surfaces and then into the interior pores of the sorbents. Maximum adsorption capacities calculated with the Langmuir isotherm indicated that whereas adsorption of 4-CP was not significantly affected by the type of plastic present, the adsorption of 2,4-DCP, 2,4,6-TCP and PCP varied greatly, with polypropylene showing the greatest affinity for CPs adsorption. The differences observed between the adsorption behaviour of CPs in the synthetic and natural water matrices suggest further investigation is required into how the different fractions of natural organic matter impact interactions between CPs and plastics.
Highlights
IntroductionIt is well established that water environments have been contaminated by various pollutants, including chlorinated phenols and plastics [1,2,3,4]
It is well established that water environments have been contaminated by various pollutants, including chlorinated phenols and plastics [1,2,3,4].Chlorophenols are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment originating from various anthropogenic activities such are chemical, textile and pharmaceutical activities [1,5]
PP adsorbs the highest amount of 2,4-DCP, 2,4,6-TCP and PCP, while 4-chlorinated phenols (CPs) is best adsorbed on polylactic acid (PLA) (85–101 μg/g)
Summary
It is well established that water environments have been contaminated by various pollutants, including chlorinated phenols and plastics [1,2,3,4]. Chlorophenols are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment originating from various anthropogenic activities such are chemical, textile and pharmaceutical activities [1,5]. Chlorophenols include widely applied pesticides and their degradation products. Pentachlorophenol is a herbicide and insecticide used in various industries [5] and 2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol are transformation products of the pesticide Triclosan [2]. Chlorophenols can be present in drinking water due to the reaction between organic matter left in treated water and chlorine during the process of disinfection [2,5].
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