Work

Surface functional group dependent enthalpic and entropic contributions to molecular adsorption on colloidal microplastics

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: are dependent on the interfacial chemical composition of MPs and are not constant with respect to temperature. Although of varying degrees, MPs studied show an increase in entropy upon adsorption of organic molecules. These findings hint at a plausible influence of hair-like structure, common in polymeric soft matter, on the adsorption mechanism. This systematic study thus underscores unique colloidal features of the plastic/aqueous interface that are critical in adsorption of organic molecules by microplastics.

Source: Soft Matter

DOI: 10.1039/d5sm00488h

Authors: Ikechukwu Kanu, Amrit Ojha, Kalie Adams, Jacob Brooks, Mahamud Subir

Institution: Ball State University

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Science Foundation

Award: RUI: CAS-MNP: Molecular Behavior at Colloidal/Aqueous Interfaces of Heterogeneous Nano- and Micro-Plastics - Binding Interactions and Effect of Aging