Adsorption of benzalkonium chlorides on polyethylene microplastics: evaluation of mechanism and toxicity
Larry A. Watts
2 min read
This article was originally published here
J Hazard Mater. Dec 13, 2021; 426: 128076. doi: 10.1016 / j.jhazmat.2021.128076. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The use of disposable plastic products and disinfectants has exploded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Random disposal of plastic products can lead to more pollution by microplastics. Benzalkonium chloride is known to be one of the most common ingredients in disinfectants. In this study, the adsorption behavior of benzalkonium chlorides (BAC12, BAC14, BAC16) on polyethylene microplastics (PE-MP) and the combined toxic effects were investigated using a batch adsorption experiment and Daphnia magna. The results showed that PE-MP had a strong adsorption capacity for BAC and the adsorption capacity increased (11.03-22.77 mg g-1) with their octanol-water distribution coefficients. The effect of pH was negligible while dissolved organic matter inhibited adsorption. A slightly inverse relationship between PE-MP particle size and adsorption was observed. In addition, the aging of the MP with UV / H2oh2 increased adsorption of BAC12 but decreased that of the relatively hydrophobic BAC14 and BAC16. The survival rate of Daphnia magna increased up to 100% in the presence of PE-MP depending on their adsorption capacities, suggesting that PE-MPs do not act as a vector but rather as a sensor of BAC. This study provides important information necessary for the assessment of environmental risks with regard to the combined pollution of PM and toxic chemicals.
PMID: 34952503 | DOI: 10.1016 / j.jhazmat.2021.128076
