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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409891
Research Project: Development of Novel Cottonseed Products and Processes

Location: Commodity Utilization Research

Title: Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter and its biogeochemical behaviors in aquatic environments: A review

Author
item LIU, SHASHA - University Of Science And Technology Beijing
item QIU, YUE - University Of Science And Technology Beijing
item He, Zhongqi
item SHI, CHUNHONG - University Of Science And Technology Beijing
item XING, BAOSHAN - University Of Massachusetts, Amherst
item WU, FENGCHANG - Chinese Research Academy Of Environmental Sciences

Submitted to: Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/2/2024
Publication Date: 3/1/2024
Citation: Liu, S., Qiu, Y., He, Z., Shi, C., Xing, B., Wu, F. 2024. Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter and its biogeochemical behaviors in aquatic environments: A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology. 54(11): 865-882. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2024.2303294.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2024.2303294

Interpretive Summary: Micro-sized plastic particles (MPs) in the environment were received greater attention due to their significant environmental impacts caused by the bioaccumulation and biomagnification through the food chain. Characterization of dissolved organic substances leached from disposed MPs (plastic-derived dissolved organic matter, MP-DOM) is a significant part for obtaining better knowledge of the transformation and fate, as well as their environmental impacts of MPs in waters. In this review article, the information on chemical composition and molecular structure of MP-DOM were synthesized and discussed based on diverse qualitative and quantitative analytical methods. The current knowledge gaps and future perspectives were analyzed and elaborated. This work provides useful information for future studies on the environmental behaviors and effects of MP-DOM.

Technical Abstract: Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) exerts great effects on organic carbon pool and their environmental behaviors in natural waters due to increasing amount of uncontrolled plastic disposal. However, systematic understanding of chemical composition and environmental impacts of MP-DOM in aquatic systems were limited. In this work, the chemical and molecular structure of MP-DOM based on diverse characterization methods were examined and summarized to provide a basis for understanding their environmental processes. Additionally, the factors including plastic types, water environments, and external weathering conditions that could affect the quantity and quality of released MP-DOM were reviewed. Furthermore, transformation process of MP-DOM including their biological degradation, adsorption on mineral surfaces, and interaction with pollutants, as well as their environmental impacts were comprehensively summarized. Finally, we provided novel future directions for MP-DOM, aiming to contribute to a deeper understanding of the environmental mechanisms and control of plastic pollution through the analysis of MP-DOM.