Comparison of surficial modification of micro-sized polyethylene in between by UV/O3 and UVO submerged system

Rabia Zafar, Seon Yeong Park, Chang Gyun Kim

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9 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined the effects of ozonation and UV applied in series (O3+UV) or simultaneously (UVO) under four different ozone dosages from 4 to 7 mg/min to understand the surface alterations on polyethylene microplastics in aquatic environments via the photochemical oxidation process. The plastic samples were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle measurements. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the levels of carbonyl (ketone and esters) and vinyl groups increased gradually with increasing ozone dose injected; the highest was observed at 6 mg/min of ozone. On the other hand, the levels at 7 mg/min of ozone were slightly lower than those at 4 to 6 mg/min. This could be related to the deeper penetration into the crystalline bulk polymeric chain. The contact angle changed from 125.90˚ to the lowest value of 120.04˚ and 123.8˚ for O3+UV and UVO, respectively. Furthermore, XPS showed that C-O was only presented in the 7 mg/min sample, whereas C-O, OH, C=O, and C-C=O remained for 4 to 6 mg/min. Overall, O3+UV can oxidize the surface of the polyethylene microplastic particles more effectively than those of UVO, irrespective of the ozone dosages.

Original languageEnglish
Article number210028
JournalEnvironmental Engineering Research
Volume27
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Korean Society of Environmental Engineers.

Keywords

  • Carbon-oxygen functionalities
  • Contact angle
  • FTIR
  • Microplastics
  • X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

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