Chinese Journal of Lasers, Volume. 49, Issue 4, 0411002(2022)

Analysis of Aging Mechanism of Polystyrene Microspheres by Using Single Particle Raman Spectroscopy

Xiujuan Zhang1,2, Cuimei Li1,2, Lixin Peng2, Junxian Liu1、**, and Guiwen Wang2、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1College of Physics Science and Technology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China
  • 2Biophysical and Environmental Sciences Research Center, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi 530007, China
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    Conclusions

    To further understand the aging behavior of microplastics in nature influenced by environmental factors, we investigate the aging mechanism of micron-sized PS particles at a single-particle level by simulating UV radiation. The spectral characteristics of PS particles under particle size and aging time are characterized using the single-particle Raman spectroscopy, and the principal component analysis further reveals the changes in the chemical structures of PS particles under UV exposure. UV radiation is found to damage the structures of PS polymers and PS molecules, and the small particle size, which is more significantly damaged, is degraded to a higher extent. These results suggest that the microplastics with different sizes exhibit different behavioral processes when facing with the same environmental factors, and that small size microplastics are more likely to be decomposed into small particles or small fragments that are potentially more threatening after UV radiation. This study provides new insights into the aging dynamics of microplastics in the environment from the single particle level.

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    Xiujuan Zhang, Cuimei Li, Lixin Peng, Junxian Liu, Guiwen Wang. Analysis of Aging Mechanism of Polystyrene Microspheres by Using Single Particle Raman Spectroscopy[J]. Chinese Journal of Lasers, 2022, 49(4): 0411002

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    Paper Information

    Category: spectroscopy

    Received: May. 18, 2021

    Accepted: Jul. 28, 2021

    Published Online: Jan. 18, 2022

    The Author Email: Liu Junxian (jxliu@mailbox.gxnu.edu.cn), Wang Guiwen (wguiwen@gxas.cn)

    DOI:10.3788/CJL202249.0411002

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