Abstract：
In this work, we propose a new protocol for producing model microplastics from an industrial polymer and compare it to a conventional method, cryomilling. Polypropylene industrial pellets were chosen due to their widespread production and frequent presence in the environment, making them a notable source of microplastics. Both protocols start with aging under Ultra-Violet light of the pellets but differ in the subsequent mechanical stress applied-strong vs. soft-to break down the photodegraded pellets into microplastics. All generated particles were fully characterized in terms of size, shape, oxidation rate, and stability in aqueous media. Microplastics produced via cryomilling exhibited significant size and oxidation heterogeneity and tended to aggregate in water. Although the new protocol involving soft mechanical stress required a longer preparation time, it simulated more accurately the environmental degradation of raw plastic. This method successfully produced oxidized microplastics with a controlled size distribution centered around 50 µm which remained stable in water without stabilizers.
摘要：
在这项工作中,我们提出了一种从工业聚合物生产模型微塑料的新协议，并将其与传统方法进行比较，冷冻研磨。选择聚丙烯工业颗粒是由于其广泛的生产和频繁存在于环境中，使它们成为微塑料的重要来源。两种方案都从颗粒在紫外光下的老化开始，但在随后施加的机械应力方面有所不同-强与软-将光降解颗粒分解成微塑料。所有产生的颗粒都在尺寸方面得到了充分的表征，形状,氧化速率,在水介质中的稳定性。通过低温研磨生产的微塑料表现出明显的尺寸和氧化异质性，并倾向于在水中聚集。尽管涉及软机械应力的新方案需要更长的准备时间，它更准确地模拟了原塑料的环境降解。该方法成功地生产了具有受控尺寸分布的氧化微塑料，该尺寸分布在50μm左右，在没有稳定剂的情况下在水中保持稳定。
