title: Strong sorption of PCBs to nanoplastics, microplastics, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes.
abstract: The presence of microplastic and carbon-based nanoparticles in the environment may have implications for the fate and effects of traditional hydrophobic chemicals. Here we present parameters for the sorption of 17 CB congeners to 10-180 μm sized polyethylene (micro-PE), 70 nm polystyrene (nano-PS), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), fullerene (C60), and a natural sediment in the environmentally relevant 10(-5)-10(-1) μg L(-1) concentration range. Effects of salinity and sediment organic matter fouling were assessed by measuring the isotherms in fresh- and seawater, with and without sediment present. Sorption to the "bulk" sorbents sediment organic matter (OM) and micro-PE occurred through linear hydrophobic partitioning with OM and micro-PE having similar sorption affinity. Sorption to MWCNT and nano-PS was nonlinear. PCB sorption to MWCNT and C60 was 3-4 orders of magnitude stronger than to OM and micro-PE. Sorption to nano-PS was 1-2 orders of magnitude stronger than to micro-PE, which was attributed to the higher aromaticity and surface-volume ratio of nano-PS. Organic matter effects varied among sorbents, with the largest OM fouling effect observed for the high surface sorbents MWCNT and nano-PS. Salinity decreased sorption for sediment and MWCNT but increased sorption for the polymers nano-PS and micro-PE. The exceptionally strong sorption of (planar) PCBs to C60, MWCNT, and nano-PS may imply increased hazards upon membrane transfer of these particles.
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Group, Wageningen University , P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Velzeboer
authors.forename: C J A F
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kwadijk
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Koelmans
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D037741:Fullerenes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C069837:fullerene C60