Morphology and chemical properties of polypropylene pellets degraded in simulated terrestrial and marine environments

Chih-Cheng Tang; Huey-Ing Chen; Peter Brimblecombe; Chon-Lin Lee

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110626

Author(s)

Chih-Cheng Tang
Huey-Ing Chen
Peter Brimblecombe
Chon-Lin Lee

Related Research Unit(s)

School of Energy and Environment

Detail(s)

Original language	English
Article number	110626
Journal / Publication	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	149
Online published	16 Oct 2019
Publication status	Published - Dec 2019

Link(s)

DOI	DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110626 Final Published version
	Check@CityULib
Document Link	Links https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/am/pii/S0025326X1930774X Post-print
Link to Scopus	https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85073245772&origin=recordpage
Permanent Link	https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/publications/publication(8cccdd42-32c3-4530-bdf6-1ef94e4b5795).html

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP) pellets exposed to solar radiation, ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and heat in four stimulated treatments: dry-air, seawater-air, seawater-darkness, and dry-darkness for 0.5–1.5 years to investigate morphology and chemical change under various environmental conditions. Scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy were employed to characterize the virgin and degraded pellets. The degraded PP pellets under solar and UVB irradiation revealed 35% and 12% cracks, respectively. Moreover, carbonyl and hydroxyl groups formed on the surface gradually extended to the interior. However, under photo-irradiation, PP pellets floating in seawater showed less degradation than those in a dry environment. The formation of biofilm may retard the photo-degradation of PP pellets in the seawater when biocides are absent. Results also indicated that the photo oxidation dominated over thermal oxidation during the degradation process in the terrestrial and marine environments.

Research Area(s)

Environmental degradation, Marine debris, Photo degradation, Surface cracking, Thermal degradation

SDG 14 - Life Below Water

Citation Format(s)

[ RIS ] [ BibTeX ]

Morphology and chemical properties of polypropylene pellets degraded in simulated terrestrial and marine environments. / Tang, Chih-Cheng; Chen, Huey-Ing; Brimblecombe, Peter et al.
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol. 149, 110626, 12.2019.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Tang, C-C, Chen, H-I, Brimblecombe, P & Lee, C-L 2019, 'Morphology and chemical properties of polypropylene pellets degraded in simulated terrestrial and marine environments', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 149, 110626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110626

Tang, C.-C., Chen, H.-I., Brimblecombe, P., & Lee, C.-L. (2019). Morphology and chemical properties of polypropylene pellets degraded in simulated terrestrial and marine environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 149, Article 110626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110626

Tang CC, Chen HI, Brimblecombe P, Lee CL. Morphology and chemical properties of polypropylene pellets degraded in simulated terrestrial and marine environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2019 Dec;149:110626. Epub 2019 Oct 16. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110626

Tang, Chih-Cheng ; Chen, Huey-Ing ; Brimblecombe, Peter et al. / Morphology and chemical properties of polypropylene pellets degraded in simulated terrestrial and marine environments. In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 2019 ; Vol. 149.