2018_EJRNL_PP_FEI-FEI_LIU_1.pdf
Terbatas Lili Sawaludin Mulyadi
» ITB
Terbatas Lili Sawaludin Mulyadi
» ITB
Microplastics have become a major concern in recent years as they can be recognized as the transport
vectors for pollutants in environment. In this study, the sorption behavior of two phthalate esters (PAEs),
including diethyl phthalate (DEP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), onto three types of microplastics (PVC:
polyvinyl chloride, PE: polyethylene, and PS: polystyrene) was investigated. The sorption isotherms of
both DEP and DBP on microplastics were highly linear, suggesting that the partition was the main
sorption mechanism. The Kd values of DBP were much higher than those of DEP, demonstrating that
hydrophobic interaction governed the partition mechanism. Sorption of the two PAEs on the three
microplastics followed the order of PS > PE > PVC, indicating that chemical properties of microplastics
played an important roles in their sorption behaviors. Solution pH and natural organic matter had no
significant impact on PAEs sorption by microplastics. However, the presence of NaCl and CaCl2 enhanced
the sorption of both DEP and DBP because of the salting-out effect. The findings of the present study may
have significant implications for the fate and transport assessment of both PAEs and microplastics.