| Comparison of surficial modification of micro-sized polyethylene in between by UV/O3 and UVO submerged system |
| Rabia Zafar1, Seon Yeong Park1, and Chang Gyun Kim1,2† |
1Program in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, INHA University, Korea
2Department of Environmental Engineering, INHA University, Korea |
Corresponding Author:
Chang Gyun Kim ,Tel: +82 328607561 , Fax: +82 328601425, Email: cgk@inha.ac.kr
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Received: January 13, 2021; Accepted: March 28, 2021. |
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| ABSTRACT |
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This study examined the effects of ozonation and UV applied in series (O3+UV) or simultaneously (UVO) under four different ozone dosages from 4 to 7 mg/min to understand the surface alterations on polyethylene microplastics in aquatic environments via the photochemical oxidation process. The plastic samples were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle measurements. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the levels of carbonyl (ketone and esters) and vinyl groups increased gradually with increasing ozone dose injected; the highest was observed at 6 mg/min of ozone. On the other hand, the levels at 7 mg/min of ozone were slightly lower than those at 4 to 6 mg/min. This could be related to the deeper penetration into the crystalline bulk polymeric chain. The contact angle changed from 125.90º to the lowest value of 120.04º and 123.8º for O3+UV and UVO, respectively. Furthermore, XPS showed that C-O was only presented in the 7 mg/min sample, whereas C-O, OH, C=O, and C-C=O remained for 4 to 6 mg/min. Overall, O3+UV can oxidize the surface of the polyethylene microplastic particles more effectively than those of UVO, irrespective of the ozone dosages. |
| Keywords:
Carbon-oxygen functionalities | Contact angle | FTIR | Microplastics | X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) |
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