Sorption behaviors of petroleum on micro-sized polyethylene aging for different time in seawater

Microplastics (MPs; <5 mm) and oil pollution have been receiving global attention. To date, the adsorption mechanism of petroleum by MPs is largely unknown. This study investigated the adsorption of petroleum on micro-sized polyethylene (mPE) undergoing aging (days 0, 15, 30, 90 and 180). The petroleum adsorption capacity of mPE was further assessed at varying pH (2, 5, 7.32, 10 and 12), temperature (4, 15, 25, 45 and 65 °C) and in presence of coexisting pollutants (Cu, bisphenol A (BPA) and petroleum). The results indicated that the adsorption capacity of mPE increased with the prolonged aging time and smaller-sized particles, while the adsorption capacity of the 550 and 165 μm mPE undergoing aging increased by 12.7%—50.9% and 22.1%—63.9%, respectively. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm model of mPE on petroleum were well fitted by pseudo-second order, intraparticle diffusion, Freundlich and Langmuir models, showing the sorption behavior was controlled by the diffusion of pores, liquid film diffusion, and surface adsorption. The petroleum adsorption capacity of mPE was predominant affected by surface roughness, specific surface area, hydrophobicity, oxidation functional groups, adsorption sites, hydrogen bonds, while zeta potential and crystallinity may not be the crucial factors. Likewise, temperature and pH may influence the characteristics of petroleum, and further result in a decreasing adsorption capacity of mPE to petroleum. The highest adsorption capacity of mPE to petroleum was reached at pH 7.32 and 25 °C. The coexisting Cu, BPA and petroleum competed for adsorption sites on the surface of mPE. These findings could fundamentally provide new insights for environmental risk assessment of MPs, particularly for the specific location like harbor which is commonly rich in MPs and petroleum simultaneously.