Microplastics influence the adsorption and desorption characteristics of Cd in an agricultural soil.

Microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial ecosystems particularly agroecosystem are attracting increasing attention worldwide. However, the influences of MPs on adsorption and desorption of contaminants in agricultural soils remain unknown. Here, batch experiments were conducted to study the effects of polyethylene MPs on Cd adsorption and desorption in a farmland soil under varying conditions. Both Cd adsorption and desorption in soils with or without MPs reached equilibrium within 120 min. Cd adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order model, and the adsorption isotherm fitted to the Langmuir model more precisely than the Freundlich model. Overall, addition of MPs decreased Cd adsorption but increased desorption, and the effects varied with MPs dose and particle size, and solution pH. MPs-induced decrease in Cd adsorption and increase in Cd desorption were more pronounced at higher MPs dose and larger particle size, but varied differently from solution pH. EDS analysis confirmed Cd adsorption on MPs surface. Both MPs before and after Cd adsorption showed similar XRD patterns, indicating MPs maintained a high crystallinity and no new crystalline phases formed. In conclusion, the input of MPs into soil might enhance the mobility of Cd via mitigating soil adsorbing capacity, thereby posing additional risks of Cd to agroecosystem.

Adsorption characteristics of cadmium onto microplastics from aqueous solutions.

As one of emerging contaminants, microplastics (MPs) can enter the environment and adsorb toxic metals such as cadmium (Cd), thereby causing potential environmental risks. However, adsorption characteristics of MPs are poorly understood. Herein, batch experiments were performed to investigate the adsorption characteristics of Cd onto high-density polyethylene (HDPE) MPs with different particle sizes, that is, 1-2 mm, 0.6-1 mm, and 100-154 µm. The adsorption of Cd was quite rapid initially, and the equilibrium time was approximately 90 min. An increase in the pH of the Cd solution led to an increase in Cd adsorption. MPs with particle size of 100-154 µm had the highest adsorption capacity. Addition of 1, 10, and 100 mg/L NaCl all significantly decreased Cd adsorption. Adsorption kinetics fitted the pseudo-second-order model. Adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir model and, to a lesser extent, the Freundlich model, with estimated maximum adsorption capacity of 30.5 µg/g. The adsorbed Cd easily desorbed from the MPs. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis confirmed Cd adsorption to and desorption from MPs. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis showed no new functional groups formed during the adsorption and desorption processes, suggesting physical interaction may dominate the Cd adsorption onto MPs. The present study findings provide evidence that MPs can accumulate Cd, and the adsorbed Cd may be highly available, thus posing risks to the organisms exposed to these MPs.