Molecular Mechanisms Governing the Adsorption, Deposition, and Removal of Environmentally Aged Microplastics by Engineered Surfaces.

Microplastic (MP) pollution poses escalating environmental and health risks, yet the molecular mechanisms governing the interactions between environmentally aged microplastics (MPs) and engineered surfaces remain largely unresolved, hindering the rational design of remediation materials. Herein, we quantitatively elucidate the interaction forces between aged polystyrene MPs (PSMPs) and self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-functionalized surfaces at the solid/water interface using colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (AFM), complemented by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) analysis. The results reveal that adhesion forces are strongly influenced by aqueous salinity and pH, with π-π stacking and electrostatic/cation-π interactions likely contributing predominantly on phenyl- and amino-terminated surfaces, respectively. A robust correlation between nanoscale adhesion forces and macroscopic adsorption capabilities is established, enabling predictive understanding of aged MP-surface interactions. Guided by these mechanistic insights, a tannic acid-modified chitosan biomaterial integrating amino and phenyl functionalities is developed, achieving over 92.1% removal efficiency for aged PSMPs across diverse water chemistries at an environmentally relevant initial MP concentration of 1 mg L-1. This work provides an intermolecular force-driven design paradigm that bridges nanoscale intermolecular interaction mechanisms with macroscopic material performance, offering theoretical and practical guidance for next-generation remediation strategies targeting environmentally aged MPs.

• Publication year

  2026

• Venue

  Environmental Science and Technology

• Publication date

  2026-02-24

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Materials Science, Chemistry, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1021/acs.est.5c16655PMID 41732969
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Bacterial cellulose/tannic acid molecularly imprinted aerogel microspheres via metal coordination and covalent sequential crosslinking for selective adsorption of Cordycepin

  2026cited by this paper
• Boomerang-like self-propelled micromotors for efficient active capture of microplastics

  2025cited by this paper
• Kinetics of Silica Polymerization on Functionalized Surfaces: Implications for Reverse Osmosis Membranes.

  2025cited by this paper
• Unveiling the Environmental Characteristics of Sub-1000-nm Nanoplastics: A Comprehensive Review of the Preparation Methods for Nanoplastic Model Samples.

  2025cited by this paper
• Photocatalytic Waste Polystyrene Plastic Conversion: Reaction Mechanism and Catalyst Design.

  2025cited by this paper
• Diatomic Zn‐Functionalized Carbon Sphere for Microplastics Remediation in Natural Seawater at Environmentally Relevant Concentration

  2025cited by this paper
• Accelerated Weathering of Microplastics: A Systematic Approach to Model Microplastic Production.

  2025cited by this paper
• Label-Free Identification and Imaging of Microplastic and Nanoplastic Biouptake Using Optical Photothermal Infrared Microspectroscopy.

  2025cited by this paper
• Microplastics aging potentially enlarge the ecological risk to wetland sediments as revealed by their interactive effects on γ-HCH dissipation and methane production.

  2025cited by this paper
• Combining Submicron Spectroscopy Techniques (AFM-IR and O‑PTIR) To Detect and Quantify Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Snow from a Utah Ski Resort

  2025cited by this paper
• Eco-Corona Formation Enhances Cotransport of Nanoplastics and Organic Contaminants in Porous Media.

  2025cited by this paper
• Plastic Leachates Disproportionately Impair Aquatic Animals: A Multifactor, Multieffect, and Multilevel Meta-analytic Model.

  2025cited by this paper
• CO2‐Responsive Smart Wood Scaffold for Natural Organic Matter Removal without Secondary Pollution

  2025cited by this paper
• Label-Free Quantification of Nanoplastic-Cell Membrane Interaction by Single Cell Deformation Plasmonic Imaging.

  2025cited by this paper
• Leaf absorption contributes to accumulation of microplastics in plants

  2025cited by this paper
• Ecological and Health Risk Mediated by Micro(nano)plastics Aging Process: Perspectives and Challenges.

  2025cited by this paper
• Intermolecular interaction mechanism for facet-dependent adsorption of regulators during selective separation of serpentine and pyrite

  2025cited by this paper
• A global estimate of multiecosystem photosynthesis losses under microplastic pollution

  2025cited by this paper
• Thioether‐bridged surfactants for interfacial hydrophobic regulation and enhanced mineral flotation recovery

  2025cited by this paper
• Aging of Polystyrene Micro/Nanoplastics Enhances Cephalosporin Phototransformation via Structure-Sensitive Interfacial Hydrogen Bonding.

  2025cited by this paper
• Nanoscale interaction mechanism between bubbles and microplastics under the influence of natural organic matter in simulated marine environment.

  2025cited by this paper
• Polyhydroxybutyrate Plastics Show Rapid Disintegration and More Straightforward Biogeochemical Impacts than Polyethylene under Marine Biofragmentation.

  2024cited by this paper
• Nanoscale Insights into the Interaction Mechanism Underlying the Adsorption and Retention of Heavy Metal Ions by Humic Acid.

  2024cited by this paper
• Molecular-Weight-Dependent Degradation of Plastics: Deciphering Host-Microbiome Synergy Biodegradation of High-Purity Polypropylene Microplastics by Mealworms.

  2024cited by this paper
• Highly Efficient, Recyclable Microplastic Adsorption Enabled by Chitin Hydrogen Bond Network Rearrangement

  2024cited by this paper
• Generation and Fate of Nanoplastics in the Intestine of Plastic-Degrading Insect (Tenebrio molitor Larvae) during Polystyrene Microplastic Biodegradation.

  2024cited by this paper
• Activating Adsorption Sites of Waste Crayfish Shells via Chemical Decalcification for Efficient Capturing of Nanoplastics.

  2024cited by this paper
• Mechanochemical Formation of Poly(melamine-formaldehyde) Microplastic Fibers During Abrasion of Cleaning Sponges.

  2024cited by this paper
• Biomass waste-assisted micro(nano)plastics capture, utilization, and storage for sustainable water remediation

  2024cited by this paper
• Molecular Weights of Dissolved Organic Matter Significantly Affect Photoaging of Microplastics.

  2024cited by this paper
• Stable and antibacterial tannic acid-based covalent polymeric hydrogel for highly selective Pb2+ recovery from lead-acid battery industrial wastewater.

  2024cited by this paper
• Advancing the Understanding of Microplastic Weathering: Insights from a Novel Polarized Light Scattering Approach.

  2024cited by this paper
• Photothermal Upcycling of Waste Polyvinyl Chloride Plastics.

  2024cited by this paper
• Revivable self-assembled supramolecular biomass fibrous framework for efficient microplastic removal

  2024cited by this paper
• A Critical Review of an Environmental Risk Substance Induced by Aging Microplastics: Insights into Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals.

  2024cited by this paper
• Nanoscale insight into the interaction mechanism underlying the transport of microplastics by bubbles in aqueous environment.

  2024cited by this paper
• Photoaging of Typical Microplastics as Affected by Air Humidity: Mechanistic Insights into the Important Role of Water Molecules.

  2023cited by this paper
• Mass-Fabrication Scheme of Highly Sensitive Wireless Electrodeless MEMS QCM Biosensor with Antennas on Inner Walls of Microchannel.

  2023cited by this paper
• Microplastics - Back to Reality: Impact of Pristine and Aged Microplastics in Soil on Earthworm Eisenia fetida under Environmentally Relevant Conditions.

  2023cited by this paper
• Differential Photoaging Effects on Colored Nanoplastics in Aquatic Environments: Physicochemical Properties and Aggregation Kinetics.

  2023cited by this paper
• Physicochemical and biological changes on naturally aged microplastic surfaces in real environments over 10 months.

  2023cited by this paper
• Microplastics and Nanoplastics Impair the Biophysical Function of Pulmonary Surfactant by Forming Heteroaggregates at the Alveolar-Capillary Interface.

  2023cited by this paper
• Acidity of Soil and Water Decreases in Acid-Sensitive Forests of Tropical China.

  2023cited by this paper
• Molecular Insights into the Interaction Mechanism Underlying the Aggregation of Humic Acid and Its Adsorption on Clay Minerals.

  2023cited by this paper
• Flowthrough Capture of Microplastics through Polyphenol‐Mediated Interfacial Interactions on Wood Sawdust

  2023cited by this paper
• Characterization of biofilms formed on polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on the shore of the Tuul River, Mongolia.

  2022cited by this paper
• Aqueous aggregation and deposition kinetics of fresh and carboxyl-modified nanoplastics in the presence of divalent heavy metals.

  2022cited by this paper
• Innovations in the Development of Promising Adsorbents for the Remediation of Microplastics and Nanoplastics - A Critical Review.

  2022cited by this paper
• Effect of Polymer Properties on the Biodegradation of Polyurethane Microplastics

  2022cited by this paper
• Host-Endosymbiont Relationship Impacts the Retention of Bacteria-Containing Amoeba Spores in Porous Media.

  2022cited by this paper
• Advances in Biodegradable Electronic Skin: Material Progress and Recent Applications in Sensing, Robotics, and Human–Machine Interfaces

  2022cited by this paper
• Effect of Agricultural Organic Inputs on Nanoplastics Transport in Saturated Goethite-Coated Porous Media: Particle Size Selectivity and Role of Dissolved Organic Matter

  2022cited by this paper
• Sustainable Removal of Microplastics and Natural Organic Matter from Water by Coagulation-Flocculation with Protein Amyloid Fibrils.

  2021cited by this paper
• Effect of Dust Composition on the Reversibility of Photovoltaic Panel Soiling.

  2021cited by this paper
• Microplastic-associated biofilm in an intensive mariculture pond: Temporal dynamics of microbial communities, extracellular polymeric substances and impacts on microplastics properties

  2021cited by this paper
• Comparative Study of the Biological Degradation of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyhexanoate) Microbeads in Municipal Wastewater in Environmental and Controlled Laboratory Conditions.

  2021cited by this paper
• Engineered Polystyrene-Based Microplastics of High Environmental Relevance

  2021cited by this paper
• Adsorption and thermal degradation of microplastics from aqueous solutions by Mg/Zn modified magnetic biochars.

  2021cited by this paper
• Degradation degree analysis of environmental microplastics by micro FT-IR imaging technology.

  2021cited by this paper
• Nanoscale Profiling of 2D Surface Hydrophobicity Recognition of Environmental Media via AFM Measurements in Situ.

  2020cited by this paper
• Understanding and Improving Microplastics Removal during Water Treatment: Impact of Coagulation and Flocculation.

  2020cited by this paper
• Fouling mechanisms of asphaltenes and fine solids on bare and electroless nickel-phosphorus coated carbon steel

  2019cited by this paper
• New Insights into the Aging Behavior of Microplastics Accelerated by Advanced Oxidation Processes.

  2019cited by this paper
• Aggregation kinetics of UV irradiated nanoplastics in aquatic environments.

  2019cited by this paper
• Iron and manganese removal: Recent advances in modelling treatment efficiency by rapid sand filtration.

  2017cited by this paper
• Interactions of Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ with benzene self-assembled monolayers.

  2014cited by this paper
• Fouling behavior of typical organic foulants in polyvinylidene fluoride ultrafiltration membranes: characterization from microforces.

  2013cited by this paper
• The gold-sulfur interface at the nanoscale.

  2012cited by this paper
• Tailoring the surface potential of gold nanoparticles with self-assembled monolayers with mixed functional groups.

  2009cited by this paper
• Calibration of atomic‐force microscope tips

  1993cited by this paper
• Direct measurement of colloidal forces using an atomic force microscope

  1991cited by this paper

• No citing papers are available for this paper.