A comprehensive review of microplastic aging: Laboratory simulations, physicochemical properties, adsorption mechanisms, and environmental impacts

As a new type of ecological environment problem, microplastic pollution is a severe challenge faced by the world, and its threat and potential risk to the ecosystem have become a hot research spot in the current environmental field. Microplastics (MPs) in the natural environment will experience aging effect, aging will change the physical and chemical properties of MPs and affect the adsorption behavior. Recently reported characterization techniques of MPs and laboratory simulation of aging are reviewed. The aging mechanism between MPs and different pollutants and the intervention mechanism of environmental factors (MPs, pollutants and water quality environment) were revealed. In addition, to further understand the potential ecological toxicity of MPs after aging, the release and harm of additives during aging, produce the environmentally persistent free radicals, and the mechanism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) removal of pollutants adsorbed on the surface of MPs were summarized. Future research efforts should focus more on bridging the disparity between laboratory aging simulations and natural environmental conditions to enhance the authenticity and ecological relevance of such studies. The ROS production mechanism of MPs provides a reference direction for removing pollutants adsorbed by aged MPs. • Laboratory simulation of aged MPs and characterization methods were reviewed. • Types of by-products of MPs after photoaging and environmental influencing factors were summarized. • Aging of MPs produces free radicals which can remove organic matter. • Provide new perspective for the mechanism of aging MPs on pollutants in complex environments.