Adsorption behavior of aniline pollutant on polystyrene microplastics

Microplastic contamination is ubiquitous in aquatic environments. As global plastic production increases, the abundance of microplastic contaminants released into the environment has also continued to soar. The hydrophobic surfaces of plastic particles can adsorb a variety of chemical pollutants, and could therefore facilitate toxin accumulation through the food chain. In this study, the adsorption behavior of aniline, a priority environmental pollutant from industrial production, on the surface of polystyrene microplastics (mPS) was investigated. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of mPS was 0.060 mg/g. Adsorption equilibrium was reached after 24 h, and the pseudo-second-order model was employed to explain the adsorption kinetics of aniline on the mPS particles. The Freundlich models could describe the adsorption isotherms. The potential adsorption mechanisms may include π-π interactions and hydrophobic interactions. pH, ionic strength, and ambient temperature of the solution played important roles in the adsorption process.