Quantifying surface topography helps reveal the combined effects of microplastics UV-aging and organic matter on trace metal adsorption in seawater

Vukosav, Petra; Rapljenović, Ana; Geček, Sunčana; Vukosav, Ivan; Cuculić, Vlado (2026) Quantifying surface topography helps reveal the combined effects of microplastics UV-aging and organic matter on trace metal adsorption in seawater. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 233 (Part 2). pp. 120276-120291. ISSN 0025-326X

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Abstract

This study explores the impact of UV-aging and organic matter (humic acid - HA) on adsorption of essential (Cu, Co, Ni) and nonessential (Cd, Pb) trace metals onto microplastics (MPs), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS), in seawater. Surface characterization using atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that UV aging significantly alters microplastic surface properties. AFM measurements show an increase in both surface roughness and surface area under UV radiation. This increase strongly correlated with enhanced metal adsorption, with uptake varying according to polymer type and aging state. Surface transformations upon prolonged MPs aging significantly altered the preferences of Cd, Co and Cu in adsorption dynamics. Cu and Pb showed the highest adsorbed amounts, especially on aged microplastics. The influence of HA was metal-specific and dependent on the aging state of the microplastics. HA had no significant effect on Cd, Co, Ni and Pb, but modulated Cu adsorption, enhancing it on unaged MPs and reducing it on aged MPs, which was consistent with the speciation modeling. This work is the first to assess the combined effects of organic matter and aged MPs on the adsorption of Cd, Co, and Ni in seawater, and to employ AFM for microplastic quantitative surface topography in such context.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Atomic force microscopy; Humic acid; Polypropylene; Polystyrene; Seawater; Trace metals ; UV-aging
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences > Marine Science
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Međudjelovanje morskog (mikro)plastičnog otpada i metala zagađivala: mogući put od morskog okoliša do čovjeka-METALPATH Vlado Cuculić IP-2019-04-5832 HRZZ Međudjelovanje morskog (mikro)plastičnog otpada i metala zagađivala: mogući put od morskog okoliša do čovjeka - DOK Vlado Cuculić DOK-2021-02-2765 HRZZ Kvantificiranje utjecaja plastike na vodene i kopnene organizme Nina Marn IP-2022-10-5901 HRZZ
Depositing User:	Vlado Cuculić
Date Deposited:	03 Sep 2026 06:57
URI:	https://fulir.irb.hr:/id/eprint/12128
DOI:	10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.120276

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