ИСТИНА

Microplastics (MP) are polymer particles formed during the (bio)degradation of primary plastic waste. Of greatest interest are nano-sized particles (< 1 μm), which are capable of penetrating living organisms and causing negative consequences. MP particles, due to their highly developed surface, adsorb various toxic substances: heavy metals, antibiotics, dyes, persistent organic pollutants and cationic polymers (polycations). The latter are widely used in water treatment processes and exhibit a high toxic effect on microorganisms. MP particles with adsorbed polycations are capable of spreading over long distances with surface and ground water. The interparticle migration of cationic macromolecules increases the number of toxic particles with a toxic effect. In the current work, the adsorption of cationic polymers on polystyrene particles with carboxylic surface groups has been studied. The size (hydrodynamic diameter) of particles was of 400 nm, their electrophoretic mobility was of -6 (m/s)/(V/cm). Polycations were bound quantitatively to the particles. The binding was accompanied by neutralization of the particle charge and aggregation of the resulting complex with the largest aggregates at a complete neutralization of the particle charge by the adsorbed polycation. At lower polymer and particle concentrations the aggregation was suppressed and adsorbed macromolecules migrated between individual particles, resulting in a uniform distribution of the polymer between all particles in the system.