Abstract

The accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial systems can change the availability of metal(loid)s. The goal of this study was evaluated the effect of 1% (w/w) polyethylene MPs (PE-MPs) on Cu2+ adsorption-desorption processes in two agricultural soils (Andisol: ANDI and Mollisol: MOLL). Batch Cu2+ adsorption-desorption experiments were conducted using AnDI And MOLL soils with and without 1% (w/w) PE-MPs addition. The results revealed, for the very first time, that the adsorption of Cu2+ in both soils with 1% PE-MPs is slightly higher than in the soils without MPs. The adsorption kinetic studies of Cu2+ in soils in the absence And presence of 1% PE-MPs fitted well to the pseudo-second-order model (r(2) >= 0.940 and chi(2) <= 14). The Langmuir model described the adsorption isotherms of Cu2+ in both soils in the absence And presence of 1% PE-MPs (r(2) >= 0.982 and chi(2) <= 7). According to this model, the maximum adsorption capacity showed the following trend: ANDI + 1% PE-MPs > ANDI > MOLL + 1% PE-MPs > MOLL, reaching values of the order of (mmol kg(-1)): 51.77 > 48.85 > 39.10 > 37.75, respectively. The Cu2+ desorption percentage showed the following trend MOLL > ANDI + 1% PE-MPs > MOLL + 1% PE-MPs > ANDI, suggesting that Cu2+ desorption from soils by adding 1% PE-MPs was soil type-dependent. This study demonstrated, that PE-MPs could favor the accumulation of Cu2+ in MOLL soils and increase the mobility/availability of Cu2+ in ANDI soils.