RT Journal Article
T1 Size-dependent microplastic fragmentation model
A1 Pérez Muñuzuri, Vicente
K1 Microplastics
K1 Fragmentation model
K1 Degradation
K1 Size distribution
AB Plastic fragmentation alters the size distribution of plastic waste in aquatic habitats, which is accelerated by mechanical stress and weathering degradation processes. Microplastic pieces constitute the vast bulk of plastic pollution in terms of quantity. Their size distribution has been shown to follow a power-law for larger fragments. This work introduces a novel model inspired by raindrop formation, incorporating local oceanographic processes and fragment size, aiming to improve the understanding and prediction of plastic fragmentation in marine environments. Particles can fragment when they reach a certain size, or when shear forces become too strong. Plastic aging’s effect on size distribution is also investigated.
PB MDPI
YR 2024
FD 2024-07-19
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/37581
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/37581
LA eng
NO Pérez-Muñuzuri, V. Size-Dependent Microplastic Fragmentation Model. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12, 1213. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/jmse12071213
NO We gratefully acknowledge financial support by FreeLitterAT Interreg Atlantic Project (EAPA-0009/2022) and Xunta de Galicia under Research Grant No. 2021-PG036-1. Financial support by the Galicia Marine Science programme included in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR-C17.I1) is also acknowledged.
DS Minerva
RD 27 abr 2026