Abstract

The role of microplastics (MPs) as a vector of chemicals is generally recognized: a wide range of micropollutants have been detected in MPs sampled in different environmental compartments, and, due to their ubiquitous distribution, they can be transferred through aquatic and terrestrial organisms into the food chain. Providing representative models is challenging due to the intrinsic dynamic evolution characterizing the natural phenomena, which cannot be adequately investigated in lab experiments. On the other side, simulation/prediction tools are strongly required because of the long time-scale characterizing the MPs’ persistence in the environment. This article provides a review of the updated literature on mechanistic models and predictive thermodynamic methods applied (or applicable), to describe the uptake/release processes of pollutants by MPs. Intrinsic and environmental factors influencing the process kinetics and the equilibrium distribution are discussed in detail. Mechanistic models and thermodynamic prediction methods are analyzed and their potentialities for application to MPs highlighted with specific examples. Finally, a critical analysis of the limitations related to the simplifying assumptions in modeling and to the representativeness of the lab-scale data is performed to evaluate their effects on the reliability of the predictions and to identify knowledge gaps and address future research needs.

摘要

微塑料 (MPs) 作为化学品载体的作用得到普遍认可：在不同环境隔间采样的 MPs 中检测到多种微污染物，并且由于它们的普遍分布，它们可以通过水生和陆生生物转移到食物链。由于表征自然现象的内在动态演化，提供具有代表性的模型具有挑战性，而在实验室实验中无法对其进行充分研究。另一方面，强烈需要模拟/预测工具，因为 MPs 在环境中的持久性具有很长的时间尺度。本文回顾了有关应用（或适用）的机械模型和预测热力学方法的最新文献，描述议员对污染物的吸收/释放过程。详细讨论了影响过程动力学和平衡分布的内在和环境因素。分析了机械模型和热力学预测方法，并通过具体示例突出了它们在 MPs 中的应用潜力。最后，对与简化建模假设和实验室规模数据的代表性相关的限制进行了批判性分析，以评估它们对预测可靠性的影响，并确定知识差距并解决未来的研究需求。分析了机械模型和热力学预测方法，并通过具体示例突出了它们在 MPs 中的应用潜力。最后，对与简化建模假设和实验室规模数据的代表性相关的限制进行了批判性分析，以评估它们对预测可靠性的影响，并确定知识差距并解决未来的研究需求。分析了机械模型和热力学预测方法，并通过具体示例突出了它们在 MPs 中的应用潜力。最后，对与简化建模假设和实验室规模数据的代表性相关的限制进行了批判性分析，以评估它们对预测可靠性的影响，并确定知识差距并解决未来的研究需求。