6 Search Results

Multiple scattering in small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) redistributes spectral weight and distorts structural interpretation, particularly for thick or strongly scattering samples. We develop a finite-dimensional spectral desmearing framework that corrects multiple scattering without resorting to integral transforms or model-dependent extrapolation. The primary intensity is expanded in an orthonormal basis adapted to the isotropic transverse-momentum measure, under which convolution reduces to a recursive tensor contraction, allowing the Poisson-weighted multiple-scattering series to be evaluated directly in a finite-dimensional basis representation. This formulation yields a stable forward–inverse mapping between apparent and primary spectra. Numerical tests demonstrate convergence under repeated convolution and accurate recoverymore » of the single-scattering intensity. Application to SANS measurements collected at multiple neutron facilities, including the Spallation Neutron Source, the High Flux Isotope Reactor, and the Institut Laue-Langevin, shows the quantitative reconstruction of the underlying primary spectrum across a wide range of transmission conditions, including strongly attenuating samples. The method provides a stable, model-agnostic framework for multiple-scattering correction in SANS and enables consistent structural interpretation across instruments and scattering regimes.« less

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and ultra-SANS (USANS) were employed to understand the aggregation behavior and observe the size reduction for nanoplastics (NPs) formed from a biodegradable mulch film, and microparticles of vermiculite (V), an artificial soil, suspended in water in the presence of low convective shear (ex situ stirring) prior to measurements. Neutron contrast matching was employed to minimize the signal of V (by 100-fold) and thereby isolate the signal due to NPs in the neutron beam, as the contrast match point (CMP) for V (67 vol% deuteration of water) differed from that of NPs by more than 20%. Themore » original NPs' size distribution was bimodal: <200 nm and 500–1200 nm, referred to as small and large NPs, i.e., SNPs and LNPs, respectively. In the absence of V, SNPs formed homoaggregates at higher concentrations that decreased with stirring time, while the size of LNPs remained unchanged. The presence of V at 2-fold lower concentration than NPs did not change the size of SNPs but reduced the size of LNPs by nearly 2-fold as stirring time increased. Because the size of SNPs and LNPs did not differ substantially between CMP and 100% D₂O solvents, it is evident that SNPs and LNPs are mainly composed of NPs and not V. In conclusion, the results suggest that LNPs are susceptible to size reduction through collisions with soil microparticles via convection, yielding SNPs near soil–water interfaces within vadose zones.« less

Soil-biodegradable plastic has been increasingly used as mulches in agriculture, which provides not only agronomical benefits but also in situ disposal and biodegradation options. However, soil-biodegradable plastic mulches inevitably fragment into micro- and nanoplastics during biodegradation, which can reside in soils or migrate into deep soils, where they may not degrade readily due to reduced microbial activity. To date, little is known about the transport of soil-biodegradable micro- and nanoplastics in soils. Here, in this study, we studied the transport of soil-biodegradable nanoplastics (∼200 nm) made of polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate (PBAT) in unsaturated sand (proxy for soil). Specifically, we studiedmore » the mobility of pristine and weathered PBAT nanoplastics in the absence and presence of proteins (positively charged lysozyme and negatively charged bovine serum albumin, pH = 7.7). We found that (1) both pristine and the weathered PBAT nanoplastics were mobile; (2) positively charged lysozyme formed protein-coronas around PBAT nanoplastics and inhibited the transport; and (3) decreased water saturation promoted the retention of PBAT nanoplastics via physical straining. These results suggest that soil-biodegradable nanoplastics fragmented from soil-biodegradable plastic mulches are mobile and may readily migrate into deep soil layers, but positively charged proteins and unsaturated flow would prevent such transport via formation of protein-corona and physical straining.« less

While much is known about microplastics in aquatic environments, only few studies have focused on how microplastics interact with terrestrial organisms. The objective of our study was to investigate the interactions of earthworms with microplastics in a natural environment with environmentally realistic plastic concentrations. Here we investigated whether earthworms would ingest microplastics and incorporate them into their bodies and cast, and whether microplastics would alter the intestinal and soil microbiome. Lumbricus terrestris was exposed to two types of mi croplastics, biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) in mesocosoms filled with natural soil. Microplastics were mixed with poplarmore » leaves and earthworms were allowed to forage for food for 20 days. Surface and bulk soil, earthworm cast, and earthworms themselves were sampled and analyzed for plastic content and microbial communities. Earthworms did not show macroscopic health deterioration (weight loss, vitality). We observed microplastics particles in earthworm casts and guts. Raman spectroscopy indicated that PBAT in guts and cast had degraded to some extent; however, LDPE remained unchanged among the different samples. Microbial analysis showed that soil and casts has similar microbial communities; however, they were signicantly different from the guts samples. Microplastic treatments did not result in a statistically signicant change in bacterial richness, diversity or community composition compared to controls. Taken together, our results suggest that, at environmentally realistic concentrations and short exposure times, PBAT and LDPE microplastics do not have adverse effects on Lumbricus terrestris earthworms.« less

Biodegradable plastics can reach full degradation when disposed of appropriately and thus alleviate plastic pollution caused by conventional plastics. But additives can be released into the environment during degradation, and the fate of these additives can be affected by the degradation process. In this study, we characterized TiO₂ particles released from a biodegradable plastic mulch during composting and studied the transport of the released TiO₂ particles in inert sand and agricultural soil columns under unsaturated flow conditions. TiO₂ microparticles were released from the biodegradable plastic mulch in both single particle and cluster forms. The released TiO₂ microparticles were fully retainedmore » in unsaturated soil columns due to its ne texture, slow flow rate, and favorable attachment conditions. But in unsaturated sand columns, the released TiO₂ microparticles were highly mobile. Additionally, comparison with the pristine TiO₂ microparticles revealed that the enhanced mobility of the released TiO₂ microparticles was caused by the presence of compost residues which blocked attachment sites on the sand surface. This study demonstrates that TiO₂ microparticles can be released during composting of biodegradable plastics, and the transport potential of the released TiO₂ microparticles in the terrestrial environment can be enhanced by the presence of compost material.« less

Terrestrial nanoplastics (NPs) pose a serious threat to agricultural food production systems due to the potential harm of soil-born micro- and macroorganisms that promote soil fertility and ability of NPs to adsorb onto and penetrate into vegetables and other crops. Very little is known about the dispersion, fate and transport of NPs in soils. This is because of the challenges of analyzing terrestrial NPs by conventional microscopic techniques due to the low concentrations of NPs and absence of optical transparency in these systems. Herein, we investigate the potential utility of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and Ultra SANS (USANS) to probemore » the agglomeration behavior of NPs prepared from polybutyrate adipate terephthalate, a prominent biodegradable plastic used in agricultural mulching, in the presence of vermiculite, an artificial soil. SANS with the contrast matching technique was used to study the aggregation of NPs co-dispersed with vermiculite in aqueous media. We determined the contrast match point for vermiculite was 66% D₂O / 33% H₂O. At this condition, the signal for vermiculite was ~50–100%-fold lower that obtained using neat H₂O or D₂O as solvent. According to SANS and USANS, smaller-sized NPs (50 nm) remained dispersed in water and did not undergo size reduction or self-agglomeration, nor formed agglomerates with vermiculite. Larger-sized NPs (300–1000 nm) formed self-agglomerates and agglomerates with vermiculite, demonstrating their significant adhesion with soil. However, employment of convective transport (simulated by ex situ stirring of the slurries prior to SANS and USANS analyses) reduced the self-agglomeration, demonstrating weak NP-NP interactions. Convective transport also led to size reduction of the larger-sized NPs. Therefore, this study demonstrates the potential utility of SANS and USANS with contrast matching technique for investigating behavior of terrestrial NPs in complex soil systems.« less