Environmental problems associated to micro and nanoplastic pollution has become a global concern. However, new plastics applications are developing constantly entailing new plastic pollution sources. The increasing use of three-dimensional resin printers is an example of a new source of nanoplastic pollution. Nanoplastics from 3D-printers are not produced during printing process, but they are generated from the residual alcohol/resin mixture obtained from the cleaning of the final printing. The residual cleaning mixture is an emulsion of resin in alcohol and water, which is polymerized when it is exposed to UV sunlight, forming plastic nanoparticles. Plastic nanoparticles showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 350 ±87 nm in water. The stability of nanoplastics from 3D printers was determined in seawater and also in different concentrations of NaCl . In sea water, the nanoplastics showed a low trend to agglomerate forming around 1 µm aggregates. The isoelectric point of nanoparticles is close to pH 2, enhancing their interaction with other positively charged pollutants, such as some pesticides. Additionally, 3D nanoplastics were easy internalized by cells, in <i>in vitro</i> studies. These results showed the unavoidable necessity to assess the effects of nanoplastics from domestic 3D printers on different organisms, to evaluate their potential environmental and public health impacts.

Home 3D-printers: new and unexpected source of nanoplastic pollutants

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.