Bioaccessibility of Organic Compounds Associated with Tire Particles Using a Fish In Vitro Digestive Model: Solubilization Kinetics and Effects of Food Coingestion

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) account for an important part of the polymer particles released into the environment. There are scientific knowledge gaps as to the potential bioaccessibility of chemicals associated with TRWP to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the solubilization and bioaccessibility of seven of the most widely used tire-associated organic chemicals and four of their degradation products from cryogenically milled tire tread (CMTT) into fish digestive fluids using an in vitro digestion model based on Oncorhynchus mykiss. Our results showed that 0.06–44.1% of the selected compounds were rapidly solubilized into simulated gastric and intestinal fluids within a typical gut transit time for fish (3 h in gastric and 24 h in intestinal fluids). The environmentally realistic scenario of coingestion of CMTT and fish prey was explored using ground Gammarus pulex. Coingestion caused compound-specific changes in solubilization, either increasing or decreasing the compounds’ bioaccessibility in simulated gut fluids compared to CMTT alone. Our results emphasize that tire-associated compounds become accessible in a digestive milieu and should be studied further with respect to their bioaccumulation and toxicological effects upon passage of intestinal epithelial cells.

Bioaccessibility of organic compounds associated with tire particles using a fish in vitro digestive model: solubilization kinetics and effects of food co-ingestion

Florian Frédéric Vincent Breider, Benoît Jean Dominique Ferrari, Dominique Grandjean, Luke Christopher Harris, Thibault Béranger Masset, Kristin Schirmer

Tire and road wear particles (TRWP) account for an important part of the polymer particles released into the environment. There are scientific knowledge gaps as to the potential bioaccessibility of chemicals associated with TRWP to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the solubilization and bioaccessibility of seven of the most widely used tire-associated organic chemicals and four of their degradation products from cryogenically milled tire tread (CMTT) into fish digestive fluids using an in vitro digestion model based on Oncorhynchus mykiss. Our results showed that 0.06% to 44.1% of the selected compounds were rapidly solubilized into simulated gastric and intestinal fluids within a typical gut transit time for fish (3 h in gastric and 24 h in intestinal fluids). The environmentally realistic scenario of coingestion of CMTT and fish prey was explored using ground Gammarus pulex. Coingestion caused compound-specific changes in solubilization, either increasing or decreasing the compounds’ bioaccessibility in simulated gut fluids compared to CMTT alone. Our results emphasize that tire-associated compounds become accessible in a digestive milieu and should be studied further with respect to their bioaccumulation and toxicological effects upon passage of intestinal epithelial cells.

2022

Characterizing the Effects of a “Switchable Water” Additive on the Aqueous Solubility of Small Molecules

Sarika Burra, Paul Joseph Dyson, Philip Gregory Jessop

“Switchable water” is an aqueous solution containing a water‐soluble amine additive that exhibits CO2‐switchable properties, such as large changes in ionic strength, by forming an ammonium bicarbonate salt. Switchable water has been used to reversibly “salt‐out” organic compounds from water. This study explores the salting out of several compounds in switchable water when CO2 is present and also explores the solubility of small molecules in switchable water, compared to pure water, when CO2 is absent. The results show that organic compounds are generally more soluble in switchable water than pure water in the absence of CO2, but less soluble in the presence of 1 atm CO2. Exceptions include carboxylic acids and phenols which, presumably due to their acidity, are more soluble in switchable water than in pure water, even when CO2 is applied. Kirkwood–Buff solvation theory was applied to gain insights into the effects of the amine additive on the aqueous solubility of caffeine. Furthermore, the switchable properties of the additives allow for the preparation of switchable aqueous two‐phase systems.

2018

Investigation of the Electrochemical Destruction of X-ray Contrast Media using Boron-‐Doped Diamond Electrodes (BDD)

Guillaume Tissot

Iodinated X-ray contrast media (ICM) are persistent micropollutants in wastewater, which come mainly from hospital activities. Currently, there is no efficient method of treatment for this class of compounds, which leads to their increased presence in surface water and drinking water. In this work we propose to treat directly ICM in urine, meaning at high concentration, by electrochemical oxidation process using BDD electrodes. In a first step of the project, determination of the reactivity of Iohexol towards electrochemical oxidation in inactive electrolyte was performed. In subsequent iohexol electrolysis experiment the electrolyte composition was gradually modified until electrolysis of Iohexol in fresh urine. Obtained results were compared with those predicted by adjusted kinetic model of COD elimination. Model is based on the kinetic of the electrochemical oxidation is controlled by diffusion, and it was demonstrated, in this work, that this is also the case for the electrochemical oxidation of Iohexol. This methodology permits to determine interference that urine components such as chloride and ammonia have on the electrochemical oxidation. The obtained results showed that 99% of Iohexol present in the electrolyte and at least 85% of the initial COD elimination can be achieved with an efficiency close to 100%, even in fresh urine. Investigation of the main constituents of urine showed that chloride has a positive effect on the process efficiency due to both catalytic and no‐catalytic action (oxidation of organics compounds, via electrogenereted active chlorine, close to the electrode or in the bulk). On the contrary ammonia has no effect on the efficiency if it is present alone, and negative effect if chloride is also present (certainly due to chloramine formation). Nevertheless, at high concentration of ICM, the effect of chloride and ammonia is negligible as experiment in fresh urine demonstrated. As expected, the reaction of hydroxyl radical with Iohexol is non-specific. Preliminary identifications of transformation products by UPLC-MS showed that electrochemical oxidation can lead to nucleus attack (deiodination) or side chain attack unselectively. In addition, deiodination by cathodic reduction under mass transfer control is also possible according to these UPLC‐MS results, and by the kinetic of Iohexol elimination. At an elimination of 85% COD in treated urine only a very low concentration of pollutant remain. Ecotoxicity and biodegradability analyses were performed with the treated urine at this point. Toxicity assays showed some ecological toxicity towards environment; biodegradability test didn’t show clear biodegradation. Finally, operating cost analysis for a possible installation using electrochemical oxidation process with BDD electrodes showed that even if other advanced oxidation process (AOPs), such as processes such as ozonation or UV/H2O2, demonstrate the same efficiency as electrochemical oxidation in the future, electrochemical oxydation using BDD electrode remains strongly competitive economically.

2012

Investigation of the Electrochemical Destruction of X-ray Contrast Media using Boron-‐Doped Diamond Electrodes (BDD)

Guillaume Tissot

2012

Bioaccessibility of Organic Compounds Associated with Tire Particles Using a Fish In Vitro Digestive Model: Solubilization Kinetics and Effects of Food Coingestion