2026-10-14T02:59:57Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34029931 2026-09-30T05:11:01Z category_1 category_146 category_915 category_12 category_16 category_21 category_24 category_272 category_64 portal_63 item_type_6 month_year_09_2026

Mechanical Fragmentation of Environmentally Aged Macroplastics from the Rhine River under Vessel-Induced Propeller-Jet Forces Stephanie B. Oswald (12916958) Niels van Lierop (25141705) Ad M. J. Ragas (9591066) Frank P. L. Collas (12916964) Biophysics Space Science Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified Cell Biology Physiology Biotechnology Evolutionary Biology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Cancer water column may velocities ≥ 5 study experimentally determines soft )” exhibited highest breakage probabilities external environmental characteristics environmentally aged macroplastics hydrodynamic forces required drag forces exerted induced velocities generated cause plastic fragmentation jet forces induced propeller plastic particles plastic item ∼ 80 ultimately resulting strongly influenced river systems rhine river propeller jets plastics suspended mechanical fragmentation larger plastics intrinsic properties high jet fragmentation processes exceeding 50 assess whether 8 n The fragmentation of plastic particles is strongly influenced by both the intrinsic properties of the plastic item, such as size and shape, and by the external environmental characteristics. Once introduced into river systems, larger plastics are subject to weathering and fragmentation processes, ultimately resulting in secondary microplastics (<5 mm). Plastics suspended in the water column may be exposed to strong hydrodynamic forces produced by propeller jets of riverine vessels. This study experimentally determines the hydrodynamic forces required to fragment macroplastic items collected from the Rhine River in the Netherlands, to assess whether the drag forces exerted by the propeller jets of riverine vessels can cause plastic fragmentation. The results demonstrate clear differences in fragmentation susceptibility among plastic categories. “Plastic film 2.5–50 cm (soft)” exhibited the lowest median breaking force (3.8 N) and the highest breakage probabilities when exposed to high jet-induced velocities generated by vessels, exceeding 50% at velocities ≥5 m s^–1 and reaching up to ∼80% at 10 m s^–1. 2026-09-30T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 10.1021/acsestwater.6c00346.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Mechanical_Fragmentation_of_Environmentally_Aged_Macroplastics_from_the_Rhine_River_under_Vessel-Induced_Propeller-Jet_Forces/34029931 CC BY-NC 4.0