Integrated manufacturing of REciclable multi-material COmposites for the TRANSport sector

The environmental implications of tire wear particles (TWPs) have been extensively studied. One notable concern associated with nano-sized TWPs is their potential role as carriers that enhance the spread of co-occurring pollutants, especially in the context of aging processes. This study demonstrated how exposure to acid, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, or ozone (O3) induced alterations in the physico-chemical properties of TWPs, consequently increasing their mobility within saturated sand environments. In cotransport cases, both original TWPs and aged TWPs inhibited the transport of Cd2+ and Ni2+ in different degrees, whereas no obvious changes in their intrinsic mobilities. The contaminant-mobilizing ability of TWPs followed the order of original TWPs/UV-TWPs?<?H+-TWPs?<?O3-TWPs. Experimental results and model-based analyses indicated the important role of mobility, adsorption affinity and desorption hysteresis in the cotransport of TWPs and heavy metals. In comparison with original TWPs, the adsorption affinity of H+-TWPs and O3-TWPs for Cd2+/Ni2+ decreased, while that of UV-TWPs was similar to original TWPs. Simultaneously, the desorption rates of TWPs decreased to different extents after aging. The results of this study provide valuable insights on the fate of aged TWPs and their interactions with heavy metals in the natural environment, and help assess the environmental behavior and contaminant mobilization capacity of TWPs, especially considering the distinct effects of different aging processes. It is imperative to emphasise the necessity for targeted management strategies to transport the environmental impacts of TWPs, particularly as they age and interact with heavy metals. Graphical

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