Table 1 Molecular formulas and putative compounds unique to plastic leachate DOM.

From: Plastic pollution fosters more microbial growth in lakes than natural organic matter

Molecular formula

Putative name

Main application

Abundance (%)

C20H26O4

dicyclohexyl phthalate

Hardener/plasticizer

0.18

C14H20O2

2.6-di-tertbutyl-p-benzoquinone

Breakdown product

0.01

C10H14O2

2-tert-butylhydroquinone

Rubber filler

0.02

C10H14O2

4-tert-butylpyrocatechol

Solvent/adhesive

0.02

C18H24O6

butoxycarbonylmethyl butyl phthalate

Plasticizer

0.05

C13H10O5

2.2’.4.4’-tetrahydroxybenzophenone

Antioxidant

0.01

C8H8O3

methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

Antistatic/softener

0.01

C18H18O5

oxydiethylene dibenzoate

Plasticizer/softener

0.01

C8H6O4

isophthalic acid

Lubricant/adhesive

0.17

C14H12O3

oxybenzone

Stabilizer/lubricant

0.01

C18H26O4

dipentyl phthalate

Plasticizer

0.04

C11H16O2

tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol

Antioxidant

0.02

C17H24O3

7.9-di-tert-butyl-1-oxaspiro(4.5)deca-6.9-diene-2.8-dione

Breakdown product

0.03

  1. Isotope-free molecular formulas found exclusively in the leachate were cross-referenced against isotope-free molecular formulas databases of known plastic additives14, 59. Abundance was calculated relative to all 855 molecular formulas found in the leachate, of which 296 were unique, i.e. absent from the 22 lake samples after blank correction. Breakdown products were those derived from additives or other sources unique to plastic products.
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