Microbial degradation and other environmental aspects of microplastics/plastics

Yuan, Jianhua; Ma, Jie; Sun, Yiran; Zhou, Tao; Zhao, Youcai; Yu, Fei

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136968

Cited by 553 publications

(214 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Previously, we explained that biodegradation of PE and other microplastics by periphytic biofilms might be due to the oxidation–reduction reactions that ultimately result in the formation of a double bond structure, and carbonyl, alcoholic, and phenolic groups [ 3 ]. Similar results were obtained in different studies regarding the biodegradation of microplastics—microorganisms have the capability to degrade MPs, as observed by ATR-FTIR [ 45 , 46 ].…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

Multifunctional Periphytic Biofilms: Polyethylene Degradation and Cd2+ and Pb2+ Bioremediation under High Methane Scenario

Faheem

Shabbir

Zhao

et al. 2020

IJMS

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Priority pollutants such as polyethylene (PE) microplastic, lead (Pb2+), and cadmium (Cd2+) have attracted the interest of environmentalists due to their ubiquitous nature and toxicity to all forms of life. In this study, periphytic biofilms (epiphyton and epixylon) were used to bioremediate heavy metals (HMs) and to biodegrade PE under high (120,000 ppm) methane (CH4) doses. Both periphytic biofilms were actively involved in methane oxidation, HMs accumulation and PE degradation. Epiphyton and epixylon both completely removed Pb2+ and Cd2+ at concentrations of 2 mg L−1 and 50 mg L−1, respectively, but only partially removed these HMs at a relatively higher concentration (100 mg L−1). Treatment containing 12% 13CH4 proved to be most effective for biodegradation of PE. A synergistic effect of HMs and PE drastically changed microbial biota and methanotrophic communities. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that Cyanobacteria was the most abundant class, followed by Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria in all high-methane-dose treatments. DNA stable-isotope probing was used to label 13C in a methanotrophic community. A biomarker for methane-oxidizing bacteria, pmoA gene sequence of a 13C-labeled fraction, revealed that Methylobacter was most abundant in all high-methane-dose treatments compared to near atmospheric methane (NAM) treatment, followed by Methylococcus. Methylomonas, Methylocystis, Methylosinus, and Methylocella were also found to be increased by high doses of methane compared to NAM treatment. Overall, Cd+2 had a more determinantal effect on methanotrophic activity than Pb2+. Epiphyton proved to be more effective than epixylon in HMs removal and PE biodegradation. The findings proved that both epiphyton and epixylon can be used to bioremediate HMs and biodegrade PE as an efficient ecofriendly technique under high methane concentrations.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

Multifunctional Periphytic Biofilms: Polyethylene Degradation and Cd2+ and Pb2+ Bioremediation under High Methane Scenario

Faheem

Shabbir

Zhao

et al. 2020

IJMS

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“…Despite being a severe threat to the environment, plastic has become a very fundamental part of human society (Danso et al, 2019). It is widely used in various fields ranging from industries, agriculture to our day to day life, due to its lightness, durability, inertness and cheapness, etc., (Orr et al, 2004;Sudhakar et al, 2008;Yuan et al, 2020). Plastics are polymers of small aliphatic (for example polyethylene is made of [CH 2 -CH 2 ] monomer) or aromatic molecules (e.g., polystyrene is a polymer of styrene) and their derivatives (such as polyvinyl chloride made from vinyl chloride monomer) (Andrady and Neal, 2009;Yang et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Plastics are polymers of small aliphatic (for example polyethylene is made of [CH 2 -CH 2 ] monomer) or aromatic molecules (e.g., polystyrene is a polymer of styrene) and their derivatives (such as polyvinyl chloride made from vinyl chloride monomer) (Andrady and Neal, 2009;Yang et al, 2014). Almost 6.3 billion tons of plastics were produced worldwide in 2015 and the number is increasing exponentially each year because of its efficient and versatile use (Yuan et al, 2020). Although plastics bring ease to our daily life, their uncontrolled use and careless disposal have been imposing a constant threat to the ecosystem, since they don't get degraded naturally even after many years and interfere with various natural and engineered processes adversely (Albertsson and Karlsson, 1990;Tokiwa et al, 2009;Raddadi and Fava, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although, the amount of plastic wastes is reduced by incineration, it leads to secondary pollution due to the production of air pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, etc., (Ru et al, 2020). The weathering and breaking down of plastic produce microplastics (MP) which migrate toward rivers, ponds, lakes, oceans and agricultural fields and affect them adversely (Yuan et al, 2020). Most of the commercially used plastics like polyethylene (PE) (low density, i.e., LDPE and high density or HDPE), polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are usually resistant toward biodegradation (Tokiwa et al, 2009;Danso et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biodegradation of Unpretreated Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) by Stenotrophomonas sp. and Achromobacter sp., Isolated From Waste Dumpsite and Drilling Fluid

et al. 2020

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Exploring the catabolic repertoire of natural bacteria for biodegradation of plastics is one of the priority areas of biotechnology research. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is recalcitrant and poses serious threats to our environment. The present study explored the LDPE biodegradation potential of aerobic bacteria enriched from municipal waste dumpsite and bentonite based drilling fluids from a deep subsurface drilling operation. Considerable bacterial growth coupled with significant weight loss of the LDPE beads (∼8%), change in pH to acidic condition and biofilm cell growth around the beads (CFU count 105–106/cm2) were noted for two samples (P and DF2). The enriched microbial consortia thus obtained displayed high (65–90%) cell surface hydrophobicity, confirming their potential toward LDPE adhesion as well as biofilm formation. Two LDPE degrading bacterial strains affiliated to Stenotrophomonas sp. and Achromobacter sp. were isolated as pure culture from P and DF2 enrichments. 16S rRNA gene sequences of these isolates indicated their taxonomic novelty. Further biodegradation studies provided strong evidence toward the LDPE metabolizing ability of these two organisms. Atomic Fore Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed considerable damage (in terms of formation of cracks, grooves, etc.) on the micrometric surface of the LDPE film. Analysis of the average roughness (Ra), root mean square roughness (Rq), average height (Rz), maximum peak height (Rp), and maximum valley depth (Rv) (nano-roughness parameters) through AFM indicated 2–3 fold increase in nano-roughness of the LDPE film. FTIR analysis suggested incorporation of alkoxy (1000–1090 cm–1), acyl (1220 cm–1), nitro (1500–1600 cm–1), carbonyl (1720 cm–1) groups into the carbon backbone, formation of N-O stretching (1360 cm–1) and chain scission (905 cm–1) in the microbially treated LDPEs. Increase in carbonyl index (15–20 fold), double bond index (1.5–2 fold) and terminal double bond index (30–40 fold) confirmed that biodegraded LDPEs had undergone oxidation, vinylene formation and chain scission. The data suggested that oxidation and dehydrogenation could be the key steps allowing formation of low molecular weight products suitable for their further mineralization by the test bacteria. The study highlighted LDPE degrading ability of natural bacteria and provided the opportunity for their development in plastic remediation process.

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“…In the process of in-vitro degradation using microorganisms, the polymeric skeleton goes through de-polymerization to produce organic matter such as water, carbon-di-oxide and biomass. But the maximum weathered plastics are fragmented into microplastics (MPs) which has a major impact on the environment [22]. Microplastics mainly have negative impact on the aquatic life of marine as well as freshwater environment [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodegradation efficacy of soil inherent novel sp. Bacillus tropicus (MK318648) onto low density polyethylene matrix

Samanta

Datta²,

Halder

2020

J Polym Res

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The biodegradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE) was studied by employing a microbial strain isolated from the dumping site soil. The bacterium strain was identified as Bacillus tropicus (Gen Bank Accession no: MK318648) by 16S rRNA sequencing. The growth of the strain was observed on virgin LDPE during the biodegradation process. The change in properties of LDPE films before and after bacterial strain incubation was observed by FTIR, SEM, AFM, contact angle, mechanical and optical testing. Loss in mechanical properties and changes in optical properties of the polymer matrix was observed. Weight reduction by 10.15% and fall in the value of tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, Young's Modulus, hardness and stiffness to 8.59 MPa, 10.85 mm, 69.18 N, 272.36, 37.6 Shor D and 10,672.21 N/m respectively were observed after 40 days of incubation. The transparency and haze percentage were also changed to 93.7% and 18.6% respectively after the study period. The pH of the media was measured during incubation to evaluate the change due to formation of different extracellular and intracellular enzymes excreted by the strain. Hence, Bacillus tropicus could be an efficient microorganism to degrade 10-micron thickness LDPE films, thereby preventing its harmful impacts in the environment.

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Microbial degradation and other environmental aspects of microplastics/plastics

Cited by 553 publications

References 70 publications

Multifunctional Periphytic Biofilms: Polyethylene Degradation and Cd2+ and Pb2+ Bioremediation under High Methane Scenario

Multifunctional Periphytic Biofilms: Polyethylene Degradation and Cd2+ and Pb2+ Bioremediation under High Methane Scenario

Biodegradation of Unpretreated Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) by Stenotrophomonas sp. and Achromobacter sp., Isolated From Waste Dumpsite and Drilling Fluid

Biodegradation efficacy of soil inherent novel sp. Bacillus tropicus (MK318648) onto low density polyethylene matrix

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