Use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as new technique to remove polystyrene from aqueous medium: modeling, optimization, and performance

Abstract

MPs are widely found in various environments. PS is the second most common microplastic in sediments, freshwater, soil, and coastal ecosystems. S. cerevisiae was studied as a biocoagulant due to its advantages such as ease of use, non-toxicity, large-scale cultivability and low cost. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of S. cerevisiae in removing PS from aqueous solutions. BBD was used to determine the optimal removal conditions. The MPs were washed, dried, crushed, sieved, and kept in a closed container to avoid exposure to light and moisture. PS removal was measured under various parameters such as the dose of S. cerevisiae (100–300 mg/L), the concentration of PS (200–900 mg/L), and the pH (4–10). The suspension of PS and S. cerevisiae was stirred and subjected to variable speeds to disperse yeast cells and contact with PS particles. The formed clots were settled under static conditions, and the suspended MPs in the aqueous solution were measured by filtering through Whatman filter paper and recording its weight after drying. The maximum PS removal efficiency was 98.81% under optimized conditions, i.e., the PS concentration of 550 mg/L, the yeast dose of 200 mg/L, and the pH of 7. With regard to the mentioned results, it can be said that S. cerevisiae can be used as a natural and environmentally friendly biocoagulant to remove PS.

Using Spirulina platensis as a natural biocoagulant for polystyrene removal from aqueous medium: performance, optimization, and modeling

“…In some studies such as oak powder 19 , Aspergillus sp. 28 , and S. cerevisiae 29 was used to remove MPs from aquatic environment. S. platensis is a type of blue-green microalgae that is utilized for the purpose of eliminating pollutants, including heavy metals, organic compounds, and other contaminants, from aquatic environments 30 .…”

Polyethylene microplastics as adsorbent of diazinon in aqueous environments: optimization, and modeling, isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamic studies

“…MPs are synthetic polymer particles or fibers with sizes ranging from 0.1 to 5000 μm, and their concentration in water bodies and shorelines can be quite high (Nasrabadi et al 2023). Each year, approximately 300 million tons of MPs enter the environment, mostly in soil and freshwater environments (Zhang et al 2021;Zahmatkesh Anbarani et al 2024). MPs have a small size, large surface area, and high hydrophobicity, making them ideal carriers for various pollutants like pesticides, PCBs, cyanide, PAHs, Antibiotics, and heavy metals, which can easily spread throughout the ecosystem (Bonyadi et al 2012;Esmaili et al 2023;Yu et al 2024).…”

First-ever study uncovers microplastic contamination in Nepalese table salt

“…Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of aquatic plants (algae) and certain fungi in the removal of microplastics. Zahmatkesh Anbarani et al [ 38 ] found that Saccharomyces cerevisiae achieved 98.81 % polystyrene microplastic removal under optimized conditions, revealing its potential as a natural, eco-friendly biocoagulant. Similarly, Nasrabadi et al [ 39 ] reported that a significant portion of studies (34.21 %) in their review has found polymer biodegradation over 21–30 days, with 44 % focusing on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) biodegradation by various Aspergillus species.…”