Little is known about the synergistic effects of abiotic aging and biodegradation on microplastics (MPs) transformation in the environment. Herein, a hybrid process of MPs degradation was proposed by analyzing the effect of microorganisms and abiotic aging on aging MPs and non-aging MPs degradation during composting. The results showed that composting facilitated the oxidation and depolymerization of aging MPs, and its degradation efficiency was about three times that of non-aging MPs. Further investigation revealed that aging MPs contained higher abundance of plastic-degrading bacteria and enzyme activity than non-aging MPs. In addition, free radicals also influenced the degradation of MPs. However, path model and shielding experiments confirmed that free radicals mainly facilitated the non-aging MPs degradation (contribution was 68.8 %), while aging MPs was easily degraded by microorganisms (contribution was 72.6 %). This study provides promising strategies for scaling up plastic treatment in bioreactors through a hybrid collaboration of biological and abiotic processes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131167 | DOI Listing |
Environ Int
January 2025
Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, United Kingdom. Electronic address:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and environmental degradation are existential global public health threats. Linking microplastics (MPs) and AMR is particularly concerning as MPs pollution would have significant ramifications on controlling of AMR; however, the effects of MPs on the spread and genetic mechanisms of AMR bacteria remain unclear. Herein, we performed Simonsen end-point conjugation to investigate the impact of four commonly used MPs on transfer of clinically relevant plasmids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWater Res
January 2025
CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bio-resources Utilization, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China. Electronic address:
Microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments has been observed globally. However, the ecological risks of MP pollution in riverhead prior to highly urbanized region remain poorly understood. This study investigated MP pollution related to microbiome in sediments, and ecological risks of MPs in riverhead prior to urbanized area over 291 km of Minjiang River (MJR) in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Zhongshan Innovation Center of South China Agricultural University, Zhongshan 528400, China. Electronic address:
Mangrove sediments in southern China are a large reservoir for microplastics (MPs). In particular, polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) are environmentally toxic and have accumulated in large quantities in these sediments, posing a potential threat to the overall mangrove and the organisms that inhabit it. We screened sediments from 5 mangrove sites and identified a potential source of PE-MP degrading bacteria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFluids Barriers CNS
January 2025
Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Background: Iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) deficiency (MPS II; Hunter syndrome) is a disorder that exhibits peripheral and CNS pathology. The blood brain barrier (BBB) prevents systemic enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) from alleviating CNS pathology. We aimed to enable brain delivery of systemic ERT by using molecular BBB-Trojans targeting endothelial transcytosis receptors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEcotoxicol Environ Saf
January 2025
Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
The effects of microplastic (MP) accumulation in freshwaters on organisms and ecosystem functions are poorly understood, as are the roles of MP particle properties in regulating these effects. In freshwater microcosms, we quantified variation in microbial communities and ecosystem functions and compared effects of MP concentration (0, 1000, 50000 particles/kg), shape (sphere, fragment, fibre), and polymer (polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene) with those of a model invertebrate consumer (Chironomus riparius). We detected multiple effects of specific MP properties, especially associated with MP fragments and fibres, and the polymer polypropylene.
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