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Papale M, Fazi S, Severini M, Scarinci R, Dell'Acqua O, Azzaro M, Venuti V, Fazio B, Fazio E, Crupi V, Irrera A, Rizzo C, Giudice AL, Caruso G. Structural properties and microbial diversity of the biofilm colonizing plastic substrates in Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173773. [PMID: 38844237 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Microbial colonization on plastic polymers has been extensively explored, however the temporal dynamics of biofilm community in Antarctic environments are almost unknown. As a contribute to fill this knowledge gap, the structural characteristics and microbial diversity of the biofilm associated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE) panels submerged at 5 m of depth and collected after 3, 9 and 12 months were investigated in four coastal sites of the Ross Sea. Additional panels placed at 5 and 20 m were retrieved after 12 months. Chemical characterization was performed by FTIR-ATR and Raman (through Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering, SERS) spectroscopy. Bacterial community composition was quantified at a single cell level by Catalyzed Reporter Deposition Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (CARD-FISH) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM); microbial diversity was assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. This multidisciplinary approach has provided new insights into microbial community dynamics during biofouling process, shedding light on the biofilm diversity and temporal succession on plastic substrates in the Ross Sea. Significant differences between free-living and microbial biofilm communities were found, with a more consolidated and structured community composition on PVC compared to PE. Spectral features ascribable to tyrosine, polysaccharides, nucleic acids and lipids characterized the PVC-associated biofilms. Pseudomonadota (among Gamma-proteobacteria) and Alpha-proteobacteria dominated the microbial biofilm community. Interestingly, in Road Bay, close to the Italian "Mario Zucchelli" research station, the biofilm growth - already observed during summer season, after 3 months of submersion - continued afterwards leading to a massive microbial abundance at the end of winter (after 12 months). After 3 months, higher percentages of Gamma-proteobacteria in Road Bay than in the not-impacted site were found. These observations lead us to hypothesize that in this site microbial fouling developed during the first 3 months could serve as a starter pioneering community stimulating the successive growth during winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Papale
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council (CNR-ISP), Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Stefano Fazi
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Via Salaria km 29.300 CP10, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maila Severini
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Via Salaria km 29.300 CP10, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Scarinci
- Water Research Institute, National Research Council (CNR-IRSA), Via Salaria km 29.300 CP10, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Ombretta Dell'Acqua
- DISTAV, Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Corso Europa, 26, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Maurizio Azzaro
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council (CNR-ISP), Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Valentina Venuti
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Barbara Fazio
- URT "LabSens of Beyond Nano" of the Department of Physical Sciences and Technologies of Matter, National Research Council (CNR- DSFTM-ME), Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes, National Research Council (CNR-IPCF), Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 37, 98158 Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Enza Fazio
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Vincenza Crupi
- Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessia Irrera
- URT "LabSens of Beyond Nano" of the Department of Physical Sciences and Technologies of Matter, National Research Council (CNR- DSFTM-ME), Viale Ferdinando Stagno D'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
| | - Carmen Rizzo
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council (CNR-ISP), Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy; Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sicily Marine Centre, Villa Pace, Contrada Porticatello 29, 98167 Messina, Italy
| | - Angelina Lo Giudice
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council (CNR-ISP), Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gabriella Caruso
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council (CNR-ISP), Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy.
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Safdar A, Ismail F, Safdar M, Imran M. Eco-friendly approaches for mitigating plastic pollution: advancements and implications for a greener future. Biodegradation 2024; 35:493-518. [PMID: 38310578 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-023-10062-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution has become a global problem since the extensive use of plastic in industries such as packaging, electronics, manufacturing and construction, healthcare, transportation, and others. This has resulted in an environmental burden that is continually growing, which has inspired many scientists as well as environmentalists to come up with creative solutions to deal with this problem. Numerous studies have been reviewed to determine practical, affordable, and environmentally friendly solutions to regulate plastic waste by leveraging microbes' innate abilities to naturally decompose polymers. Enzymatic breakdown of plastics has been proposed to serve this goal since the discovery of enzymes from microbial sources that truly interact with plastic in its naturalistic environment and because it is a much faster and more effective method than others. The scope of diverse microbes and associated enzymes in polymer breakdown is highlighted in the current review. The use of co-cultures or microbial consortium-based techniques for the improved breakdown of plastic products and the generation of high-value end products that may be utilized as prototypes of bioenergy sources is highlighted. The review also offers a thorough overview of the developments in the microbiological and enzymatic biological degradation of plastics, as well as several elements that impact this process for the survival of our planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Safdar
- Department of Biochemistry, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
- The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Fatima Ismail
- Department of Biochemistry, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan.
- The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan.
| | - Maryem Safdar
- University College of Conventional Medicine, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
- The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Imran
- Institute of Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 5180600, Guangdong Province, China.
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Arif Y, Mir AR, Zieliński P, Hayat S, Bajguz A. Microplastics and nanoplastics: Source, behavior, remediation, and multi-level environmental impact. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 356:120618. [PMID: 38508005 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Plastics introduced into the natural environment persist, degrade, and fragment into smaller particles due to various environmental factors. Microplastics (MPs) (ranging from 1 μm to 5 mm) and nanoplastics (NPs) (less than 1 μm) have emerged as pollutants posing a significant threat to all life forms on Earth. Easily ingested by living organisms, they lead to ongoing bioaccumulation and biomagnification. This review summarizes existing studies on the sources of MPs and NPs in various environments, highlighting their widespread presence in air, water, and soil. It primarily focuses on the sources, fate, degradation, fragmentation, transport, and ecotoxicity of MPs and NPs. The aim is to elucidate their harmful effects on marine organisms, soil biota, plants, mammals, and humans, thereby enhancing the understanding of the complex impacts of plastic particles on the environment. Additionally, this review highlights remediation technologies and global legislative and institutional measures for managing waste associated with MPs and NPs. It also shows that effectively combating plastic pollution requires the synergization of diverse management, monitoring strategies, and regulatory measures into a comprehensive policy framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamshi Arif
- Department of Botany, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Anayat Rasool Mir
- Department of Botany, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Piotr Zieliński
- Department of Water Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Shamsul Hayat
- Department of Botany, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Andrzej Bajguz
- Department of Biology and Plant Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1J, 15-245, Bialystok, Poland.
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Istomina A, Chelomin V, Mazur A, Zhukovskaya A, Karpenko A, Mazur M. Biodegradation of polyethylene in digestive gland homogenates of marine invertebrates. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17041. [PMID: 38426135 PMCID: PMC10903337 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Вiotic factors may be the driving force of plastic fragmentation along with abiotic factors. Since understanding the processes of biodegradation and biological depolymerization of plastic is important, a new methodological approach was proposed in this study to investigate the role of marine invertebrate digestive enzymes in plastic biodegradation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility of enzymatic biodegradation of polyethylene fragments in the digestive gland homogenate of marine invertebrates differing in their feeding type (Strongylocentrotus nudus, Patiria pectinifera, Mizuhopecten yessoensis). Significant changes are found in the functional groups of the polymer after 3 days of incubation in the digestive gland homogenates of the studied marine invertebrates. A significant increase in the calculated CI (carbonyl index) and COI (сarbon-oxygen index) indices compared to the control sample was observed. The results suggest that digestive enzymes of studied organisms may play an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of plastic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Istomina
- V.I. Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Victor Chelomin
- V.I. Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Andrey Mazur
- V.I. Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Avianna Zhukovskaya
- V.I. Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Alexander Karpenko
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Marina Mazur
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
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Sun Y, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Xin R, Li X, Niu Z. Exploring the potential of a new marine bacterium associated with plastisphere to metabolize dibutyl phthalate and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate by enrichment cultures combined with multi-omics analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123146. [PMID: 38101529 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) plasticizers are virulent endocrine disruptors that are mixed into plastics while fabricating and can filter out once they release into the surrounding environments. Plastic surfaces serve as new habitats for microorganisms, referred to as 'plastisphere'. Previous metagenomic investigations of the 'plastisphere' indicated that marine plastic surfaces may harbor microbes that degrade PAEs plasticizers. To our knowledge, the potential of microorganisms in the marine 'plastisphere' to metabolize PAEs is poorly understood. In this study, by screening the natural microbial community on plastic debris that had been deployed in situ for up to 20 months, a novel marine bacterium, Microbacterium esteraromaticum DEHP-1, was successfully isolated, which could degrade and mineralize 10-200 mg/L dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). According to the results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and whole genome mining of strain DEHP-1, we found that strain DEHP-1 may metabolize DBP by successive removal of the ester side chain by esterase 2518 to produce mono-butyl phthalate (MBP) and phthalic acid (PA), whereas the degradation of DEHP may take place by the direct action of monooxygenase 0132 on the fatty acid side chain of the DEHP molecule to produce di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP) and DBP, and then the subsequent hydrolysis of DBP by de-esterification to PA and finally into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Non-targeted metabolomics results showed that intracellular degradation of PAEs did not happen. However, exposure to PAEs was found to significantly affect pathways such as arginine and proline, riboflavin, glutathione and lysine degradation. Therefore, the intracellular metabolic behavior of strain DEHP-1 exposed to PAEs was proposed for the first time. This study sheds light on the metabolic capacity and strategies of bacteria in the marine 'plastisphere' to effectively degrade PAEs and highlights the importance of marine microbes in mitigating plastic poisonousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueling Sun
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yongzheng Ma
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Rui Xin
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zhiguang Niu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; International Joint Institute of Tianjin University, Fuzhou, Fuzhou, 350205, China.
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Bhanot V, Mamta, Gupta S, Panwar J. Phylloplane fungus Curvularia dactyloctenicola VJP08 effectively degrades commercially available PS product. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 351:119920. [PMID: 38157570 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Polystyrene (PS), a widely produced plastic with an extended carbon (C-C) backbone that resists microbial attack, is produced in enormous quantities throughout the World. Naturally occurring plasticizers such as plant cuticle and lignocelluloses share similar properties to synthetic plastics such as hydrophobicity, structural complexity, and higher recalcitrance to degradation. In due course of time, phytopathogenic fungi have evolved strategies to overcome these limitations and utilize lignocellulosic waste for their nutrition. The present investigation focuses on the utilization of phylloplane fungus, Curvularia dactyloctenicola VJP08 towards its ability to colonize and degrade commercially available PS lids. The fungus was observed to densely grow onto PS samples over an incubation period of 30 days. The morphological changes showcased extensive fungal growth with mycelial imbrication invading the PS surface for carbon extraction leading to the appearance of cracks and holes in the PS surface. It was further confirmed by EDS analysis which indicated that carbon was extracted from PS for the fungal growth. Further, 3.57% decrease in the weight, 8.8% decrease in the thickness and 2 °C decrease in the glass transition temperature (Tg) confirmed alterations in the structural integrity of PS samples by the fungal action. GC-MS/MS analysis of the treated PS samples also showed significant decrease in the concentration of benzene and associated aromatic derivatives confirming the degradation of PS samples and subsequent utilization of generated by-products by the fungus for growth. Overall, the present study confirmed the degradation and utilization of commercially available PS samples by phylloplane fungus C. dactyloctenicola VJP08. These findings establish a clear cross-assessment of the phylloplane fungi for their prospective use in the development of degradation strategies of synthetic plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishalakshi Bhanot
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Mamta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Suresh Gupta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Jitendra Panwar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani, 333031, Rajasthan, India.
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Yuan W, Hibi Y, Tamura R, Sumita M, Nakamura Y, Naito M, Tsuda K. Revealing factors influencing polymer degradation with rank-based machine learning. PATTERNS (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 4:100846. [PMID: 38106610 PMCID: PMC10724228 DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2023.100846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The efficient treatment of polymer waste is a major challenge for marine sustainability. It is useful to reveal the factors that dominate the degradability of polymer materials for developing polymer materials in the future. The small number of available datasets on degradability and the diversity of their experimental means and conditions hinder large-scale analysis. In this study, we have developed a platform for evaluating the degradability of polymers that is suitable for such data, using a rank-based machine learning technique based on RankSVM. We then made a ranking model to evaluate the degradability of polymers, integrating three datasets on the degradability of polymers that are measured by different means and conditions. Analysis of this ranking model with a decision tree revealed factors that dominate the degradability of polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weilin Yuan
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
| | - Yusuke Hibi
- Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - Ryo Tamura
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
- Center for Basic Research on Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
| | - Masato Sumita
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Nakamura
- Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - Masanobu Naito
- Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - Koji Tsuda
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
- Center for Basic Research on Materials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project, 1-4-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0027, Japan
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Di Pippo F, Bocci V, Amalfitano S, Crognale S, Levantesi C, Pietrelli L, Di Lisio V, Martinelli A, Rossetti S. Microbial colonization patterns and biodegradation of petrochemical and biodegradable plastics in lake waters: insights from a field experiment. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1290441. [PMID: 38125574 PMCID: PMC10731271 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1290441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Once dispersed in water, plastic materials become promptly colonized by biofilm-forming microorganisms, commonly known as plastisphere. Methods By combining DNA sequencing and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), we investigated the plastisphere colonization patterns following exposure to natural lake waters (up to 77 days) of either petrochemical or biodegradable plastic materials (low density polyethylene - LDPE, polyethylene terephthalate - PET, polylactic acid - PLA, and the starch-based MaterBi® - Mb) in comparison to planktonic community composition. Chemical composition, water wettability, and morphology of plastic surfaces were evaluated, through Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and static contact angle analysis, to assess the possible effects of microbial colonization and biodegradation activity. Results and Discussion The phylogenetic composition of plastisphere and planktonic communities was notably different. Pioneering microbial colonisers, likely selected from lake waters, were found associated with all plastic materials, along with a core of more than 30 abundant bacterial families associated with all polymers. The different plastic materials, either derived from petrochemical hydrocarbons (i.e., LDPE and PET) or biodegradable (PLA and Mb), were used by opportunistic aquatic microorganisms as adhesion surfaces rather than carbon sources. The Mb-associated microorganisms (i.e. mostly members of the family Burkholderiaceae) were likely able to degrade the starch residues on the polymer surfaces, although the Mb matrix maintained its original chemical structure and morphology. Overall, our findings provide insights into the complex interactions between aquatic microorganisms and plastic materials found in lake waters, highlighting the importance of understanding the plastisphere dynamics to better manage the fate of plastic debris in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Pippo
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Bocci
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Amalfitano
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Simona Crognale
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Caterina Levantesi
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Valerio Di Lisio
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal, San Sebastián, Spain
| | | | - Simona Rossetti
- Water Research Institute, CNR-IRSA, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
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Bhatt P, Bhatt K, Huang Y, Li J, Wu S, Chen S. Biofilm formation in xenobiotic-degrading microorganisms. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2023; 43:1129-1149. [PMID: 36170978 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2106417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The increased presence of xenobiotics affects living organisms and the environment at large on a global scale. Microbial degradation is effective for the removal of xenobiotics from the ecosystem. In natural habitats, biofilms are formed by single or multiple populations attached to biotic/abiotic surfaces and interfaces. The attachment of microbial cells to these surfaces is possible via the matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). However, the molecular machinery underlying the development of biofilms differs depending on the microbial species. Biofilms act as biocatalysts and degrade xenobiotic compounds, thereby removing them from the environment. Quorum sensing (QS) helps with biofilm formation and is linked to the development of biofilms in natural contaminated sites. To date, scant information is available about the biofilm-mediated degradation of toxic chemicals from the environment. Therefore, we review novel insights into the impact of microbial biofilms in xenobiotic contamination remediation, the regulation of biofilms in contaminated sites, and the implications for large-scale xenobiotic compound treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Bhatt
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Kalpana Bhatt
- Department of Food Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Yaohua Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jiayi Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Siyi Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Shaohua Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
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Sun Y, Zhang Y, Hao X, Zhang X, Ma Y, Niu Z. A novel marine bacterium Exiguobacterium marinum a-1 isolated from in situ plastisphere for degradation of additive-free polypropylene. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 336:122390. [PMID: 37597737 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
As the ecological niche most closely associated with polymers, microorganisms in the 'plastisphere' have great potential for plastics degradation. Microorganisms isolated from the 'plastisphere' could colonize and degrade commercial plastics containing different additives, but the observed weight loss and surface changes were most likely caused by releasing the additives rather than actual degradation of the plastics itself. Unlike commercial plastics that contain additives, whether marine microorganisms in the 'plastisphere' have adapted to additive-free plastics as a surface to colonize and potentially degrade is not yet known. Herein, a novel marine bacterium, Exiguobacterium marinum a-1, was successfully isolated from mature 'plastisphere' that had been deployed in situ for up to 20 months. Strain a-1 could use additive-free polypropylene (PP) films as its primary energy and carbon source. After strain a-1 was incubated with additive-free PP films for 80 days, the weight of films decreased by 9.2%. The ability of strain a-1 to rapidly form biofilms and effectively colonize the surface of additive-free PP films was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), as reflected by the increase in roughness and visible craters on the surface of additive-free PP films. Additionally, the functional groups of -CO, -C-H, and -OH were identified on the treated additive-free PP films according to Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). Genomic data from strain a-1 revealed a suite of key genes involved in biosurfactant synthesis, flagellar assembly, and cellular chemotaxis, contributing to its rapid biofilm formation on hydrophobic polymer surfaces. In particular, key enzymes that may be responsible for the degradation of additive-free PP films, such as glutathione peroxidase, cytochrome p450 and esterase were also recognized. This study highlights the potential of microorganisms present in the 'plastisphere' to metabolize plastic polymers and points to the intrinsic importance of the new strain a-1 in the mitigation of plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueling Sun
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xiaohan Hao
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xiaohan Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yongzheng Ma
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zhiguang Niu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; International Joint Institute of Tianjin University, Fuzhou, Fuzhou, 350205, China.
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11
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Karkanorachaki K, Syranidou E, Kalogerakis N. Extreme weather events as an important factor for the evolution of plastisphere but not for the degradation process. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 246:120687. [PMID: 37801984 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Marine plastics, with their negative effects on marine life and the human health, have been recently recognized as a new niche for the colonization and development of marine biofilms. Members of the colonizing communities could possess the potential for plastic biodegradation. Thus, there is an urgent need to characterize these complex and geographically variable communities and elucidate the functionalities. In this work, we characterize the fungal and bacterial colonizers of 5 types of plastic films (High Density Polyethylene, Low Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene and Polyethylene Terepthalate) over the course of a 242-day incubation in the south-eastern Mediterranean and relate them to the chemical changes observed on the surface of the samples via ATR-FTIR. The 16s rRNA and ITS2 ribosomal regions of the plastisphere communities were sequenced on four time points (35, 152, 202 and 242 days). The selection of the time points was dictated by the occurrence of a severe storm which removed biological fouling from the surface of the samples and initiated a second colonization period. The bacterial communities, dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, were the most variable and diverse. Fungal communities, characterized mainly by the presence of Ascomycota, were not significantly affected by the storm. Neither bacterial nor fungal community structure were related to the polymer type acting as substrate, while the surface of the plastic samples underwent weathering of oscillating degrees with time. This work examines the long-term development of Mediterranean epiplastic biofilms and is the first to examine how primary colonization influences the microbial community re-attachment and succession as a response to extreme weather events. Finally, it is one of the few studies to examine fungal communities, despite them containing putative plastic degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Karkanorachaki
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, GR-73100, Chania, Greece
| | - Evdokia Syranidou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, GR-73100, Chania, Greece
| | - Nicolas Kalogerakis
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, GR-73100, Chania, Greece; Institute of GeoEnergy, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, GR-73100, Chania, Greece.
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12
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Shahi Khalaf Ansar B, Kavusi E, Dehghanian Z, Pandey J, Asgari Lajayer B, Price GW, Astatkie T. Removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from the air, soil, and water by algae. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:116538-116566. [PMID: 35680750 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-21283-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rapid increases in human populations and development has led to a significant exploitation of natural resources around the world. On the other hand, humans have come to terms with the consequences of their past mistakes and started to address current and future resource utilization challenges. Today's primary challenge is figuring out and implementing eco-friendly, inexpensive, and innovative solutions for conservation issues such as environmental pollution, carbon neutrality, and manufacturing effluent/wastewater treatment, along with xenobiotic contamination of the natural ecosystem. One of the most promising approaches to reduce the environmental contamination load is the utilization of algae for bioremediation. Owing to their significant biosorption capacity to deactivate hazardous chemicals, macro-/microalgae are among the primary microorganisms that can be utilized for phytoremediation as a safe method for curtailing environmental pollution. In recent years, the use of algae to overcome environmental problems has advanced technologically, such as through synthetic biology and high-throughput phenomics, which is increasing the likelihood of attaining sustainability. As the research progresses, there is a promise for a greener future and the preservation of healthy ecosystems by using algae. They might act as a valuable tool in creating new products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnaz Shahi Khalaf Ansar
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Elaheh Kavusi
- Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Dehghanian
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Janhvi Pandey
- Division of Agronomy and Soil Science, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Behnam Asgari Lajayer
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Gordon W Price
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada
| | - Tess Astatkie
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada
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13
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He L, Yang SS, Ding J, He ZL, Pang JW, Xing DF, Zhao L, Zheng HS, Ren NQ, Wu WM. Responses of gut microbiomes to commercial polyester polymer biodegradation in Tenebrio molitor Larvae. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 457:131759. [PMID: 37276692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a mass-produced fossil-based plastic polymer that contributes to catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Here we demonstrated that Tenebrio molitor (mealworms) was capable of rapidly biodegrading two commercial PET resins (microplastics) with respective weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 39.33 and 29.43 kDa and crystallinity of 22.8 ± 3.06% and 18 ± 2.25%, resulting in an average mass reduction of 71.03% and 73.28% after passage of their digestive tract, and respective decrease by 9.22% and 11.36% in Mw of residual PET polymer in egested frass. Sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene amplicons of gut microbial communities showed that dominant bacterial genera were enriched and associated with PET degradation. Also, PICRUSt prediction exhibited that oxidases (monooxygenases and dioxygenases), hydrolases (cutinase, carboxylesterase and chitinase), and PET metabolic enzymes, and chemotaxis related functions were up-regulated in the PET-fed larvae. Additionally, metabolite analyses revealed that PET uptake caused alterations of stress response and plastic degradation related pathways, and lipid metabolism pathways in the T. molitor larvae could be reprogrammed when the larvae fed on PET. This study provides new insights into gut microbial community adaptation to PET diet under nutritional stress (especially nitrogen deficiency) and its contribution to PET degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei He
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Shan-Shan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Jie Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Zhi-Li He
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Ji-Wei Pang
- China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, CECEP Talroad Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing 100096, China
| | - De-Feng Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - He-Shan Zheng
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, China
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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14
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Karkanorachaki K, Syranidou E, Maravelaki PN, Kalogerakis N. Intertwined synergistic abiotic and biotic degradation of polypropylene pellets in marine mesocosms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 457:131710. [PMID: 37276696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans has caused growing concern for its effects on marine life. The interactions of plastics with environmental factors have been linked to fragmentation to micro- and nanoparticles with different properties and consequences, but the mechanism of fragmentation has not been fully understood yet. In this work, we investigate the combined effect of marine communities and ultraviolet (UV) radiation towards the degradation of virgin and artificially weathered polypropylene (PP) pellets after a long-term incubation period in marine mesocosms. The surface chemical alterations and deterioration of the polymer, in conjunction with the attachment and evolution of marine bacterial communities, the development of biofilm and exopolymeric substances (EPS), as well as the colloidal properties (zeta-potential and hydrodynamic diameter) of the mesocosms were studied. The surface area of both types of pellets decreased over time, despite no concrete weight change being observed. Cell growth, EPS production and colloid particle size were correlated to the loss of area. Therefore, we propose that surface area could be effectively monitored, instead of weight loss, as an alternative indicator of polymer degradation in biodegradation experiments. Changes in the chemical structure of the polymer, in addition to the evolution of the biological factors, implied that a complex degradation process alternated between two phases: an abiotic phase, when UV irradiation contributes to the deterioration of the polymer surface layers and a biotic phase, when marine communities degrade the weathered polymer surface to reveal the underlying layer of virgin polymer. Finally, microscopic particles, produced as a result of the decrease in pellet area, promoted the aggregation of colloidal particles. The role and impacts of these colloidal particles in marine ecosystems are yet as unidentified as that of micro- and nano-sized plastic particles and call for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Karkanorachaki
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Evdokia Syranidou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | | | - Nicolas Kalogerakis
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; Institute of GeoEnergy, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Chania, Greece.
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15
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Sourkouni G, Jeremić S, Kalogirou C, Höfft O, Nenadovic M, Jankovic V, Rajasekaran D, Pandis P, Padamati R, Nikodinovic-Runic J, Argirusis C. Study of PLA pre-treatment, enzymatic and model-compost degradation, and valorization of degradation products to bacterial nanocellulose. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 39:161. [PMID: 37067621 PMCID: PMC10110681 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03605-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
It is well acknowledged that microplastics are a major environmental problem and that the use of plastics, both petro- and bio- based, should be reduced. Nevertheless, it is also a necessity to reduce the amount of the already spread plastics. These cannot be easily degraded in the nature and accumulate in the food supply chain with major danger for animals and human life. It has been shown in the literature that advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) modify the surface of polylactic acid (PLA) materials in a way that bacteria more efficiently dock on their surface and eventually degrade them. In the present work we investigated the influence of different AOPs (ultrasounds, ultraviolet irradiation, and their combination) on the biodegradability of PLA films treated for different times between 1 and 6 h. The pre-treated samples have been degraded using a home model compost as well as a cocktail of commercial enzymes at mesophilic temperatures (37 °C and 42 °C, respectively). Degradation degree has been measured and degradation products have been identified. Excellent degradation of PLA films has been achieved with enzyme cocktail containing commercial alkaline proteases and lipases of up to 90% weight loss. For the first time, we also report valorization of PLA into bacterial nanocellulose after enzymatic hydrolysis of the samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Sourkouni
- Clausthal Centre for Materials Technology (CZM), Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 9, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany.
| | - Sanja Jeremić
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University of Belgrade (UB), Vojvode Stepe 444a,, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia
| | - Charalampia Kalogirou
- Clausthal Centre for Materials Technology (CZM), Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 9, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou St., Zografou Campus, 15773, Athens, Greece
| | - Oliver Höfft
- Institute for Electrochemistry, Clausthal University of Technology, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
| | - Marija Nenadovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University of Belgrade (UB), Vojvode Stepe 444a,, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia
| | - Vukasin Jankovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University of Belgrade (UB), Vojvode Stepe 444a,, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia
| | - Divya Rajasekaran
- School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Pavlos Pandis
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou St., Zografou Campus, 15773, Athens, Greece
| | - Ramesh Padamati
- School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE), University of Belgrade (UB), Vojvode Stepe 444a,, 11042, Belgrade 152, Serbia
| | - Christos Argirusis
- Clausthal Centre for Materials Technology (CZM), Clausthal University of Technology, Leibnizstr. 9, 38678, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
- School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechneiou St., Zografou Campus, 15773, Athens, Greece
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16
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Hu J, Lim FY, Hu J. Characteristics and behaviors of microplastics undergoing photoaging and Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) initiated aging. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 232:119628. [PMID: 36774752 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The fact that 94% of microplastics (MPs) ubiquitous in the environment are subject to natural weathering makes the aging study currently a research hotspot. This review summarized the physicochemical characteristics of MPs undergoing natural and artificial aging and evaluated current analytical methods used in aging studies. Besides, the differences in photoaging and aging induced by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) were discussed, leading to a conclusion that AOPs composed of oxidant and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation can better facilitate the alteration of MPs compared to UV irradiation alone. In addition, the environmental behavior of aged MPs was outlined and their adsorption properties for organics and metals were highlighted as a result of combined effects of hydrophobic, π-π, diffusion, and hydrogen bond interaction. Furthermore, the mechanisms of photoaging and AOPs-initiated aging were analyzed, mainly the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs). Finally, the applications of two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra using excitation emission matrix-parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) were discussed for the aging process analysis. This overview plays an important role in explaining the aging characteristics of MPs and provides a theoretical foundation for further investigations into their toxicity and removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyuan Hu
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, 117576, Singapore
| | - Fang Yee Lim
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, 117576, Singapore
| | - Jiangyong Hu
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, 117576, Singapore.
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17
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Wang Y, Hu T, Zhang W, Lin J, Wang Z, Lyu S, Tong H. Biodegradation of polylactic acid by a mesophilic bacteria Bacillus safensis. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 318:137991. [PMID: 36716940 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A mesophilic bacterial strain, Bacillus safensis PLA1006, was isolated from landfill soil and was tested for growth on polylactic acid (PLA) emulsion medium. The strain formed clear zones on the medium and produced protease and lipase. The macroscopic morphology of the PLA films was not changed significantly after treatment with Bacillus safensis PLA1006 but the films were whitened. Weight loss of PLA films was about 8% after 30 days of incubation with Bacillus safensis PLA1006 in mineral salt medium. Scanning electron microscopy revealed etching on the surface of PLA film treated by Bacillus safensis PLA1006. This also caused an increase in hydrophilicity of the PLA films surface. Attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of PLA films after treated by Bacillus safensis PLA1006 showed no new absorption peaks but a decrease in the intensity of all absorption peaks. The hydrolysis products of PLA by the strain contained monomers and oligomers of lactic acid. Zymogram detection showed that proteases may play a role in the degradation of PLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Wang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Ting Hu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Wanting Zhang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Jinwei Lin
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Zhanyong Wang
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China; Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Extreme-environmental Microbiology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.
| | - Shuxia Lyu
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.
| | - Haibin Tong
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
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18
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Anand U, Dey S, Bontempi E, Ducoli S, Vethaak AD, Dey A, Federici S. Biotechnological methods to remove microplastics: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS 2023; 21:1787-1810. [PMID: 36785620 PMCID: PMC9907217 DOI: 10.1007/s10311-022-01552-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics pollution is major threat to ecosystems and is impacting abiotic and biotic components. Microplastics are diverse and highly complex contaminants that transport other contaminants and microbes. Current methods to remove microplastics include biodegradation, incineration, landfilling, and recycling. Here we review microplastics with focus on sources, toxicity, and biodegradation. We discuss the role of algae, fungi, bacteria in the biodegradation, and we present biotechnological methods to enhance degradation, e.g., gene editing tools and bioinformatics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uttpal Anand
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8499000 Midreshet Ben Gurion, Israel
| | - Satarupa Dey
- Department of Botany, Shyampur Siddheswari Mahavidyalaya, University of Calcutta, Ajodhya, Shyampur, Howrah, 711312 India
| | - Elza Bontempi
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, INSTM Unit of Brescia, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Serena Ducoli
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, INSTM Unit of Brescia, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - A. Dick Vethaak
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073 India
| | - Stefania Federici
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, INSTM Unit of Brescia, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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19
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Zhai X, Zhang XH, Yu M. Microbial colonization and degradation of marine microplastics in the plastisphere: A review. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1127308. [PMID: 36876073 PMCID: PMC9981674 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1127308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine microplastic pollution is a growing problem for ecotoxicology that needs to be resolved. In particular, microplastics may be carriers of "dangerous hitchhikers," pathogenic microorganisms, i.e., Vibrio. Microplastics are colonized by bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea, algae and protozoans, resulting in the biofilm referred to as the "plastisphere." The microbial community composition of the plastisphere differs significantly from those of surrounding environments. Early dominant pioneer communities of the plastisphere belong to primary producers, including diatoms, cyanobacteria, green algae and bacterial members of the Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria. With time, the plastisphere mature, and the diversity of microbial communities increases quickly to include more abundant Bacteroidetes and Alphaproteobacteria than natural biofilms. Factors driving the plastisphere composition include environmental conditions and polymers, with the former having a much larger influence on the microbial community composition than polymers. Microorganisms of the plastisphere may play key roles in degradation of plastic in the oceans. Up to now, many bacterial species, especially Bacillus and Pseudomonas as well as some polyethylene degrading biocatalysts, have been shown to be capable of degrading microplastics. However, more relevant enzymes and metabolisms need to be identified. Here, we elucidate the potential roles of quorum sensing on the plastic research for the first time. Quorum sensing may well become a new research area to understand the plastisphere and promote microplastics degradation in the ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zhai
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao-Hua Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China.,Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Min Yu
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China.,Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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20
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Zhi Xiang JK, Bairoliya S, Cho ZT, Cao B. Plastic-microbe interaction in the marine environment: Research methods and opportunities. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 171:107716. [PMID: 36587499 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 9 million metric tons of plastics enters the ocean annually, and once in the marine environment, plastic surfaces can be quickly colonised by marine microorganisms, forming a biofilm. Studies on plastic debris-biofilm associations, known as plastisphere, have increased exponentially within the last few years. In this review, we first briefly summarise methods and techniques used in exploring plastic-microbe interactions. Then we highlight research gaps and provide future research opportunities for marine plastisphere studies, especially, on plastic characterisation and standardised biodegradation tests, the fate of "environmentally friendly" plastics, and plastisphere of coastal habitats. Located in the tropics, Southeast Asian (SEA) countries are significant contributors to marine plastic debris. However, plastisphere studies in this region are lacking and therefore, we discuss how the unique environmental conditions in the SEA seas may affect plastic-microbe interaction and why there is an imperative need to conduct plastisphere studies in SEA marine environments. Finally, we also highlight the lack of understanding of the pathogenicity and ecotoxicological effects of plastisphere on marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Koh Zhi Xiang
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Sakcham Bairoliya
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Zin Thida Cho
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Bin Cao
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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21
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Goudriaan M, Morales VH, van der Meer MTJ, Mets A, Ndhlovu RT, van Heerwaarden J, Simon S, Heuer VB, Hinrichs KU, Niemann H. A stable isotope assay with 13C-labeled polyethylene to investigate plastic mineralization mediated by Rhodococcus ruber. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 186:114369. [PMID: 36462423 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Methods that unambiguously prove microbial plastic degradation and allow for quantification of degradation rates are necessary to constrain the influence of microbial degradation on the marine plastic budget. We developed an assay based on stable isotope tracer techniques to determine microbial plastic mineralization rates in liquid medium on a lab scale. For the experiments, 13C-labeled polyethylene (13C-PE) particles (irradiated with UV-light to mimic exposure of floating plastic to sunlight) were incubated in liquid medium with Rhodococcus ruber as a model organism for proof of principle. The transfer of 13C from 13C-PE into the gaseous and dissolved CO2 pools translated to microbially mediated mineralization rates of up to 1.2 % yr-1 of the added PE. After incubation, we also found highly 13C-enriched membrane fatty acids of R. ruber including compounds involved in cellular stress responses. We demonstrated that isotope tracer techniques are a valuable tool to detect and quantify microbial plastic degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Goudriaan
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB), Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), 1797 SZ 't Horntje, the Netherlands.
| | - Victor Hernando Morales
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB), Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), 1797 SZ 't Horntje, the Netherlands; Centro de Investigación Mariña, University of Vigo, Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Biological Oceanography Group, 36319 Vigo, Spain
| | - Marcel T J van der Meer
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB), Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), 1797 SZ 't Horntje, the Netherlands
| | - Anchelique Mets
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB), Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), 1797 SZ 't Horntje, the Netherlands
| | - Rachel T Ndhlovu
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB), Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), 1797 SZ 't Horntje, the Netherlands
| | - Johan van Heerwaarden
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB), Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), 1797 SZ 't Horntje, the Netherlands
| | - Sina Simon
- MARUM-Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany
| | - Verena B Heuer
- MARUM-Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany
| | - Kai-Uwe Hinrichs
- MARUM-Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany
| | - Helge Niemann
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB), Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), 1797 SZ 't Horntje, the Netherlands; Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands; CAGE-Centre for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate, Department of Geosciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
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22
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Gomez NCF, Onda DFL. Potential of sediment bacterial communities from Manila Bay (Philippines) to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Arch Microbiol 2022; 205:38. [PMID: 36565350 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-03366-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The persistence of plastics and its effects in different environments where they accumulate, particularly in coastal areas, is of serious concern. These plastics exhibit signs of degradation, possibly mediated by microorganisms. In this study, we investigated the potential of sediment microbial communities from Manila Bay, Philippines, which has a severe plastics problem, to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Plastics in selected sites were quantified and sediment samples from sites with the lowest and highest plastic accumulation were collected. These sediments were then introduced and incubated with LDPE in vitro for a period of 91 days. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy detected the appearance of carbonyl and vinyl products on the plastic surface, indicating structural surface modifications attributed to polymer degradation. Communities attached to the plastics were profiled using high-throughput sequencing of the V4-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Members of the phylum Proteobacteria dominated the plastic surface throughout the experiment. Several bacterial taxa associated with hydrocarbon degradation were also enriched, with some taxa positively correlating with the biodegradation indices, suggesting potential active roles in the partial biodegradation of plastics. Other taxa were also present, which might be consuming by-products or providing nourishment for other groups, indicating synergy in utilizing the plastic as the main carbon source and creation of a microenvironment within the plastics biofilm. This study showed that sediment microbes from Manila Bay may have naturally occurring microbial groups potentially capable of partially degrading plastics, supporting previous studies that the biodegradation potential for plastics is ubiquitously present in marine microbial assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norchel Corcia F Gomez
- Microbial Oceanography Laboratory, The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Velasquez St., 1101, Quezon City, Philippines
| | - Deo Florence L Onda
- Microbial Oceanography Laboratory, The Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman, Velasquez St., 1101, Quezon City, Philippines.
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23
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de Villalobos NF, Costa MC, Marín-Beltrán I. A community of marine bacteria with potential to biodegrade petroleum-based and biobased microplastics. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 185:114251. [PMID: 36330933 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The biodegradability conditions for both, petroleum-based plastics and bioplastics needs to be evaluated under environmentally realistic conditions. We assessed the biodegradability of low-density polyethylene and biobased polyethylene terephthalate microplastic films by a consortium of marine bacteria during 45 days. Bacterial growth and pH were higher in the samples inoculated with bacteria, compared to the controls. Fourier Infrared spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance and scanning electron microscopy indicated changes in the chemical functional groups, and the presence of fractures and biofilms in the surface of both plastics exposed to the bacterial community, respectively. The chemical oxygen demand further indicated signs of biodegradation of both polymers. Specific groups of bacteria showed preference for each type of microplastic. Overall, our results show signs of biodegradation, or at least biodeterioration and biofragmentation, of both types of plastics, when subjected to the selected bacterial community. Biobased PET was no more prone to biodegradation than conventional, petroleum-based LDPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Fernández de Villalobos
- Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Building 7, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Maria Clara Costa
- Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Building 7, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Marín-Beltrán
- Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Building 7, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
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24
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Zadjelovic V, Erni-Cassola G, Obrador-Viel T, Lester D, Eley Y, Gibson MI, Dorador C, Golyshin PN, Black S, Wellington EMH, Christie-Oleza JA. A mechanistic understanding of polyethylene biodegradation by the marine bacterium Alcanivorax. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 436:129278. [PMID: 35739790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most recalcitrant carbon-based synthetic materials produced and, currently, the most ubiquitous plastic pollutant found in nature. Over time, combined abiotic and biotic processes are thought to eventually breakdown PE. Despite limited evidence of biological PE degradation and speculation that hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria found within the plastisphere is an indication of biodegradation, there is no clear mechanistic understanding of the process. Here, using high-throughput proteomics, we investigated the molecular processes that take place in the hydrocarbon-degrading marine bacterium Alcanivorax sp. 24 when grown in the presence of low density PE (LDPE). As well as efficiently utilising and assimilating the leachate of weathered LDPE, the bacterium was able to reduce the molecular weight distribution (Mw from 122 to 83 kg/mol) and overall mass of pristine LDPE films (0.9 % after 34 days of incubation). Most interestingly, Alcanivorax acquired the isotopic signature of the pristine plastic and induced an extensive array of metabolic pathways for aliphatic compound degradation. Presumably, the primary biodegradation of LDPE by Alcanivorax sp. 24 is possible via the production of extracellular reactive oxygen species as observed both by the material's surface oxidation and the measurement of superoxide in the culture with LDPE. Our findings confirm that hydrocarbon-biodegrading bacteria within the plastisphere may in fact have a role in degrading PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinko Zadjelovic
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - Gabriel Erni-Cassola
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK; Program Man-Society-Environment (MGU), University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Theo Obrador-Viel
- Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma 07122, Spain
| | - Daniel Lester
- Polymer Characterisation Research Technology Platform, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Yvette Eley
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, UK
| | - Matthew I Gibson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Cristina Dorador
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Chile; Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta Angamos 601, Antofagasta, Chile; Centre for Biotechnology & Bioengineering (CeBiB) Santiago, Chile
| | - Peter N Golyshin
- Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Stuart Black
- Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, UK
| | | | - Joseph A Christie-Oleza
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK; Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma 07122, Spain.
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25
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Yang X, Li L, Zhao W, Li X, Mu Y, Chen M, Wu X. Substitute for polyethylene (PE) films: A novel cow dung-based liquid mulch on silage cornfields. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271273. [PMID: 35830433 PMCID: PMC9278788 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
To prevent soil pollution caused by polyethylene (PE) films in the central region of Gansu, China, liquid mulching made from cow dung (CDLM) was trailed in silage maize fields. The degradation of CDLM and PE films, soil temperature, soil organic matter content, silage maize yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were evaluated for three years (2018–2020). The degradability of CDLM has been found to be much stronger than the one of PE films, with CDLM degrading 40–60 days after sowing and finishing around 100 days. CDLM had a lower insulating impact than PE films but a higher insulating effect than non-mulching films as the control (CK); CDLM could successfully increase soil organic matter, with a total increase of 1.01% over three years. CDLM increased silage maize yield by 6.2% compared to PE films and 17.2% compared to CK. Consequently, CDLM may be an interesting alternative to PE films for enhancing silage maize yield while decreasing soil contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjun Yang
- Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lu Li
- Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wuyun Zhao
- Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Xuan Li
- Faculty of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | | | - Maohan Chen
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Wu
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
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26
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Zhang Y, Pedersen JN, Eser BE, Guo Z. Biodegradation of polyethylene and polystyrene: From microbial deterioration to enzyme discovery. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 60:107991. [PMID: 35654281 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The global production of plastics has continuously been soaring over the last decades due to their extensive use in our daily life and in industries. Although synthetic plastics offer great advantages from packaging to construction and electronics, their low biodegradability induce serious plastic pollution that damage the environment, human health and make irreversible changes in the ecological cycle. In particular, plastics containing only carbon-carbon (C-C) backbone are less susceptible to degradation due to the lack of hydrolysable groups. The representative polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) account for about 40% of the total plastic production. Various chemical and biological processes with great potential have been developed for plastic recycle and reuse, but biodegradation seems to be the most attractive and eco-friendly method to combat this growing environmental problem. In this review, we first summarize the current advances in PE and PS biodegradation, including isolation of microbes and potential degrading enzymes from different sources. Next, the state-of-the-art techniques used for evaluating and monitoring PE and PS degradation, the scientific toolboxes for enzyme discovery as well as the challenges and strategies for plastic biodegradation are intensively discussed. In return, it inspires a further technological exploration in expanding the diversity of species and enzymes, disclosing the essential pathways and developing new approaches to utilize plastic waste as feedstock for recycling and upcycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Bekir Engin Eser
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Zheng Guo
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
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27
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Delangiz N, Aliyar S, Pashapoor N, Nobaharan K, Asgari Lajayer B, Rodríguez-Couto S. Can polymer-degrading microorganisms solve the bottleneck of plastics' environmental challenges? CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 294:133709. [PMID: 35074325 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Increasing world population and industrial activities have enhanced anthropogenic pollution, plastic pollution being especially alarming. So, plastics should be recycled and/or make them biodegradable. Chemical and physical remediating methods are usually energy consuming and costly. In addition, they are not ecofriendly and usually produce toxic byproducts. Bioremediation is a proper option as it is cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. Plastic production and consumption are increasing daily, and, as a consequence, more microorganisms are exposed to these nonbiodegradable polymers. Therefore, investigating new efficient microorganisms and increasing the knowledge about their biology can pave the way for efficient and feasible plastic bioremediation processes. In this sense, omics, systems biology and bioinformatics are three important fields to analyze the biodegradation pathways in microorganisms. Based on the above-mentioned technologies, researchers can engineer microorganisms with specific desired properties to make bioremediation more efficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasser Delangiz
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Sajad Aliyar
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Neda Pashapoor
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | | | - Behnam Asgari Lajayer
- Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Susana Rodríguez-Couto
- Department of Separation Science, LUT School of Engineering Science, LUT University, Sammonkatu 12, FI-50130 Mikkeli, Finland
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28
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Mauel A, Pötzschner B, Meides N, Siegel R, Strohriegl P, Senker J. Quantification of photooxidative defects in weathered microplastics using 13C multiCP NMR spectroscopy. RSC Adv 2022; 12:10875-10885. [PMID: 35425044 PMCID: PMC8988274 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra00470d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Weathering of microplastics made of commodity plastics like polystyrene, polypropylene and polyethylene introduces polar polymer defects as a result of photooxidation and mechanical stress. Thus, hydrophobic microplastic particles gradually become hydrophilic, consisting of polar oligomers with a significant amount of oxygen-bearing functional groups. This turnover continuously changes interactions between microplastics and natural colloidal matter. To be able to develop a better understanding of this complex weathering process, quantification of the corresponding defect proportions is a first and essential step. Using polystyrene, 13C enriched at the α position to 23%, we demonstrate that 13C cross polarisation (CP) NMR spectroscopy allows for probing the typical alcohol, peroxo, keto and carboxyl defects. Even the discrimination between in- and end-chain ketones, carboxylic acids and esters as well as ketal functions was possible. Combined with multiCP excitation, defect proportions could be determined with excellent accuracy down to 0.1%. For materials with 13C in natural abundance, this accounts for a detection limit of roughly 1%. The best trade-off between measurement time and accuracy for the quantification of the defect intensities for multiCP excitation was obtained for CP block lengths shorter than 250 μs and total build-up times longer than 2 ms. Further measurement time reduction is possible by using multiCP excitation to calibrate intensities obtained from series of 13C CP MAS NMR spectra. As photooxidation is an important degradation mechanism for microplastics in the environment, we expect these parameters to be transferable for probing defect proportions of weathered microplastics in general. We demonstrate an efficient strategy to characterise weathering-induced photooxidative defects in microplastics. The central 13C cross polarisation NMR spectra offer high resolution and are quantitative when combined with multiple excitation.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Mauel
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30 95447 Bayreuth Germany
| | - Björn Pötzschner
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30 95447 Bayreuth Germany
| | - Nora Meides
- Department of Macromolecular Chemistry I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30 95447 Bayreuth Germany
| | - Renée Siegel
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30 95447 Bayreuth Germany
| | - Peter Strohriegl
- Department of Macromolecular Chemistry I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30 95447 Bayreuth Germany
| | - Jürgen Senker
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30 95447 Bayreuth Germany
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29
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Microbial Consortiums of Putative Degraders of Low-Density Polyethylene-Associated Compounds in the Ocean. mSystems 2022; 7:e0141521. [PMID: 35229650 PMCID: PMC8941889 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01415-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most abundant plastics in the ocean. The development of a biofilm on PE in the ocean has been reported, yet whether some of the biofilm-forming organisms can biodegrade this plastic in the environment remains unknown. Via metagenomics analysis, we taxonomically and functionally analyzed three biofilm communities using low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as their sole carbon source for 2 years. Several of the taxa that increased in relative abundance over time were closely related to known degraders of alkane and other hydrocarbons. Alkane degradation has been proposed to be involved in PE degradation, and most of the organisms increasing in relative abundance over time harbored genes encoding proteins essential in alkane degradation, such as the genes alkB and CYP153, encoding an alkane monooxygenase and a cytochrome P450 alkane hydroxylase, respectively. Weight loss of PE sheets when incubated with these communities and chemical and electron microscopic analyses provided evidence for alteration of the PE surface over time. Taken together, these results provide evidence for the utilization of LDPE-associated compounds by the prokaryotic communities. This report identifies a group of genes potentially involved in the degradation of the LDPE polymeric structure and/or associated plastic additives in the ocean and describes a phylogenetically diverse community of plastic biofilm-dwelling microbes with the potential for utilizing LDPE-associated compounds as carbon and energy source. IMPORTANCE Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is one of the most used plastics worldwide, and a large portion of it ends up in the ocean. Very little is known about its fate in the ocean and whether it can be biodegraded by microorganisms. By combining 2-year incubations with metagenomics, respiration measurements, and LDPE surface analysis, we identified bacteria and associated genes and metabolic pathways potentially involved in LDPE biodegradation. After 2 years of incubation, two of the microbial communities exhibited very similar taxonomic compositions mediating changes to the LDPE pieces they were incubated with. We provide evidence that there are plastic-biofilm dwelling bacteria in the ocean that might have the potential to degrade LDPE-associated compounds and that alkane degradation pathways might be involved.
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30
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Tabassum J, Luqman M, Hasan F, Arooj F, Kashif SUR, Yousafzai A. Efficacy of Cavern Isolates for Biodegradation of Synthetic Plastic. LETT ORG CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.2174/1570178618666210602161857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract:
Synthetic plastic waste management is a tenacious environmental concern at global level.
Although all types of synthetic plastics are a nuisance to the environment, however, versatility and one
time use has made polyethylene (PE) a foremost environmental issue. Current study has investigated
cavern bacterial strains isolated from PE samples from San Giovanni cave, Sardinia, Italy for their
efficacy to biodegrade low density polyethylene (LDPE) film. It was an initial effort to use cavern
bacteria in plastic biodegradation studies. Chemical and physical changes in the composition of LDPE
were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy
(SEM) after incubation with the bacterial consortium for two months. Collected cavern PE plastic
samples were also studied for biodegradation after incubation in nutrient broth for two months. FTIR
revealed obvious signs of degradation with the appearance of two new peaks of functional groups,
nitriles (C≡N) and amines (N-H) in LDPE film, which are intermediate metabolites of β-oxidation
pathway. An increase in various existing peaks of several intermediate metabolites, including
aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, and carboxylic acids, were also observed in experimental LDPE
compared to control. Peaks of alkanes decreased significantly owing to cavern bacterial activity. SEM
revealed biofilm formation on experimental LDPE surface with substantial mechanical damage.
Similar signs of degradation were observed in the cavern PE samples. Four bacterial strains in the
current consortium including Bacillus sonorensis, Bacillus subtilis, Aneurinibacillus spp., and
Alcaligenes faecalis are first time reported to be linked with biodegradation of plastics. The cavern
bacteria under study have the potential to biodegrade LDPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamila Tabassum
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Luqman
- Department of Environmental
Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54000, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Fariha Hasan
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Fariha Arooj
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54000, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Saif Ur Rehman Kashif
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 54000, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Asma Yousafzai
- Department of Biotechnology, BUITEMS, 87300, Quetta, Pakistan
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31
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Ouyang Z, Li S, Zhao M, Wangmu Q, Ding R, Xiao C, Guo X. The aging behavior of polyvinyl chloride microplastics promoted by UV-activated persulfate process. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127461. [PMID: 34653864 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) experienced different aging processes in environment. Literatures about effect of artificially-accelerated aging on MPs behavior are still insufficient. The accelerated process induced by ultraviolet(UV)-activated persulfate (PS) is a promising technology for obtaining different aged MPs to understand long-term aging behavior. In the work, the aging behavior of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) accelerated by UV/PS system were investigated. It exhibited a dechlorination with 58.495 ± 6.090 mg/L Cl- release after 35 h UV-activated PS (0.01 M) process. The treatment led to significant alternations on surface morphology and chemical feature of PVC. The crystallinity was increased, and average size was reduced from 154.11 µm to 119.28 µm with aging time. Subsequently, many smaller size particles were produced. Furthermore, the process induced the breaking of backbone. Simultaneously, more oxygen-containing functional groups were identified. The oxidation reaction accelerated by sulfate radical (SO4•-) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was predominant, which immensely promoted aging process. Sustained high levels of free radical contributed to production of alcohols and carboxylic acids short chain organics. The study explored aging behavior of PVC accelerated by UV/PS system, which could be helpful for understanding environmental behavior and providing further information to assess potential risks of MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuozhi Ouyang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agro-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Shuxing Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Manyi Zhao
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Quzong Wangmu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Rui Ding
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Chuanqi Xiao
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Xuetao Guo
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agro-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
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Liu L, Xu M, Ye Y, Zhang B. On the degradation of (micro)plastics: Degradation methods, influencing factors, environmental impacts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:151312. [PMID: 34743885 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plastics and microplastics are difficult to degrade in the natural environment due to their hydrophobicity, the presence of stable covalent bonds and functional groups that are not susceptible to attack. In nature, microplastics are more likely to attract other substances due to their large specific surface area, which further prevents degradation from occurring. Some of these substances are toxic and harmful, and can be spread to various organisms through the food chain along with the microplastics to cause harm to them. Degradation is an effective way to eliminate plastic pollution, and a comprehensive understanding of the methods and mechanisms of plastic degradation is necessary, because it is the result of synergistic effects of several degradation methods, both in nature and in consideration of future engineering applications. The authors firstly summarize the degradation methods of (micro)plastics; secondly, review the influence of intrinsic properties and environmental factors during the degradation process; finally, discuss the environmental impact of the degradation products of (micro)plastics. It is evident that the degradation of (micro)plastics still has many challenges to overcome, and there are no mature and effective methods that can be applied in engineering practice or widely used in nature. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research on the degradation of (micro)plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingchen Liu
- School of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China
| | - Mingjie Xu
- School of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China
| | - Yuheng Ye
- School of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China
| | - Bin Zhang
- School of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China; School of Food and Biotechnology of Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, PR China.
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Mohammadi S, Moussavi G, Rezaei M. Enhanced peroxidase-mediated biodegradation of polyethylene using the bacterial consortia under H2O2-biostimulation. POLYMER 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Jarboe LR, Khalid A, Ocasio ER, Fashkami KN. Extrapolation of design strategies for lignocellulosic biomass conversion to the challenge of plastic waste. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 49:6510821. [PMID: 35040946 PMCID: PMC9119000 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The goal of cost-effective production of fuels and chemicals from biomass has been a substantial driver of the development of the field of Metabolic Engineering. The resulting design principles and procedures provide a guide for the development of cost-effective methods for degradation, and possibly even valorization, of plastic wastes. Here we highlight these parallels, using the creative work of Lonnie O'Neal (Neal) Ingram in enabling production of fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass, with a focus on ethanol production as an exemplar process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura R Jarboe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Ammara Khalid
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Efrain Rodriguez Ocasio
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Kimia Noroozi Fashkami
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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Baldera-Moreno Y, Pino V, Farres A, Banerjee A, Gordillo F, Andler R. Biotechnological Aspects and Mathematical Modeling of the Biodegradation of Plastics under Controlled Conditions. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14030375. [PMID: 35160364 PMCID: PMC8840406 DOI: 10.3390/polym14030375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The strong environmental impact caused by plastic pollution has led research to address studies from different perspectives. The mathematical modeling of the biodegradation kinetics of solid materials is a major challenge since there are many influential variables in the process and there is interdependence of microorganisms with internal and external factors. In addition, as solid substrates that are highly hydrophobic, mass transfer limitations condition degradation rates. Some mathematical models have been postulated in order to understand the biodegradation of plastics in natural environments such as oceans. However, if tangible and optimizable solutions are to be found, it is necessary to study the biodegradation process under controlled conditions, such as using bioreactors and composting systems. This review summarizes the biochemical fundamentals of the main plastics (both petrochemical and biological origins) involved in biodegradation processes and combines them with the main mathematical equations and models proposed to date. The different biodegradation studies of plastics under controlled conditions are addressed, analyzing the influencing factors, assumptions, model developments, and correlations with laboratory-scale results. It is hoped that this review will provide a comprehensive overview of the process and will serve as a reference for future studies, combining practical experimental work and bioprocess modeling systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvan Baldera-Moreno
- Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Valentina Pino
- Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile; (V.P.); (F.G.)
| | - Amelia Farres
- Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, Mexico;
| | - Aparna Banerjee
- Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Felipe Gordillo
- Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile; (V.P.); (F.G.)
| | - Rodrigo Andler
- Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, Chile; (V.P.); (F.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-9-6166-2898
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Hou L, Xi J, Liu J, Wang P, Xu T, Liu T, Qu W, Lin YB. Biodegradability of polyethylene mulching film by two Pseudomonas bacteria and their potential degradation mechanism. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131758. [PMID: 34399255 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wasted polyethylene (PE) products caused pollution has become a global issue. Researchers have identified PE-degrading bacteria which have been considered as a sustainable alleviation to this crisis. However, the degradation mechanism employed by currently isolated bacteria is unclear and their degradation efficiencies are insufficient. More importantly, there is little research into bacteria capable of degrading PE mulching film to solve "white" pollution in agriculture. We determined the PE degradation efficiency of two Pseudomonas, identified by 16S rDNA analysis, and elucidated their potential mechanisms through whole genome sequencing. During an 8-week period, PE mulch lost 5.95 ± 0.03% and 3.62 ± 0.32% of its mass after incubated with P. knackmussii N1-2 and P. aeruginosa RD1-3 strains, respectively. Moreover, considerable pits and wrinkles were observed on PE.The hydrophobicity of PE films also decreased, and new oxygenic functional groups were detected on PE mulch by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). Complete genome sequencing analysis indicated that two Pseudomonas strains encode genes for enzymes and metabolism pathways involved in PE degradation. The results provide a theoretical basis for further research that investigates the mechanism driving the degradation and metabolism of discarded PE in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Hou
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China; Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Macdonald Campus, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Jiao Xi
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Jiaxi Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Peiyuan Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Tengqi Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Tingting Liu
- College of Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Wenxing Qu
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China
| | - Yan Bing Lin
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, PR China.
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Zhou Y, Kumar M, Sarsaiya S, Sirohi R, Awasthi SK, Sindhu R, Binod P, Pandey A, Bolan NS, Zhang Z, Singh L, Kumar S, Awasthi MK. Challenges and opportunities in bioremediation of micro-nano plastics: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 802:149823. [PMID: 34454140 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Rising level of micro-nano plastics (MNPs) in the natural ecosystem adversely impact the health of the environment and living organisms globally. MNPs enter in to the agro-ecosystem, flora and fauna, and human body via trophic transfer, ingestion and inhalation, resulting impediment in blood vessel, infertility, and abnormal behaviors. Therefore, it becomes indispensable to apply a novel approach to remediate MNPs from natural environment. Amongst the several prevailing technologies of MNPs remediation, microbial remediation is considered as greener technology. Microbial degradation of plastics is typically influenced by several biotic as well as abiotic factors, such as enzymatic mechanisms, substrates and co-substrates concentration, temperature, pH, oxidative stress, etc. Therefore, it is pivotal to recognize the key pathways adopted by microbes to utilize plastic fragments as a sole carbon source for the growth and development. In this context, this review critically discussed the role of various microbes and their enzymatic mechanisms involved in biodegradation of MNPs in wastewater (WW) stream, municipal sludge, municipal solid waste (MSW), and composting starting with biological and toxicological impacts of MNPs. Moreover, this review comprehensively discussed the deployment of various MNPs remediation technologies, such as enzymatic, advanced molecular, and bio-membrane technologies in fostering the bioremediation of MNPs from various environmental compartments along with their pros and cons and prospects for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwen Zhou
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Manish Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Surendra Sarsaiya
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Ranjna Sirohi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Awasthi
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Raveendran Sindhu
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695019, India
| | - Parameswaran Binod
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695019, India
| | - Ashok Pandey
- Centre for Innovation and Translational Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow 226 001, India
| | - Nanthi S Bolan
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia; School of Engineering, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Zengqiang Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China
| | - Lal Singh
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Awasthi
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province 712100, PR China.
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38
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De Jesus R, Alkendi R. A minireview on the bioremediative potential of microbial enzymes as solution to emerging microplastic pollution. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1066133. [PMID: 36938133 PMCID: PMC10018190 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1066133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating plastics in the biosphere implicates adverse effects, raising serious concern among scientists worldwide. Plastic waste in nature disintegrates into microplastics. Because of their minute appearance, at a scale of <5 mm, microplastics easily penetrate different pristine water bodies and terrestrial niches, posing detrimental effects on flora and fauna. The potential bioremediative application of microbial enzymes is a sustainable solution for the degradation of microplastics. Studies have reported a plethora of bacterial and fungal species that can degrade synthetic plastics by excreting plastic-degrading enzymes. Identified microbial enzymes, such as IsPETase and IsMHETase from Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 and Thermobifida fusca cutinase (Tfc), are able to depolymerize plastic polymer chains producing ecologically harmless molecules like carbon dioxide and water. However, thermal stability and pH sensitivity are among the biochemical limitations of the plastic-degrading enzymes that affect their overall catalytic activities. The application of biotechnological approaches improves enzyme action and production. Protein-based engineering yields enzyme variants with higher enzymatic activity and temperature-stable properties, while site-directed mutagenesis using the Escherichia coli model system expresses mutant thermostable enzymes. Furthermore, microalgal chassis is a promising model system for "green" microplastic biodegradation. Hence, the bioremediative properties of microbial enzymes are genuinely encouraging for the biodegradation of synthetic microplastic polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rener De Jesus
- College of Graduate Studies, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ruwaya Alkendi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- *Correspondence: Ruwaya Alkendi,
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39
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Chattopadhyay I. Role of microbiome and biofilm in environmental plastic degradation. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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40
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Karkanorachaki K, Syranidou E, Kalogerakis N. Sinking characteristics of microplastics in the marine environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 793:148526. [PMID: 34175606 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Plastic pollution is presently one of the most widespread and minimally understood problems. Vast quantities of plastics that have entered the marine environment should be detected floating on the sea surface are seemingly missing from the global budget. A vertical transfer process should be able to explain the imbalance in mass, as well as the findings of buoyant plastics at the bottom of the sea. These processes are of paramount importance to modelling efforts on the fate of plastics and microplastics in the marine environment. In order to fill this gap and develop correlations that could be used in modelling activities, we have designed and performed a 300-day long field experiment to monitor the interactions between microplastics (pellets and films) and the marine environment for five types of plastic polymers. Fouling, changes in diameter, gravimetric weight and sinking velocity were monitored and the correlations between them were studied using principal component analysis (PCA). Density, fouling and sample form (strip or pellet) were found to greatly affect the sinking characteristics of the polymers, leading to an increase or decrease in the sinking velocity. Finally, mathematical expressions for the estimation of fouling attachment and the sinking velocity with respect to time for each type of plastic were determined from the experimental data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Karkanorachaki
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Evdokia Syranidou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Nicolas Kalogerakis
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece.
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41
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Nanthini Devi K, Raju P, Santhanam P, Dinesh Kumar S, Krishnaveni N, Roopavathy J, Perumal P. Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene and polypropylene by microbes isolated from Vaigai River, Madurai, India. Arch Microbiol 2021; 203:6253-6265. [PMID: 34591146 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02592-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the microplastic degradation efficiency of bacterial isolates collected from Vaigai River, Madurai, India. The isolates were processed with proper methods and incorporated in to the UV-treated polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) degradation. Based on preliminary screening, four bacterial isolates such as Bacillus sp. (BS-1), Bacillus cereus (BC), Bacillus sp. (BS-2), and Bacillus paramycoides (BP) were proceed to further degradation experiment for 21 days. The microplastics were filled with bacterial isolates which is use microplastic (PE, PP) as carbon source for their growth and proceed for shake flask experiment were carried out by two approaches with control. The microplastic degradation was confirmed through their weight loss, increasing fragmentations and changes of surface area against control experiments (microplastic without isolates) also confirms degrading efficiency of isolated bacterial strains through non-changes in their weight and surface area. The highest degradation of PP and PE were observed in BP (78.99 ± 0.005%), and BC (63.08 ± 0.009%) in single approach, while in combined approach BC & BP recorded the highest degradation in both PP (78.62 ± 2.16%), and PE (72.50 ± 20.53%). The formation of new functional groups is confirming the biofilm formation in the surface area of microplastics by isolates and proving their efficiency in degrade the microplastics. The degradation of microplastic experiments should be cost effective and zero waste which is helpful to save the environment and the present findings could reveal the way to degrade the microplastics and prevent the microplastic pollution in aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Nanthini Devi
- Marine Planktonology and Aquaculture Lab, Department of Marine Science, School of Marine Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India
| | - P Raju
- Marine Planktonology and Aquaculture Lab, Department of Marine Science, School of Marine Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India
| | - P Santhanam
- Marine Planktonology and Aquaculture Lab, Department of Marine Science, School of Marine Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India.
| | - S Dinesh Kumar
- Marine Planktonology and Aquaculture Lab, Department of Marine Science, School of Marine Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India
| | - N Krishnaveni
- Marine Planktonology and Aquaculture Lab, Department of Marine Science, School of Marine Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India
| | - J Roopavathy
- PG & Research Department of Zoology, Nirmala College for Women (Autonomous), Red Fields, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641 018, India
| | - P Perumal
- Marine Planktonology and Aquaculture Lab, Department of Marine Science, School of Marine Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620 024, India
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Vargas-Suárez M, Savín-Gámez A, Domínguez-Malfavón L, Sánchez-Reyes A, Quirasco-Baruch M, Loza-Tavera H. Exploring the polyurethanolytic activity and microbial composition of landfill microbial communities. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:7969-7980. [PMID: 34554272 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11571-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The microbial composition of polyurethane degrading communities has been barely addressed, and it is unknown if microenvironmental conditions modify its composition, affecting its biodegradative capacity. The polyurethanolytic activity and taxonomic composition of five microbial communities, selected by enrichment in the polyether-polyurethane-acrylic (PE-PU-A) coating PolyLack®, from deteriorated PU foams collected at different microenvironments in a municipal landfill (El Bordo Poniente, BP) were explored. All BP communities grew similarly in PolyLack® as the sole carbon source, although BP1, BP4, and BP5 showed better performance than BP2 and BP7. FTIR spectroscopy showed that ester, urethane, ether, aromatic and aliphatic groups, and the acrylate component were targets of the biodegradative activity. Extracellular esterase activity was higher at 5 days of cultivation and decreased at 21 days, while urease activity showed the opposite. Microbial composition analysis, assessed by 16S rDNA V3 region PCR-DGGE, revealed a preponderance of Rhizobiales and Micrococcales. The reported PU-degrading genera Paracoccus, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonas were identified. In contrast, Advenella, Bordetella, Microbacterium, Castellaniella, and Populibacterium, some of them xenobiotics degraders, can be considered potentially PU-degrading genera. Correspondence analysis identified independent groups for all communities, except the BP4 and BP5. Although partial taxonomic redundancy was detected, unique OTUs were identified, e.g., three members of the Weeksellaceae family were present only in the BP4/BP5 group. These results suggest that the microenvironmental conditions where the landfill microbial communities were collected shaped their taxonomical composition, impacting their PE-PU biodegradative capacities. These BP communities represent valuable biological material for the treatment of PU waste and other xenobiotics. KEY POINTS: • Landfill microbial communities display slightly different capacities for growing in polyether-polyurethane-acrylic. • Ester, urethane, ether, aromatic, aliphatic, and acrylate groups were attacked. • Esterase activity was more significant at early culture times while urease activity at latter. • Landfill microenvironments shape partial taxonomical redundancy in the communities. • Best communities' performance seems to be related to unique members' composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín Vargas-Suárez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ave. Universidad 3000, Col. UNAM, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alba Savín-Gámez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ave. Universidad 3000, Col. UNAM, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lilianha Domínguez-Malfavón
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ave. Universidad 3000, Col. UNAM, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ayixon Sánchez-Reyes
- Cátedras Conacyt-Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 2001, Chamilpa, 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Maricarmen Quirasco-Baruch
- Departamento de Alimentos y Biotecnología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ave. Universidad 3000, Col. UNAM, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Herminia Loza-Tavera
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ave. Universidad 3000, Col. UNAM, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Nikolaivits E, Pantelic B, Azeem M, Taxeidis G, Babu R, Topakas E, Brennan Fournet M, Nikodinovic-Runic J. Progressing Plastics Circularity: A Review of Mechano-Biocatalytic Approaches for Waste Plastic (Re)valorization. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:696040. [PMID: 34239864 PMCID: PMC8260098 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.696040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Inspirational concepts, and the transfer of analogs from natural biology to science and engineering, has produced many excellent technologies to date, spanning vaccines to modern architectural feats. This review highlights that answers to the pressing global petroleum-based plastic waste challenges, can be found within the mechanics and mechanisms natural ecosystems. Here, a suite of technological and engineering approaches, which can be implemented to operate in tandem with nature's prescription for regenerative material circularity, is presented as a route to plastics sustainability. A number of mechanical/green chemical (pre)treatment methodologies, which simulate natural weathering and arthropodal dismantling activities are reviewed, including: mechanical milling, reactive extrusion, ultrasonic-, UV- and degradation using supercritical CO2. Akin to natural mechanical degradation, the purpose of the pretreatments is to render the plastic materials more amenable to microbial and biocatalytic activities, to yield effective depolymerization and (re)valorization. While biotechnological based degradation and depolymerization of both recalcitrant and bioplastics are at a relatively early stage of development, the potential for acceleration and expedition of valuable output monomers and oligomers yields is considerable. To date a limited number of independent mechano-green chemical approaches and a considerable and growing number of standalone enzymatic and microbial degradation studies have been reported. A convergent strategy, one which forges mechano-green chemical treatments together with the enzymatic and microbial actions, is largely lacking at this time. An overview of the reported microbial and enzymatic degradations of petroleum-based synthetic polymer plastics, specifically: low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethanes (PU) and polycaprolactone (PCL) and selected prevalent bio-based or bio-polymers [polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and polybutylene succinate (PBS)], is detailed. The harvesting of depolymerization products to produce new materials and higher-value products is also a key endeavor in effectively completing the circle for plastics. Our challenge is now to effectively combine and conjugate the requisite cross disciplinary approaches and progress the essential science and engineering technologies to categorically complete the life-cycle for plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efstratios Nikolaivits
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Brana Pantelic
- Eco-Biotechnology & Drug Development Group, Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - George Taxeidis
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ramesh Babu
- AMBER Centre, CRANN Institute, School of Chemistry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Evangelos Topakas
- Industrial Biotechnology & Biocatalysis Group, Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic
- Eco-Biotechnology & Drug Development Group, Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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44
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Wright RJ, Bosch R, Langille MGI, Gibson MI, Christie-Oleza JA. A multi-OMIC characterisation of biodegradation and microbial community succession within the PET plastisphere. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:141. [PMID: 34154652 PMCID: PMC8215760 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01054-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plastics now pollute marine environments across the globe. On entering these environments, plastics are rapidly colonised by a diverse community of microorganisms termed the plastisphere. Members of the plastisphere have a myriad of diverse functions typically found in any biofilm but, additionally, a number of marine plastisphere studies have claimed the presence of plastic-biodegrading organisms, although with little mechanistic verification. Here, we obtained a microbial community from marine plastic debris and analysed the community succession across 6 weeks of incubation with different polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products as the sole carbon source, and further characterised the mechanisms involved in PET degradation by two bacterial isolates from the plastisphere. RESULTS We found that all communities differed significantly from the inoculum and were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria, i.e. Alteromonadaceae and Thalassospiraceae at early time points, Alcanivoraceae at later time points and Vibrionaceae throughout. The large number of encoded enzymes involved in PET degradation found in predicted metagenomes and the observation of polymer oxidation by FTIR analyses both suggested PET degradation was occurring. However, we were unable to detect intermediates of PET hydrolysis with metabolomic analyses, which may be attributed to their rapid depletion by the complex community. To further confirm the PET biodegrading potential within the plastisphere of marine plastic debris, we used a combined proteogenomic and metabolomic approach to characterise amorphous PET degradation by two novel marine isolates, Thioclava sp. BHET1 and Bacillus sp. BHET2. The identification of PET hydrolytic intermediates by metabolomics confirmed that both isolates were able to degrade PET. High-throughput proteomics revealed that whilst Thioclava sp. BHET1 used the degradation pathway identified in terrestrial environment counterparts, these were absent in Bacillus sp. BHET2, indicating that either the enzymes used by this bacterium share little homology with those characterised previously, or that this bacterium uses a novel pathway for PET degradation. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results of our multi-OMIC characterisation of PET degradation provide a significant step forwards in our understanding of marine plastic degradation by bacterial isolates and communities and evidences the biodegrading potential extant in the plastisphere of marine plastic debris. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn J. Wright
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Rafael Bosch
- University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, Spain
| | - Morgan G. I. Langille
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Matthew I. Gibson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Joseph A. Christie-Oleza
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
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45
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Ganesh Kumar A, Hinduja M, Sujitha K, Nivedha Rajan N, Dharani G. Biodegradation of polystyrene by deep-sea Bacillus paralicheniformis G1 and genome analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 774:145002. [PMID: 33609820 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polystyrene (PS) films were subjected to in vitro biodegradation by Bacillus paralicheniformis G1 (MN720578) isolated from 3538 m depth sediments of the Arabian Sea. The growth of the isolate was most favourable at pH 7.5, 30 °C and 4% salinity. A series of batch experiments were conducted to investigate the degradation of PS films up to 60 days. The results of this study indicated that the strain degraded 34% of PS film within 60 days of incubation. The complete genome sequence consists of 4,281,959 bp with 45.88% GC content and encodes 4213 protein coding genes. A high number of genes encoding monooxygenase, dioxygenase, peroxidase, esterase and hydrolase involved in the degradation of synthetic polymers were identified. Also genes associated with flagellum dependent motility, chemotaxis, biofilm formation and siderophores biosynthesis were identified in this deep-sea strain G1. This study suggests that B. paralicheniformis G1 could be a potential species for degradation of PS and its genome analysis provides insight into the molecular basis of biodegradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ganesh Kumar
- Marine Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, Chennai 600100, India.
| | - M Hinduja
- Marine Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, Chennai 600100, India
| | - K Sujitha
- Marine Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, Chennai 600100, India
| | - N Nivedha Rajan
- Marine Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, Chennai 600100, India
| | - G Dharani
- Marine Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, Chennai 600100, India
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46
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Meides N, Menzel T, Poetzschner B, Löder MGJ, Mansfeld U, Strohriegl P, Altstaedt V, Senker J. Reconstructing the Environmental Degradation of Polystyrene by Accelerated Weathering. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:7930-7938. [PMID: 34018732 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The fragmentation of macro- into microplastics (MP) is the main source of MP in the environment. Nevertheless, knowledge about degradation mechanisms, changes in chemical composition, morphology, and residence times is still limited. Here, we present a long-term accelerated weathering study on polystyrene (PS) tensile bars and MP particles using simulated solar radiation and mechanical stress. The degradation process was monitored by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), 13C magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy, tensile testing, and Monte Carlo simulations. We verified that degradation proceeds in two main stages. Stage I is dominated by photooxidation in a near-surface layer. During stage II, microcrack formation and particle rupturing accelerate the degradation. Depending on the ratio and intensity of the applied stress factors, MP degradation kinetics and lifetimes vary dramatically and an increasing amount of small MP fragments with high proportions of carboxyl, peroxide, and keto groups is continuously released into the environment. The enhanced surface area for adsorbing pollutants and forming biofilms modifies the uptake behavior and interaction with organisms together with potential ecological risks. We expect the proposed two-stage model to be valid for predicting the abiotic degradation of other commodity plastics with a carbon-carbon backbone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Meides
- Department of Macromolecular Chemistry I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Teresa Menzel
- Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Björn Poetzschner
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Martin G J Löder
- Department of Animal Ecology I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Ulrich Mansfeld
- Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Peter Strohriegl
- Department of Macromolecular Chemistry I, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Volker Altstaedt
- Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Jürgen Senker
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry III, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
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Skariyachan S, Taskeen N, Kishore AP, Krishna BV, Naidu G. Novel consortia of enterobacter and pseudomonas formulated from cow dung exhibited enhanced biodegradation of polyethylene and polypropylene. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 284:112030. [PMID: 33529882 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
This study prioritizes the biodegradation potential of novel bacterial consortia formulated from cow dung samples towards low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) in comparison with our previous studies. Ten possible consortia were formulated using 10 selected isolates with >10% weight reduction of LDPE and PP, these were pre-treated under UV for 1 h, and their biodegradation potential was studied for 160 days. The isolates present in prioritized consortia were characterized by standard microbiology and 16SrRNA gene sequencing methods. Out of 10 bacterial consortia formulated, potential consortium-CB3 showed greater percentage degradation (weight reduction) of 64.25 ± 2% and 63.00 ± 2% towards LDPE and PP films, respectively (p < 0.05) at 37 °C compared to other consortia. Significant structural variations due to the formation of bacterial biofilm were observed in CB3 treated LDPE and PP films. The three bacteria-IS1, IS2, and IS3-that constituted CB3 were found to be novel strains and designated to be Enterobacter sp nov. bt DSCE01, Enterobacter cloacae nov. bt DSCE02, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa nov. bt DSCE-CD03, respectively. This novel consortium can be scaled up for enhanced degradation of plastic polymers and probably design cost-effective bio-digester for industrial applications using CB3 as potential inoculum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinosh Skariyachan
- Department of Microbiology, St. Pius X College Rajapuram, Kasaragod, Kerala, India.
| | - Neha Taskeen
- Department of Biotechnology, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Alice Preethi Kishore
- Department of Biotechnology, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Bhavya Venkata Krishna
- Department of Biotechnology, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Gautami Naidu
- Department of Biotechnology, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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48
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Bajt O. From plastics to microplastics and organisms. FEBS Open Bio 2021; 11:954-966. [PMID: 33595903 PMCID: PMC8016121 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The amount of plastic waste and microplastics released into marine environments has increased rapidly in recent decades. The durability of plastic materials results in major problems following their release into the environment. This study provides an overview of recent findings on issues related to plastic degradation, the accumulation of microplastics in mussels and fishes, and the toxicological effects associated with the ingestion of microplastics. These findings confirm the serious problem of slowly degrading plastics (which rarely degrade fully) in natural marine environments. Microplastics have become widespread pollutants and have been detected in mussels and fish around the world. Microplastic particles, whether virgin or with adsorbed pollutants on their surfaces, pose a health problem after being ingested by marine organisms. This paper ends by highlighting the need for certain improvements in studies of these phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Bajt
- Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Piran, Slovenia.,Faculty of Maritime Studies and Transport, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
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49
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Yang L, Gao J, Liu Y, Zhuang G, Peng X, Wu WM, Zhuang X. Biodegradation of expanded polystyrene and low-density polyethylene foams in larvae of Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): Broad versus limited extent depolymerization and microbe-dependence versus independence. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 262:127818. [PMID: 32771707 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) are capable of biodegrading polystyrene (PS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). This study tested biodegradation of one expanded PS (EPS) with a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) 256.4 kDa and two LDPE foams with respective Mw of 130.6 kDa (PE-1) and 288.7 kDa (PE-2) in T. monitor larvae obtained in Beijing, China. The larvae consumed EPS and both LDPEs over a 60 day. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analyses of frass confirmed the formation of new oxygen-containing functional groups, as well as a change in physical property and chemical modification, indicating that biodegradation of EPS and LDPE occurred. Gel permeation chromatography analysis confirmed broad depolymerization of EPS and PE-1 (i.e., a decrease in both Mw and a number-average molecular weight (Mn)) but revealed limited extent depolymerization of PE-2 (i.e., increase in Mn and decrease in Mw). For all materials, the size-average molecular weight (Mz) was decreased. Biodegradation and oxidation of EPS and LDPE were confirmed using FTIR and TGA analysis. Depression of gut microbes by the antibiotic gentamicin resulted in significant inhibition of EPS depolymerization but did not stop LDPE depolymerization, resulting in the increase in Mn and revealing that PS biodegradation was gut microbe-dependent but LDPE biodegradation was less dependent or independent of gut microbes. Gut microbial community analysis indicated that, as expected, under different dietary conditions, the intestinal flora significantly shifted to communities associated with biodegradation of EPS and LDPE. The results indicated the complexity and limitation of biodegradation of plastics in plastics-eating T. molitor larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jie Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ying Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhuang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiawei Peng
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Center for Sustainable Development & Global Competitiveness, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305-4020, United States.
| | - Xuliang Zhuang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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50
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Airoldi L, Beck MW, Firth LB, Bugnot AB, Steinberg PD, Dafforn KA. Emerging Solutions to Return Nature to the Urban Ocean. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2021; 13:445-477. [PMID: 32867567 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-032020-020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Urban and periurban ocean developments impact 1.5% of the global exclusive economic zones, and the demand for ocean space and resources is increasing. As we strive for a more sustainable future, it is imperative that we better design, manage, and conserve urban ocean spaces for both humans and nature. We identify three key objectives for more sustainable urban oceans: reduction of urban pressures, protection and restoration of ocean ecosystems, and support of critical ecosystem services. We describe an array of emerging evidence-based approaches, including greening grayinfrastructure, restoring habitats, and developing biotechnologies. We then explore new economic instruments and incentives for supporting these new approaches and evaluate their feasibility in delivering these objectives. Several of these tools have the potential to help bring nature back to the urban ocean while also addressing some of the critical needs of urban societies, such as climate adaptation, seafood production, clean water, and recreation, providing both human and environmental benefits in some of our most impacted ocean spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Airoldi
- Department of Biology, Chioggia Hydrobiological Station Umberto D'Ancona, University of Padova, 30015 Chioggia, Italy;
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences and Interdepartmental Research Center for Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, UO CoNISMa, 48123 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Michael W Beck
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95060, USA;
| | - Louise B Firth
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom;
| | - Ana B Bugnot
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia;
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
| | - Peter D Steinberg
- Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, New South Wales 2088, Australia
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation and School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia;
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551
| | - Katherine A Dafforn
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia;
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