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Chen CX, Yang SS, Pang JW, He L, Zang YN, Ding L, Ren NQ, Ding J. Anthraquinones-based photocatalysis: A comprehensive review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 22:100449. [PMID: 39104553 PMCID: PMC11298862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2024.100449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been significant interest in photocatalytic technologies utilizing semiconductors and photosensitizers responsive to solar light, owing to their potential for energy and environmental applications. Current efforts are focused on enhancing existing photocatalysts and developing new ones tailored for environmental uses. Anthraquinones (AQs) serve as redox-active electron transfer mediators and photochemically active organic photosensitizers, effectively addressing common issues such as low light utilization and carrier separation efficiency found in conventional semiconductors. AQs offer advantages such as abundant raw materials, controlled preparation, excellent electron transfer capabilities, and photosensitivity, with applications spanning the energy, medical, and environmental sectors. Despite their utility, comprehensive reviews on AQs-based photocatalytic systems in environmental contexts are lacking. In this review, we thoroughly describe the photochemical properties of AQs and their potential applications in photocatalysis, particularly in addressing key environmental challenges like clean energy production, antibacterial action, and pollutant degradation. However, AQs face limitations in practical photocatalytic applications due to their low electrical conductivity and solubility-related secondary contamination. To mitigate these issues, the design and synthesis of graphene-immobilized AQs are highlighted as a solution to enhance practical photocatalytic applications. Additionally, future research directions are proposed to deepen the understanding of AQs' theoretical mechanisms and to provide practical applications for wastewater treatment. This review aims to facilitate mechanistic studies and practical applications of AQs-based photocatalytic technologies and to improve understanding of these technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Xin Chen
- 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
| | - Ji-Wei Pang
- China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, CECEP Talroad Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, 100096, China
| | - Lei He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Ya-Ni Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Lan Ding
- College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- 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
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Peng BY, Wang WX. Microplastics Biofragmentation and Degradation Kinetics in the Plastivore Insect Tenebrio molitor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39028927 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c05113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
The insect Tenebrio molitor possesses an exceptional capacity for ultrafast plastic biodegradation within 1 day of gut retention, but the kinetics remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the biofragmentation and degradation kinetics of different microplastics (MPs), i.e., polyethylene (PE), poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), and poly(lactic acid) (PLA), in T. molitor larvae. The intestinal reactions contributing to the in vivo MPs biodegradation were concurrently examined by utilizing aggregated-induced emission (AIE) probes. Our findings revealed that the intestinal biofragmentation rates essentially followed the order of PLA > PE > PVC. Notably, all MPs displayed retention effects in the intestine, with PVC requiring the longest duration for complete removal/digestion. The dynamic rate constant of degradable MPs (0.2108 h-1 for PLA) was significantly higher than that of persistent MPs (0.0675 and 0.0501 h-1 for PE and PVC, respectively) during the digestive gut retention. Surprisingly,T. molitor larvae instinctively modulated their internal digestive environment in response to in vivo biodegradation of various MP polymers. Esterase activity and intestinal acidification both significantly increased following MPs ingestion. The highest esterase and acidification levels were observed in the PLA-fed and PVC-fed larvae, respectively. High digestive esterase activity and relatively low acidification levels inT. molitor larvae may, to some extent, contribute to more efficient MPs removal within the plastic-degrading insect. This work provided important understanding of MPs biofragmentation and intestinal responses to in vivo MPs biodegradation in plastic-degrading insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Yu Peng
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Wang
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
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Jiang J, Xu H, Cao X, Liang Y, Mo A, Cao X, Liu Y, Benbow ME, Criddle CS, Wu WM, He D. Soil-dwelling grub larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis biodegrade polystyrene: Responses of gut microbiome and host metabolism. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 934:173399. [PMID: 38781836 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173399] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to terrestrial ecosystems, yet the potential for soil fauna to contribute to plastic biodegradation remains largely unexplored. In this study, we reveal that soil-dwelling grubs, Protaetia brevitarsis larvae, can effectively biodegrade polystyrene (PS) plastics. Over a period of 4 weeks, these grubs achieved a remarkable 61.5 % reduction in PS foam mass. This biodegradation was confirmed by the depolymerization of ingested PS, formation of oxidative functional groups, noticeable chemical modifications, and an increase of δ13C of residual PS in frass. Additionally, antibiotic treatment to suppress gut microbes led to variations in the biodegradation process. PS ingestion induced a significant shift in the gut microbiome, promoting the growth of degradation-related bacteria such as Promicromonosporaceae, Bacillaceae, and Paenibacillaceae. Furthermore, the digestion of plastic triggered extensive metabolomic reprogramming of grubs' intestines, enhancing redox capabilities and facilitating PS biodegradation. These results indicate that responsive adaptation of both the gut microbiome and the host's intestinal metabolism contributes to PS degradation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate P. brevitarsis larvae's capability to alleviate soil plastic pollution, and highlight the potential of researching soil fauna further for sustainable plastic waste management solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Jiang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Haowen Xu
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaomu Cao
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuqing Liang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Aoyun Mo
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xuelong Cao
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yan Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mark Eric Benbow
- Department of Entomology and Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Craig S Criddle
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Center for Sustainable Development & Global Competitiveness, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4020, USA
| | - 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, USA.
| | - Defu He
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
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Sucharitakul P, Wu WM, Zhang Y, Peng BY, Gao J, Wang L, Hou D. Exposure Pathways and Toxicity of Microplastics in Terrestrial Insects. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:11887-11900. [PMID: 38885123 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
The detrimental effects of plastics on aquatic organisms, including those of macroplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics, have been well established. However, knowledge on the interaction between plastics and terrestrial insects is limited. To develop effective strategies for mitigating the impact of plastic pollution on terrestrial ecosystems, it is necessary to understand the toxicity effects and influencing factors of plastic ingestion by insects. An overview of current knowledge regarding plastic ingestion by terrestrial insects is provided in this Review, and the factors influencing this interaction are identified. The pathways through which insects interact with plastics, which can lead to plastic accumulation and microplastic transfer to higher trophic levels, are also discussed using an overview and a conceptual model. The diverse impacts of plastic exposure on insects are discussed, and the challenges in existing studies, such as a limited focus on certain plastic types, are identified. Further research on standardized methods for sampling and analysis is crucial for reliable research, and long-term monitoring is essential to assess plastic trends and ecological impacts in terrestrial ecosystems. The mechanisms underlying these effects need to be uncovered, and their potential long-term consequences for insect populations and ecosystems require evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-4020, United States
| | - Yalei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Bo-Yu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jing Gao
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Liuwei Wang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Deyi Hou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Baysal A, Saygin H, Soyocak A. A Comparative Study on the Interaction Between Protein and PET Micro/Nanoplastics: Structural and Surface Characteristics of Particles and Impacts on Lung Carcinoma Cells (A549) and Staphylococcus aureus. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38923375 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The interaction between particles and proteins is a key factor determining the toxicity responses of particles. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the interaction between the emerging pollutant polyethylene terephthalate micro/nanoplastics from water bottles with bovine serum albumin. The physicochemical characteristics of micro/nanoplastics were investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, and x-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy after exposure to various concentrations and durations of protein. Furthermore, the impact of protein-treated micro/nanoplastics on biological activities was examined using the mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of A549 cells and the activity and biofilm production of Staphylococcus aureus. The structural characteristics of micro/nanoplastics revealed an interaction with protein. For instance, the assignment of protein-related new proton signals (e.g., CH2, methylene protons of CH2O), changes in available protons s (e.g., CH and CH3), crystallinity, functional groups, elemental ratios, zeta potentials (-11.3 ± 1.3 to -12.4 ± 1.7 to 25.5 ± 2.3 mV), and particle size (395 ± 76 to 496 ± 60 to 866 ± 82 nm) of micro/nanoplastics were significantly observed after protein treatment. In addition, the loading (0.012-0.027 mM) and releasing (0.008-0.013 mM) of protein also showed similar responses with structural characteristics. Moreover, the cell-based responses were changed regarding the structural and surface characteristics of micro/nanoplastics and the loading efficiencies of protein. For example, insignificant mitochondrial activity (2%-10%) and significant membrane integrity (12%-28%) of A549 cells increased compared with control, and reductions in bacterial activity (5%-40%) in many cases and biofilm production specifically at low dose of all treatment stages (13%-46% reduction) were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asli Baysal
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Letters, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hasan Saygin
- Application and Research Center for Advanced Studies, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ahu Soyocak
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Aydin University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Peng BY, Xu Y, Zhou X, Wu WM, Zhang Y. Generation and Fate of Nanoplastics in the Intestine of Plastic-Degrading Insect ( Tenebrio molitor Larvae) during Polystyrene Microplastic Biodegradation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10368-10377. [PMID: 38814143 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
The insect Tenebrio molitor exhibits ultrafast efficiency in biodegrading polystyrene (PS). However, the generation and fate of nanoplastics (NPs) in the intestine during plastic biodegradation remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the biodegradation of PS microplastics (MPs) mediated by T. molitor larvae over a 4-week period and confirmed biodegradation by analyzing Δδ13C in the PS before and after biotreatment (-28.37‰ versus -24.88‰) as an effective tool. The ·OH radicals, primarily contributed by gut microbiota, and H2O2, primarily produced by the host, both increased after MP digestion. The size distribution of residual MP particles in excrements fluctuated within the micrometer ranges. PS NPs were detected in the intestine but not in the excrements. At the end of Weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4, the concentrations of PS NPs in gut tissues were 3.778, 2.505, 2.087, and 2.853 ng/lava, respectively, while PS NPs in glands were quantified at 0.636, 0.284, and 0.113 ng/lava and eventually fell below the detection limit. The PS NPs in glands remained below the detection limit at the end of Weeks 5 and 6. This indicates that initially, NPs generated in the gut entered glands, then declined gradually and eventually disappeared or possibly biodegraded after Week 4, associated with the elevated plastic-degrading capacities of T. molitor larvae. Our findings unveil rapid synergistic MP biodegradation by the larval host and gut microbiota, as well as the fate of generated NPs, providing new insights into the risks and fate associated with NPs during invertebrate-mediated plastic biodegradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Yu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yazhou Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Protected Agriculture, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Protected Agriculture, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Key Laboratory of Rural Toilet and Sewage Treatment Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xuefei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-4020, United States
| | - Yalei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Key Laboratory of Rural Toilet and Sewage Treatment Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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Cao H, Zheng X, Teng C, Xu L, Wang Y, Gai C, Ye H. Rhodobacter sphaeroides supplementation improves defense ability of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis against Shewanella putrefaciens infection via intestinal flora and metabolism regulation. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 204:108120. [PMID: 38679366 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108120] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Shewanella putrefaciens is a vital bacterial pathogen implicated in serious diseases in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. Yet the use of probiotics to improve the defense ability of E. sinensis against S. putrefaciens infection remains poorly understood. In the present study, the protective effect of dietary R. sphaeroides against S. putrefaciens infection in E. sinensis was evaluated through antioxidant capability, immune response, and survival under bacterial challenge assays, and its protective mechanism was further explored using a combination of intestinal flora and metabolome assays. Our results indicated that dietary R. sphaeroides could significantly improve immunity and antioxidant ability of Chinese mitten crabs, thereby strengthening their disease resistance with the relative percentage survival of 81.09% against S. putrefaciens. In addition, dietary R. sphaeroides could significantly alter the intestinal microbial composition and intestinal metabolism of crabs, causing not only the reduction of potential threatening pathogen load but also the increase of differential metabolites in tryptophan metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Furthermore, the regulation of differential metabolites such as N-Acetylserotonin positively correlated with beneficial Rhodobacter could be a potential protection strategy for Shewanella infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to illustrate the protective effect and mechanism of R. sphaeroides supplementation to protect E. sinensis against S. putrefaciens infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haipeng Cao
- National Pathogen Collection Center for Aquatic Animals, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
| | - Xurui Zheng
- National Pathogen Collection Center for Aquatic Animals, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Chenhao Teng
- National Pathogen Collection Center for Aquatic Animals, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - La Xu
- Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province (National Oceanographic Center), Qingdao, Shandong 266104, China
| | - Youhong Wang
- Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province (National Oceanographic Center), Qingdao, Shandong 266104, China
| | - Chunlei Gai
- Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province (National Oceanographic Center), Qingdao, Shandong 266104, China.
| | - Haibin Ye
- Marine Science Research Institute of Shandong Province (National Oceanographic Center), Qingdao, Shandong 266104, China.
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He L, Ding J, Yang SS, Zang YN, Pang JW, Xing D, Zhang LY, Ren N, Wu WM. Molecular-Weight-Dependent Degradation of Plastics: Deciphering Host-Microbiome Synergy Biodegradation of High-Purity Polypropylene Microplastics by Mealworms. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6647-6658. [PMID: 38563431 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c06954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The biodegradation of polypropylene (PP), a highly persistent nonhydrolyzable polymer, by Tenebrio molitor has been confirmed using commercial PP microplastics (MPs) (Mn 26.59 and Mw 187.12 kDa). This confirmation was based on the reduction of the PP mass, change in molecular weight (MW), and a positive Δδ13C in the residual PP. A MW-dependent biodegradation mechanism was investigated using five high-purity PP MPs, classified into low (0.83 and 6.20 kDa), medium (50.40 and 108.0 kDa), and high (575.0 kDa) MW categories to access the impact of MW on the depolymerization pattern and associated gene expression of gut bacteria and the larval host. The larvae can depolymerize/biodegrade PP polymers with high MW although the consumption rate and weight losses increased, and survival rates declined with increasing PP MW. This pattern is similar to observations with polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), i.e., both Mn and Mw decreased after being fed low MW PP, while Mn and/or Mw increased after high MW PP was fed. The gut microbiota exhibited specific bacteria associations, such as Kluyvera sp. and Pediococcus sp. for high MW PP degradation, Acinetobacter sp. for medium MW PP, and Bacillus sp. alongside three other bacteria for low MW PP metabolism. In the host transcriptome, digestive enzymes and plastic degradation-related bacterial enzymes were up-regulated after feeding on PP depending on different MWs. The T. molitor host exhibited both defensive function and degradation capability during the biodegradation of plastics, with high MW PP showing a relatively negative impact on the larvae.
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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
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jie Ding
- 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
| | - Ya-Ni Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Ji-Wei Pang
- CECEP Digital Technology Co., Ltd., China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group, Beijing 100096, China
| | - Defeng Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Lu-Yan Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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Tian H, Wang L, Zhu X, Zhang M, Li L, Liu Z, Abolfathi S. Biodegradation of microplastics derived from controlled release fertilizer coating: Selective microbial colonization and metabolism in plastisphere. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:170978. [PMID: 38365031 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170978] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Coated controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) are widely used in agriculture, and the persistent presence of residual polymer coating has raised environmental concerns. This study investigates the underlying degradation dynamics of microplastics (MPs) derived from three typical materials used in CRFs, including polyethylene (PE), epoxy (EP), and polyurethane (PU), through a soil degradation test. The formation of surface biofilm, the succession process, and metabolic characteristics of microbial community are revealed by laser scanning confocal microscope, 16S rRNA sequencing, and non-targeted metabolomics analysis. The weight loss rates of PE, EP, and PU after 807 days of degradation were 16.70 %, 2.79 %, and 4.86 %, respectively. Significant secondary MPs were produced with tears and holes appeared in the coating cross sections and pyrolysis products were produced such as ethers, acids, and esters for PE; alkanes, olefins and their branched-chain derivatives for EP; and short-chain fatty acids and benzene molecules for PU. The coating surface selectively recruited the bacteria of Chujaibacter and Ralstonia and fungus of Fusarium and Penicillium, forming biofilm composed of lipids, proteins, and living cells. The metabolism of amino acids and polymers was enhanced to protect against MP-induced stress. The metabolites or intermediates of organic acids and derivatives, oxygen-contained organic compounds, and benzenoids on CRF surface increased significantly compared with soil, but there were no significant differences among different coating types. This study provides insights to the underlying mechanisms of biodegradation and microenvironmental changes of MPs in soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Tian
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Recourses and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Lingyun Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Recourses and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Xiaofan Zhu
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, United Kingdom
| | - Min Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Recourses and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Chemistry, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, United States
| | - Zhiguang Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Recourses and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, China.
| | - Soroush Abolfathi
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV47AL, United Kingdom
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10
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He L, Yang SS, Ding J, Chen CX, Yang F, He ZL, Pang JW, Peng BY, Zhang Y, Xing DF, Ren NQ, Wu WM. Biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate by Tenebrio molitor: Insights for polymer chain size, gut metabolome and host genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133446. [PMID: 38219578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133446] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or polyester) is a commonly used plastic and also contributes to the majority of plastic wastes. Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae) are capable of biodegrading major plastic polymers but their degrading ability for PET has not been characterized based on polymer chain size molecular size, gut microbiome, metabolome and transcriptome. We verified biodegradation of commercial PET by T. molitor larvae in a previous report. Here, we reported that biodegradation of commercial PET (Mw 29.43 kDa) was further confirmed by using the δ13C signature as an indication of bioreaction, which was increased from - 27.50‰ to - 26.05‰. Under antibiotic suppression of gut microbes, the PET was still depolymerized, indicating that the host digestive enzymes could degrade PET independently. Biodegradation of high purity PET with low, medium, and high molecular weights (MW), i.e., Mw values of 1.10, 27.10, and 63.50 kDa with crystallinity 53.66%, 33.43%, and 4.25%, respectively, showed a mass reduction of > 95%, 86%, and 74% via broad depolymerization. Microbiome analyses indicated that PET diets shifted gut microbiota to three distinct structures, depending on the low, medium, and high MW. Metagenome sequencing, transcriptomic, and metabolic analyses indicated symbiotic biodegradation of PET by the host and gut microbiota. After PET was fed, the host's genes encoding degradation enzymes were upregulated, including genes encoding oxidizing, hydrolyzing, and non-specific CYP450 enzymes. Gut bacterial genes for biodegrading intermediates and nitrogen fixation also upregulated. The multiple-functional metabolic pathways for PET biodegradation ensured rapid biodegradation resulting in a half-life of PET less than 4 h with less negative impact by PET MW and crystallinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; 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
| | - Cheng-Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Fan Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, 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, Beijing 100089, China
| | - Bo-Yu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yalei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - De-Feng Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, 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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Peng BY, Xiao S, Sun Y, Liu Y, Chen J, Zhou X, Wu WM, Zhang Y. Unveiling Fragmentation of Plastic Particles during Biodegradation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Foams in Mealworms: Highly Sensitive Detection and Digestive Modeling Prediction. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15099-15111. [PMID: 37751481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
It remains unknown whether plastic-biodegrading macroinvertebrates generate microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) during the biodegradation of plastics. In this study, we utilized highly sensitive particle analyzers and pyrolyzer-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GCMS) to investigate the possibility of generating MPs and NPs in frass during the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foams by mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae). We also developed a digestive biofragmentation model to predict and unveil the fragmentation process of ingested plastics. The mealworms removed 77.3% of ingested PS and 71.1% of ingested PE over a 6-week test period. Biodegradation of both polymers was verified by the increase in the δ13C signature of residual plastics, changes in molecular weights, and the formation of new oxidative functional groups. MPs accumulated in the frass due to biofragmentation, with residual PS and PE exhibiting the maximum percentage by number at 2.75 and 7.27 μm, respectively. Nevertheless, NPs were not detected using a laser light scattering sizer with a detection limit of 10 nm and Py-GCMS analysis. The digestive biofragmentation model predicted that the ingested PS and PE were progressively size-reduced and rapidly biodegraded, indicating the shorter half-life the smaller plastic particles have. This study allayed concerns regarding the accumulation of NPs by plastic-degrading mealworms and provided critical insights into the factors controlling MP and NP generation during macroinvertebrate-mediated plastic biodegradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Yu Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shaoze Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yurong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Smart Manufacturing in Energy Chemical Process, Ministry of Education, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jiabin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xuefei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wei-Min Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, William & Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-4020, United States
| | - Yalei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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