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Falzarano M, Marìn A, Cabedo L, Polettini A, Pomi R, Rossi A, Zonfa T. Alternative end-of-life options for disposable bioplastic products: Degradation and ecotoxicity assessment in compost and soil. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 362:142648. [PMID: 38906189 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Four different end-of-life options for disposable bioplastic cups were investigated and compared based on their environmental implications. Two products with distinct polymeric composition were tested simulating the following scenarios at laboratory scale: i) industrial composting (180 days at 58 °C); ii) anaerobic digestion followed by industrial composting (45 days at 55 °C and 180 days at 58 °C); iii) anaerobic digestion followed by direct digestate use on soil for agricultural purposes (45 days at 55 °C and 180 days at 25 °C); iv) uncontrolled release into a soil environment (180 days at 25 °C). Ecotoxicity tests were run at the end of each experiment to investigate the effects of the materials on three main groups of terrestrial model organisms: plants, earthworms and nitrifying bacteria. Complete biodegradation of the cups was observed in 180 days in the scenarios involving composting environment. A low degree of biodegradation (22.9 ± 4.5%) of the digestates in soil was observed, warning for a potential micro-bioplastics discharge into the environment. No degradation was observed for the cups in soil during the same testing period. Ecotoxicity tests revealed a negative effect on plants biomass growth across all samples, which was 17-30% lower compared to the blank sample. The experimental campaign highlighted the need for a systematic assessment of controlled treatment of bioplastics, as well as the need for a harmonized legislative framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Falzarano
- DICEA Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Roma, Italy.
| | - A Marìn
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I, Av. Sos Baynat S/n, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - L Cabedo
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I, Av. Sos Baynat S/n, 12071, Castelló, Spain; CEBIMAT LAB S.L, ESPAITEC, Universitat Jaume I, Av. Vicent Sos Baynat S/n, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - A Polettini
- DICEA Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Roma, Italy
| | - R Pomi
- DICEA Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Roma, Italy
| | - A Rossi
- DICEA Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Roma, Italy
| | - T Zonfa
- DICEA Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Roma, Italy
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Lee ES, Park SY, Kim CG. Comparison of anaerobic digestion of starch- and petro-based bioplastic under hydrogen-rich conditions. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 175:133-145. [PMID: 38194798 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.12.050] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
To identify an economically viable waste management system for bioplastics, thermoplastic starch (TPS) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) were anaerobically digested under hydrogen (H2)/carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) gas-purged conditions to compare methane (CH4) production and biodegradation. Regardless of the type of bioplastics, CH4 production was consistently higher with H2/CO2 than with N2. The highest amount of CH4 was produced at 307.74 mL CH4/g volatile solids when TPS digested with H2/CO2. A stepwise increased in CH4 yield was observed, with a nominal initial increment followed by accelerated methanogenesis conversion as H2 was depleted. This may be attributed to a substantial shift in the microbial structure from hydrogenotrophic methanogen (Methanobacteriales and Methanomicrobiales) to heterotrophs (Spirochaetia). In contrast, no significant change was observed with PBAT, regardless of the type of purged gas. TPS was broken down into numerous derivatives, including volatile fatty acids. TPS produced more byproducts with H2/CO2 (i.e., 430) than with N2 (i.e., 320). In contrast, differential scanning calorimetry analysis on PBAT revealed an increase in crystallinity from 10.20 % to 12.31 % and 11.36 % in the H2/CO2- and N2-purged conditions, respectively, after 65 days of testing. PBAT surface modifications were characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results suggest that the addition of H2/CO2 can enhance the CH4 yield and increase the breakdown rate of TPS more than that of PBAT. This study provides novel insights into the CH4 production potential of two bioplastics with different biodegradabilities in H2/CO2-mediated anaerobic digestion systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Seo Lee
- Program in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, INHA University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon Yeong Park
- Institute of Environmental Research, INHA University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Gyun Kim
- Program in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, INHA University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Engineering, INHA University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea.
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Chong ZK, Hofmann A, Haye M, Wilson S, Sohoo I, Alassali A, Kuchta K. Lab-scale and full-scale industrial composting of biodegradable plastic blends for packaging. OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2024; 2:101. [PMID: 38420136 PMCID: PMC10899788 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.14893.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Background The acceptance of compostable plastic packaging in industrial composting plants is not universal despite available certification due to the persistence of plastic residues after composting. To better understand this discrepancy, this study compared the disintegration rates of two blends designed for rigid packaging (polylactic acid based) and soft packaging (polybutylene succinate based) in lab-scale composting tests and in an industrial composting plant. Methods A lab-scale composting test was conducted in triplicates according to ISO 20200 for 4, 8 and 12 weeks to check the disintegration potential of the blends. Duplicate test material were then exposed in the compost pile of an industrial composting plant for a duration of 3 weeks and compared with a supplementary lab-scale test of the same duration. Results The rigid packaging samples (1 mm thickness) retained on average 76.4%, 59.0% and 55.7% of its mass after 4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively in the lab-scale. In the plant, the average remaining mass was 98.3%, much higher compared to the average of 68.9% after 3 weeks in the supplementary lab-scale test. The soft packaging samples (109±9 µm sample thickness) retained on average 45.4%, 10.9% and 0.3% of its mass after 4, 8 and 12 weeks respectively in the lab-scale. In the plant, a high average remaining mass was also observed (93.9%). The supplementary lab-scale test showed similar remaining mass but higher fragmentation after 3 weeks. Conclusions The results show that the samples achieved significant disintegration in the lab-scale but not in the plant. The difference between the tests that might further contribute to the differing degradation rates is the composition and heterogeneity of the composting substrate. Therefore, the substrate composition and thermophilic composting duration of individual plants are important considerations to determine the suitability of treating compostable plastic in real-world conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Kai Chong
- Circular Resource Engineering and Management (CREM), Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Alexander Hofmann
- Circular Resource Engineering and Management (CREM), Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Marie Haye
- Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering (GEn), Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, Villeurbanne, 69100, France
| | - Sharon Wilson
- Circular Resource Engineering and Management (CREM), Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Ihsanullah Sohoo
- Circular Resource Engineering and Management (CREM), Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Ayah Alassali
- Circular Resource Engineering and Management (CREM), Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Kerstin Kuchta
- Circular Resource Engineering and Management (CREM), Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
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Zhang Y, Tao J, Bai Y, Wang F, Xie B. Incomplete degradation of aromatic-aliphatic copolymer leads to proliferation of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 181:108291. [PMID: 37907056 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108291] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable plastics (BDPs) have attracted extensive attention as an alternative to conventional plastics. BDPs could be mineralized by composting, while the quality of compost affected by the presence of BDPs and the residual microplastics (MPs) has not been well evaluated. This study aimed to explore the MPs release potential and environmental implications of commercial BDPs (aromatic-aliphatic copolymer) films in uncontrolled composting. Results showed that the molecular weight of BDPs decreased by >60% within 60 d. However, the non-extracted organic matter and wet-sieving measurements indicated that MPs continuously released and accumulated during regular composting. The average MPs release potential (0.1-5 mm) was 134.6 ± 18.1 particles/mg (BDPs), which resulted in 103-104 particles/g dw in compost. The plastisphere of MPs showed a significantly higher (0.95-16.76 times) abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which resulted in the rising (1.34-2.24 times) of ARGs in compost heaps, in comparison to the control groups. Overall, BDPs promote the spread of ARGs through the selective enrichment of bacteria and horizontal transfer from released MPs. These findings confirmed that BDPs could enhance the release potential of MPs and the dissemination of ARGs, which would promote the holistic understanding and environmental risk of BDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Zhang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jianping Tao
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yudan Bai
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Bing Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Jeon Y, Jin H, Kong Y, Cha HG, Lee BW, Yu K, Yi B, Kim HT, Joo JC, Yang YH, Lee J, Jung SK, Park SH, Park K. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Degradation by Bacillus infantis sp. Isolated from Soil and Identification of phaZ and bdhA Expressing PHB Depolymerase. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 33:1076-1083. [PMID: 37311705 PMCID: PMC10468675 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2303.03013] [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: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable and biocompatible bioplastic. Effective PHB degradation in nutrient-poor environments is required for industrial and practical applications of PHB. To screen for PHB-degrading strains, PHB double-layer plates were prepared and three new Bacillus infantis species with PHB-degrading ability were isolated from the soil. In addition, phaZ and bdhA of all isolated B. infantis were confirmed using a Bacillus sp. universal primer set and established polymerase chain reaction conditions. To evaluate the effective PHB degradation ability under nutrient-deficient conditions, PHB film degradation was performed in mineral medium, resulting in a PHB degradation rate of 98.71% for B. infantis PD3, which was confirmed in 5 d. Physical changes in the degraded PHB films were analyzed. The decrease in molecular weight due to biodegradation was confirmed using gel permeation chromatography and surface erosion of the PHB film was observed using scanning electron microscopy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on B. infantis showing its excellent PHB degradation ability and is expected to contribute to PHB commercialization and industrial composting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubin Jeon
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - HyeJi Jin
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Youjung Kong
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeng-Geun Cha
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Wook Lee
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungjae Yu
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Byongson Yi
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Taek Kim
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Chan Joo
- Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon 14662, Republic of Korea
| | - Yung-Hun Yang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongbok Lee
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Kyu Jung
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - See-Hyoung Park
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmoon Park
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Republic of Korea
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Gadaleta G, De Gisi S, Sorrentino A, Sorrentino L, Notarnicola M, Kuchta K, Picuno C, Oliviero M. Effect of Cellulose-Based Bioplastics on Current LDPE Recycling. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:4869. [PMID: 37445182 DOI: 10.3390/ma16134869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The increased use of bioplastics in the market has led to their presence in municipal solid waste streams alongside traditional fossil-based polymers, particularly low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which bioplastics often end up mixed with. This study aimed to assess the impact of cellulose acetate plasticized with triacetin (CAT) on the mechanical recycling of LDPE. LDPE-CAT blends with varying CAT content (0%, 1%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% by weight) were prepared by melt extrusion and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis (thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry), dynamic rheological measurements, and tensile tests. The results indicate that the presence of CAT does not significantly affect the chemical, thermal, and rheological properties of LDPE, and the addition of CAT at different levels does not promote LDPE degradation under typical processing conditions. However, the addition of CAT negatively impacts the processability and mechanical behavior of LDPE, resulting in the reduced quality of the recycled material. Thus, the presence of cellulose-based bioplastics in LDPE recycling streams should be avoided, and a specific sorting stream for bioplastics should be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Gadaleta
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona n. 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Sabino De Gisi
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona n. 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Andrea Sorrentino
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council (CNR), P.le E. Fermi n. 1, I-80055 Portici, Italy
| | - Luigi Sorrentino
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council (CNR), P.le E. Fermi n. 1, I-80055 Portici, Italy
| | - Michele Notarnicola
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona n. 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Kerstin Kuchta
- Circular Resource Engineering and Management, Hamburg University of Technology, Blohmstraße n. 15, D-21079 Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Maria Oliviero
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council (CNR), P.le E. Fermi n. 1, I-80055 Portici, Italy
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Lu J, Qiu Y, Muhmood A, Zhang L, Wang P, Ren L. Appraising co-composting efficiency of biodegradable plastic bags and food wastes: Assessment microplastics morphology, greenhouse gas emissions, and changes in microbial community. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162356. [PMID: 36822427 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradable plastic bags (BPBs) to collect food waste and microplastics (MPs) produced from their biodegradation have received considerable scientific attention recently. Therefore, the current study was carried out to assess the co-composting efficiency of biodegradable plastic bags (polylactic acid (PLA) + polybutylene terephthalate (PBAT) + ST20 and PLA + PBAT+MD25) and food waste. The variations in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, microbial community and compost fertility were likewise assessed. Compared with the control, PLA + PBAT+ST20 and PLA + PBAT+MD25 both accelerated organic matter degradation and increased temperature. Moreover, PLA + PBAT+ST20 aggravated CH4 and CO2 emissions by 12.10 % and 11.01 %, respectively. PLA + PBAT+MD25 decreased CH4 and CO2 emissions by 5.50 % and 9.12 %, respectively. Meanwhile, compared with PLA + PBAT+ST20, the combined effect of plasticizer and inorganic additive in PLA + PBAT+MD25, reduced the NO3--N contents, seed germination index (GI) and compost maturity. Furthermore, adding BPBs changed the richness and diversity of the bacterial community (Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes). Likewise, redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the co-compost system of BPBs and food waste accelerated significantly bacterial community succession from Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes at the initial stage to Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria at the mature stage, increased co-compost temperature to over 64 °C and extended thermophilic composting phase, and promoted the degradation of MPs. Additionally, according to structural equation model quantification results, the inorganic additive of PLA + PBAT+MD25 had more serious toxicity to microorganisms and had significantly adverse effects on GI through CO2-C (λ = -0.415, p < 0.05) and NO3--N (λ = -0.558, p < 0.001), thus reduced compost fertility and quality. The results also indicated that the BPBs with ST20 as an additive could be more suitable for industrial composting than the BPBs with MD25 as an additive. This study provided a vital basis for understanding the potential environmental and human health risks of the MPs' generated by the degradation of BPBs in compost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Lu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Food Chain Pollution Control, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production and Integrated Resource Utilization of China National Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Yizhan Qiu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Atif Muhmood
- Institute of Soil Chemistry & Environmental sciences, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Luxi Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Pan Wang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Food Chain Pollution Control, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production and Integrated Resource Utilization of China National Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Lianhai Ren
- School of Ecology and Environment, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Food Chain Pollution Control, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production and Integrated Resource Utilization of China National Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
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Shang Z, Wang R, Zhang X, Tu Y, Sheng C, Yuan H, Wen L, Li Y, Zhang J, Wang X, Yang G, Feng Y, Ren G. Differential effects of petroleum-based and bio-based microplastics on anaerobic digestion: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162674. [PMID: 36894074 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162674] [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: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The number of plastics is increasing owing to the rapid development of the plastics industry. Microplastics (MPs) are formed during the use of both petroleum-based plastics and newly developed bio-based plastics. These MPs are inevitably released into the environment and are enriched in wastewater treatment plant sludge. Anaerobic digestion is a popular sludge stabilization method for wastewater treatment plants. Understanding the potential impacts of different MPs on anaerobic digestion is critical. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the mechanisms of petroleum-based MPs and bio-based MPs in anaerobic digestion methane production and compares their potential effects on biochemical pathways, key enzyme activities, and microbial communities. Finally, it identifies problems that must be solved in the future, proposes the focus of future research, and predicts the future development direction of the plastics industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezhou Shang
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Wang
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiyi Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yongle Tu
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chenjing Sheng
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huan Yuan
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lei Wen
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yulu Li
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaojiao Wang
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Gaihe Yang
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yongzhong Feng
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Guangxin Ren
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Engineering Research Center of Circular Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
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9
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Feijoo P, Marín A, Samaniego-Aguilar K, Sánchez-Safont E, Lagarón JM, Gámez-Pérez J, Cabedo L. Effect of the Presence of Lignin from Woodflour on the Compostability of PHA-Based Biocomposites: Disintegration, Biodegradation and Microbial Dynamics. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15112481. [PMID: 37299280 DOI: 10.3390/polym15112481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) has gained attention as a possible substitute for conventional polymers that could be integrated into the organic recycling system. Biocomposites with 15% of pure cellulose (TC) and woodflour (WF) were prepared to analyze the role of lignin on their compostability (58 °C) by tracking the mass loss, CO2 evolution, and the microbial population. Realistic dimensions for typical plastic products (400 µm films), as well as their service performance (thermal stability, rheology), were taken into account in this hybrid study. WF showed lower adhesion with the polymer than TC and favored PHBV thermal degradation during processing, also affecting its rheological behavior. Although all materials disintegrated in 45 days and mineralized in less than 60 days, lignin from woodflour was found to slow down the bioassimilation of PHBV/WF by limiting the access of enzymes and water to easier degradable cellulose and polymer matrix. According to the highest and the lowest weight loss rates, TC incorporation allowed for higher mesophilic bacterial and fungal counts, while WF seemed to hinder fungal growth. At the initial steps, fungi and yeasts seem to be key factors in facilitating the later metabolization of the materials by bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Feijoo
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Anna Marín
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Kerly Samaniego-Aguilar
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Estefanía Sánchez-Safont
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - José M Lagarón
- Novel Materials and Nanotechnology Group, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Calle Catedrático Agustín Escardino Benlloch 7, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | - José Gámez-Pérez
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Luis Cabedo
- Polymers and Advanced Materials Group (PIMA), Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, Spain
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10
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Manu MK, Luo L, Kumar R, Johnravindar D, Li D, Varjani S, Zhao J, Wong J. A review on mechanistic understanding of microplastic pollution on the performance of anaerobic digestion. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 325:121426. [PMID: 36907239 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121426] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) has emerged as a promising technology for diverting the organic waste from the landfills along with the production of clean energy. AD is a microbial-driven biochemical process wherein the plethora of microbial communities participate in converting the putrescible organic matter into biogas. Nevertheless, the AD process is susceptible to the external environmental factors such as presence of physical (microplastics) and chemical (antibiotics, pesticides) pollutants. The microplastics (MPs) pollution has received recent attention due to the increasing plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems. This review was aimed for holistic assessment of impact of MPs pollution on AD process to develop efficient treatment technology. First, the possible pathways of MPs entry into the AD systems were critically evaluated. Further, the recent literature on the experimental studies pertaining to the impact of different types of MPs at different concentrations on the AD process was reviewed. In addition, several mechanisms such as direct exposure of MPs on the microbial cells, indirect impact of MPs through the leaching of toxic chemicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation on AD process were elucidated. Besides, the risk possessed by the increase of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) after the AD process due to the MPs stress on microbial communities were discussed. Overall, this review deciphered the severity of MPs pollution on AD process at different levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- M K Manu
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Liwen Luo
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Reeti Kumar
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Davidraj Johnravindar
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Dongyi Li
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Sunita Varjani
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, 248 007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Jun Zhao
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Jonathan Wong
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.
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11
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Gadaleta G, Ferrara C, De Gisi S, Notarnicola M, De Feo G. Life cycle assessment of end-of-life options for cellulose-based bioplastics when introduced into a municipal solid waste management system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 871:161958. [PMID: 36737011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The partial degradation of cellulose-based bioplastics in industrial treatment of organic fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) opened to the investigation of further disposal routes for bioplastics in the waste management system. For this purpose, the environmental footprint of three MSW management scenarios differing only for the bioplastics final destination (organic, plastic or mixed waste streams) was assessed through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Results revealed how the treatment of bioplastics with organic waste achieved the worst environmental performance (5.8 kg CO2 eq/FU) for most impact categories. On the other hand, treatment with plastics and mixed waste achieved negative impact values (that mean avoided GHG emissions) of -9.8 and -7.7 kg CO2 eq/FU respectively, showing comparable benefits from these scenarios. The key reason was the lower quality of compost obtained from the organic treatment route, which reduced the environmental credits achieved by the energy recovery during anaerobic digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Gadaleta
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Carmen Ferrara
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II n. 132, I-84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - Sabino De Gisi
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy.
| | - Michele Notarnicola
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona n.4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanni De Feo
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II n. 132, I-84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
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12
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Paul-Pont I, Ghiglione JF, Gastaldi E, Ter Halle A, Huvet A, Bruzaud S, Lagarde F, Galgani F, Duflos G, George M, Fabre P. Discussion about suitable applications for biodegradable plastics regarding their sources, uses and end of life. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 157:242-248. [PMID: 36577275 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.12.022] [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: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This opinion paper offers a scientific view on the current debate of the place of biodegradable plastics as part of the solution to deal with the growing plastic pollution in the world's soil, aquatic, and marine compartments. Based on the current scientific literature, we focus on the current limits to prove plastic biodegradability and to assess the toxicity of commercially used biobased and biodegradable plastics in natural environments. We also discuss the relevance of biodegradable plastics for selected applications with respect to their use and end of life. In particular, we underlined that there is no universal biodegradability of plastics in any ecosystem, that considering the environment as a waste treatment system is not acceptable, and that the use of compostable plastics requires adaptation of existing organic waste collection and treatment channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ika Paul-Pont
- Univ Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, F-29280, Plouzané, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France.
| | - Jean-François Ghiglione
- CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Microbienne (LOMIC), UMR 7621, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Banyuls sur mer, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Emmanuelle Gastaldi
- INRAE, Univ Montpellier, IATE, Montpellier, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Alexandra Ter Halle
- IMRCP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Arnaud Huvet
- Univ Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, F-29280, Plouzané, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Stéphane Bruzaud
- Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme (IRDL), Université Bretagne Sud, UMR CNRS 6027, Lorient, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Fabienne Lagarde
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM, UMR CNRS 6283), Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, F-72085 Le Mans, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - François Galgani
- IFREMER/ RMPF, Tahiti, Polynésie Française; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Guillaume Duflos
- ANSES - Laboratoire de Sécurité des Aliments, Boulevard du Bassin Napoléon, F-62200, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Matthieu George
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), UMR 5221 CNRS-UM, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
| | - Pascale Fabre
- Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (L2C), UMR 5221 CNRS-UM, Place Eugène Bataillon, Montpellier, France; GDR 2050 Polymères et Océans, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, France
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13
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Kosheleva A, Gadaleta G, De Gisi S, Heerenklage J, Picuno C, Notarnicola M, Kuchta K, Sorrentino A. Co-digestion of food waste and cellulose-based bioplastic: From batch to semi-continuous scale investigation. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 156:272-281. [PMID: 36521212 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Only few studies on the behaviour of bioplastics in anaerobic co-digestion could be found in literature and most of them are conducted in batch mode. Despite the fact that continuous experiments confirm or add new insight to the findings acquired from batch ones, there is still lack of such studies. This work aims to cover this gap, carrying out a semi-continuous anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and cellulose acetate (which its behaviour under anaerobic environment is also quite unexplored). After a first evaluation of the potential methane production from each substrate at batch scale, the semi-continuous co-digestion of food waste and cellulose acetate was carried out in three configurations. During the semi-continuous process, a methane yield of 331 NmlCH4/gVS was generated from the co-digestion of food waste and cellulose acetate while bioplastics specimens achieved a weight loss of about 45 %. The results were both lower than the one obtained from batch co-digestion, although methane production rates were comparable regardless of being fed with or without bioplastics. An increase was registered after 65 days of semi-continuous process, due to the accumulation of CA specimens. This confirms the different degradation trends between bioplastics and food waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arina Kosheleva
- Hamburg University of Technology - Circular Resource Engineering and Management, Blohmstraße 15, D-21079 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Giovanni Gadaleta
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona, 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Sabino De Gisi
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona, 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy.
| | - Joern Heerenklage
- Hamburg University of Technology - Circular Resource Engineering and Management, Blohmstraße 15, D-21079 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Caterina Picuno
- Hamburg University of Technology - Circular Resource Engineering and Management, Blohmstraße 15, D-21079 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michele Notarnicola
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona, 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Kerstin Kuchta
- Hamburg University of Technology - Circular Resource Engineering and Management, Blohmstraße 15, D-21079 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Sorrentino
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council (CNR), P.le E. Fermi, 1, I-80055 Portici (Napoli), Italy
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14
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Morales-Polo C, Cledera-Castro MDM, Revuelta-Aramburu M, Hueso-Kortekaas K. Anaerobic digestion of organic fraction combinations from food waste, for an optimal dynamic release of biogas, using H 2 as an indicator. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159727. [PMID: 36302413 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159727] [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: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to assess the effects of mixing the three elemental organic waste fractions (fruit and vegetable, meat, and fish) during anaerobic digestion. Batch experiments were carried out with fraction mixtures of different proportions. The results were compared, concerning the single digestion of each fraction, the gas generation, and the process performance, using H2 as an indicator. It was determined that the optimal mixture was the one with the fractions in equal proportion. This mixture achieved a balanced composition, a faster process by 58 %, and a 12 % increase in methane production. It was also determined that, as a rule, mixtures increase the hydrolysis speed and that the meat fraction mixtures manage to make this substrate suitable for anaerobic treatment by increasing the rate of hydrolysis by 148 % and buffering the acidification inhibition that suffers in its single digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Morales-Polo
- Research Group on Emerging Pollutants and Waste Recovery (gCEV), ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain; Institute for Research in Technology, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - María Del Mar Cledera-Castro
- Research Group on Emerging Pollutants and Waste Recovery (gCEV), ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain; Institute for Research in Technology, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Revuelta-Aramburu
- Research Group on Emerging Pollutants and Waste Recovery (gCEV), ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Katia Hueso-Kortekaas
- Research Group on Emerging Pollutants and Waste Recovery (gCEV), ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, Madrid, Spain
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15
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Shi Y, Chai J, Xu T, Ding L, Huang M, Gan F, Pi K, Gerson AR, Yang J. Microplastics contamination associated with low-value domestic source organic solid waste: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159679. [PMID: 36283521 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Waste activated sludge and food waste are two typical important domestic low-value organic solid wastes (LOSW). LOSW contains significant organic matter and water content resulting in the transboundary transfer of liquid-solid-gas and other multi-mediums, such that the complexity of microplastics (MPs) migration should be of greater concern. This article provides a review of the literature focusing on the separation and extraction methods of MPs from LOSW. The occurrence and source of MPs are discussed, and the output and impact of MPs on LOSW heat and biological treatments are summarized. The fate and co-effects of MPs and other pollutants in landfills and soils are reviewed. This review highlights the migration and transformation of MPs in domestic source LOSW, and future perspectives focused on the development of a unified extraction and analysis protocol. The objective of this review is to promote the technological development of decontamination of MPs in LOSW by sufficient understanding of the fate of MPs, their interaction with coexisting pollutants and the development of targeted preventive research strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Shi
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China.
| | - Jiaqi Chai
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Tao Xu
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Lihu Ding
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Meijie Huang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Fangmao Gan
- Yangtze Ecology and Environment Co., Ltd., Wuhan, Hubei 430062, China
| | - Kewu Pi
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, China
| | - Andrea R Gerson
- Blue Minerals Consultancy, Wattle Grove, Tasmania 7109, Australia
| | - Jiakuan Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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16
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Hejna A, Barczewski M, Kosmela P, Mysiukiewicz O, Aniśko J, Sulima P, Andrzej Przyborowski J, Reza Saeb M. The impact of thermomechanical and chemical treatment of waste Brewers' spent grain and soil biodegradation of sustainable Mater-Bi-Based biocomposites. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 154:260-271. [PMID: 36279594 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Due to the massive plastic pollution, development of sustainable and biodegradable polymer materials is crucial to reduce environmental burdens and support climate neutrality. Application of lignocellulosic wastes as fillers for polymer composites was broadly reported, but analysis of biodegradation behavior of resulting biocomposites was rarely examined. Herein, sustainable Mater-Bi-based biocomposites filled with thermomechanically- and chemically-modified brewers' spent grain (BSG) were prepared and subjected to 12-week soil burial test simulating their biodegradation in natural environment. BSG stabilizing effect on polymer matrix affected by the content of melanoidins and antioxidant phytochemicals, along with the impact of diisocyanate applied to strengthen the interfacial adhesion. Biocomposites showed 25-35 wt% mass loss over 12 weeks resulting from swelling of BSG filler and sample microcracking, which increased surface roughness by 247-448 %. The degree of decomposition was partially reduced by BSG modifications pointing to the stabilizing effect of melanoidins and phytochemicals, and enhanced interfacial adhesion. Soil burial-induced structural changes enhanced biocomposites' thermal stability determined by thermogravimetric analysis shifting decomposition onset by 14.4-32.0 °C due to the biodegradation of lower molecular weight starch macromolecules confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. For unfilled Mater-Bi, it caused an average 32 % reduction in complex viscosity and storage modulus captured by oscillatory rheological measurements. Nonetheless, the inverse effect was noted for biocomposites where modulus increased even by one order of magnitude due to the swelling of BSG particles and amorphous phase decomposition. Presented results indicate that BSG promotes soil degradation of Mater-Bi and its rate can be engineered by biofiller treatment elaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksander Hejna
- Institute of Materials Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3, 61-138 Poznań, Poland; Department of Polymer Technology, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Mateusz Barczewski
- Institute of Materials Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3, 61-138 Poznań, Poland
| | - Paulina Kosmela
- Department of Polymer Technology, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Olga Mysiukiewicz
- Institute of Materials Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3, 61-138 Poznań, Poland
| | - Joanna Aniśko
- Institute of Materials Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 3, 61-138 Poznań, Poland
| | - Paweł Sulima
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bioresource Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 3, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Jerzy Andrzej Przyborowski
- Department of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Bioresource Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 3, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Mohammad Reza Saeb
- Department of Polymer Technology, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
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17
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Gadaleta G, De Gisi S, Picuno C, Heerenklage J, Di Iaconi C, Notarnicola M, Kuchta K, Sorrentino A. Effects of cellulose-based bio-plastics on the aerobic biological stabilization treatment of mixed municipal solid waste: A lab-scale assessment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 318:115585. [PMID: 35759970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115585] [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: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work is to assess how the presence of cellulose-based bio-plastics influence the biological stabilization of mixed Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). For the scope, two cellulose acetate bio-plastics have been mixed with a synthetic mixed waste to create samples with and without bio-plastics. A self-induced biostabilization has been carried out for 7 and 14 days where temperature and off-gas have been monitored continuously. Results about temperature evolution, O2 consumption, CO2 production and respiratory quotient did not show a substantial difference regarding both the duration of the process and the presence of cellulose-based bio-plastics on the mixture. On the average, the temperature peak and the maximum daily O2 consumption and CO2 production were 52.2 °C, 35.81 g O2/kg DM *d and 48.95 g CO2/kg DM *d respectively. Disintegration of bio-plastics samples after 7 and 14 days were comparable (on the average 23.13%). The self-induced biostabilization gave its main contribution after 4 days and resulted almost finished at the end of the day 7 of the process. Results showed that cellulose-based bio-plastics did not give a negative effect on mixed MSW biological stabilization and suggest a possible management, aiming at energy recovery of the outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Gadaleta
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona N.4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Sabino De Gisi
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona N.4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
| | - Caterina Picuno
- Hamburg University of Technology - Sustainable Resource and Waste Management, Blohmstraße 15, D-21079, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Joern Heerenklage
- Hamburg University of Technology - Sustainable Resource and Waste Management, Blohmstraße 15, D-21079, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Claudio Di Iaconi
- Water Research Institute, C.N.R, Viale F. De Blasio 5, I-70123, Bari, Italy
| | - Michele Notarnicola
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona N.4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Kerstin Kuchta
- Hamburg University of Technology - Sustainable Resource and Waste Management, Blohmstraße 15, D-21079, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Sorrentino
- Istituto per I Polimeri, Compositi e Biomateriali (IPCB), Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), P.le E. Fermi, 1, I-80055, Portici, Napoli, Italy
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18
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Carbon Footprint and Total Cost Evaluation of Different Bio-Plastics Waste Treatment Strategies. CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cleantechnol4020035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
To address the problem of fossil-based pollution, bio-plastics have risen in use in a wide range of applications. The current waste management system still has some weakness for bio-plastics waste (BPW) treatment, and quantitative data is lacking. This study combines environmental and economic assessments in order to indicate the most sustainable and suitable BPW management treatment between organic, plastic and mixed wastes. For the scope, the carbon footprint of each scenario was calculated by life cycle assessment (LCA), while the total cost of the waste management system was used as an economic parameter. The economic evaluation revealed that the organic, plastic and mixed waste treatment routes reached a total cost of 120.35, 112.21 and 109.43 EUR, respectively. The LCA results showed that the incomplete degradation of BPW during anaerobic digestion and composting led to the disposal of the compost produced, creating an environmental burden of 324.64 kgCO2-Eq. for the organic waste treatment route, while the mixed and plastic treatment routes obtained a benefit of −87.16 and −89.17 kgCO2-Eq. respectively. This study showed that, although the current amount of BPW does not affect the treatment process of organic, plastic and mixed wastes, it can strongly affect the quality of the output, compromising its further reuse. Therefore, specific improvement of waste treatment should be pursued, particularly with regard to the anaerobic digestion of organic waste, which remains a promising technology for BPW treatment.
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