Anaerobic co-digestion of polyethylene terephthalate with fruit and vegetable waste: Biodegradation performance, methane inhibition, and microbial insights in a two-stage reactor

Review on anaerobic biodegradation of waste bioplastics: Mechanisms, influencing factors, and pretreatment strategies

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This review analyzed anaerobic biodegradation mechanisms for bioplastics such as PLA and PHAs, finding that many bioplastics degrade poorly under real anaerobic conditions and that additives can inhibit biodegradation and generate microplastic fragments. The results challenge the 'green' narrative around bioplastics, showing they can persist in waste streams and contribute to microplastic pollution unless degradation processes are carefully tailored to specific material compositions.

The Efficiency of Different Digestion and Separation Methods for Extracting Microplastics in Typical Organic Solid Waste

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This study compared seven digestion protocols and three separation methods for extracting microplastics from organic solid waste such as compost and biogas residues, identifying 30% hydrogen peroxide digestion followed by two-stage density separation as optimal with over 86% recovery. Standardized extraction methods are critical for generating comparable data on microplastic contamination in agricultural inputs that ultimately transfer plastic particles into soils.

Dynamics of Biodegradable Plastics in the Process of Food Waste Biotreatment and Environmental Risks of Residual Plastic Fragments

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Researchers investigated what happens to biodegradable plastics like compostable bags and food containers when they enter composting and anaerobic digestion systems with food waste, finding that these plastics may not fully break down and can leave behind plastic fragments that pose environmental risks.

Advancing biological processing for valorization of plastic wastes

Occurrence and Fate of Microplastics in Anaerobic Digestion of Dewatered Sludge

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Researchers found that microplastics introduced during wastewater treatment are transferred into sewage sludge and survive the anaerobic digestion process, meaning they remain present when sludge is applied to agricultural land. This pathway represents a significant and underappreciated route for microplastic pollution to enter terrestrial ecosystems.