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The impact of biodegradable plastics on methane and carbon dioxide emissions in soil ecosystems: a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy approach
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Researchers built a circulating FTIR spectroscopy system to monitor methane and CO2 emissions continuously from paddy soils amended with PBAT biodegradable microplastics. PBAT addition caused dramatic increases in greenhouse gas absorption peaks on day 7—92-fold for CH4 and 213-fold for CO2—revealing that biodegradable MPs can substantially elevate soil greenhouse gas emissions.
Biodegradable plastics (BPs), promising eco-friendliness, raise environmental concerns as they degrade into numerous microplastics (Bio-MPs). The impact of Bio-MPs on methane (CH) and carbon dioxide (CO) emissions in soil ecosystems remains largely unexplored. Utilizing Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, we innovatively designed a circulating system, integrating a long optical-path gas cell with a static chamber for continuous and convenient CH/CO monitoring in paddy soils with the addition of Bio-MPs (PBAT). On the 7th day of incubation, we observed a significant increase in CH/CO absorption peaks due to the addition of PBAT, with enhancements of 92-fold and 213-fold, respectively. Built upon this system, we explored a quantitative method based on the main absorption peak (3010 cm) for CH, and calculated cumulative emissions. Additionally, we analyzed attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectra of soil with and without Bio-MPs based on FTIR spectrometer, revealing the characteristic response in soil ATR spectra triggered by PBAT, and demonstrating ATR spectroscopy's potential for identifying soil contamination by Bio-MPs. This study aims to broaden and improve the utilization of FTIR spectroscopy for the purpose of monitoring soil GHG emissions and identifying soil contaminated by Bio-MPs, thereby offering significant insights into the influence of Bio-MPs on climate change.
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Unveiling the hidden impact: How biodegradable microplastics influence CO2 and CH4 emissions and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) profiles in soil ecosystems
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Researchers investigated how biodegradable microplastics from PBAT, PBS, and PLA affect greenhouse gas emissions and volatile organic compounds in paddy and upland soils. The study found that despite being biodegradable, these microplastics do not always promote soil emissions as expected, with PBAT and PLA actually reducing certain greenhouse gas fluxes under some conditions.
Effect of biodegradable films on microplastic distribution and microbial community composition in paddy soil
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Researchers examined microplastic distribution and microbial community composition in paddy soils from southern China where biodegradable plastic films had been used, analyzing MP composition via FTIR and assessing how microbial communities drive biodegradation of both conventional and biodegradable plastic residues.
PBAT biodegradable microplastics enhanced organic matter decomposition capacity and CO2 emission in soils with and without straw residue
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Researchers found that biodegradable PBAT microplastics, commonly used in agricultural films, significantly increased carbon dioxide emissions from soil over 120 days. Evidence indicates that as the microplastics broke down, they stimulated soil microbes to also decompose existing organic matter at a faster rate, suggesting that biodegradable plastics may accelerate carbon release from agricultural soils.
Presence of different microplastics promotes greenhouse gas emissions and alters the microbial community composition of farmland soil
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Researchers examined how five types of microplastics (PVC, PP, PE, PS, and PET) at different concentrations affect greenhouse gas emissions and microbial communities in farmland soil. The study found that microplastic presence promoted greenhouse gas emissions and altered the composition of soil microbial communities, with effects varying by plastic type and concentration.
Microplastic Impacts on Greenhouse Gases Emissions in Terrestrial Ecosystems
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A 90-day laboratory experiment tested how high-density and low-density polyethylene microplastics at 0-0.1% (w/w) soil concentrations affect greenhouse gas emissions from terrestrial soils. The study found that microplastic type and concentration influenced CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions differently, with implications for microplastic contributions to climate change.
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