0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Biodegradable microplastics coupled with biochar enhance Cd chelation and reduce Cd accumulation in Chinese cabbage

Biochar 2025 74 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 68 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Jiajia Zhang, Guoyuan Zou Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Guoyuan Zou Yifan Li, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Jiajia Zhang, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Jiajia Zhang, Li Xu, Jiajia Zhang, Meng Zhao, Guoyuan Zou Li Xu, Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Li Xu, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Meng Zhao, Jiajia Zhang, Congping Li, Congping Li, Congping Li, Congping Li, Congping Li, Congping Li, Yanhua Chen, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Li Xu, Congping Li, Li Xu, Xuexia Wang, Yifan Li, Yifan Li, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Meng Zhao, Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Guoyuan Zou Li Xu, Li Xu, Guoyuan Zou Li Xu, Congping Li, Xuexia Wang, Li Xu, Guoyuan Zou Xuexia Wang, Li Xu, Meng Zhao, Congping Li, Li Xu, Congping Li, Jiajia Zhang, Meng Zhao, Li Xu, Meng Zhao, Guoyuan Zou Bo Pan, Jiajia Zhang, Yanhua Chen, Jiajia Zhang, Congping Li, Guoyuan Zou Jiajia Zhang, Li Xu, Congping Li, Guoyuan Zou Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Jiajia Zhang, Li Xu, Li Xu, Li Xu, Li Xu, Li Xu, Li Xu, Li Xu, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Yanhua Chen, Yanhua Chen, Bo Pan, Bo Pan, Xuexia Wang, Xuexia Wang, Xuexia Wang, Xuexia Wang, Xuexia Wang, Xuexia Wang, Meng Zhao, Guoyuan Zou Meng Zhao, Bo Pan, Jiajia Zhang, Guoyuan Zou Li Xu, Jiajia Zhang, Li Xu, Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Li Xu, Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Meng Zhao, Guoyuan Zou Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Li Xu, Guoyuan Zou Meng Zhao, Yanhua Chen, Meng Zhao, Xuexia Wang, Li Xu, Yanhua Chen, Li Xu, Xuexia Wang, Li Xu, Jiajia Zhang, Meng Zhao, Congping Li, Jiajia Zhang, Li Xu, Li Xu, Congping Li, Guoyuan Zou Jiajia Zhang, Jiajia Zhang, Li Xu, Congping Li, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Li Xu, Li Xu, Li Xu, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Jiajia Zhang, Guoyuan Zou Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao, Jiajia Zhang, Meng Zhao, Jiajia Zhang, Yifan Li, Congping Li, Li Xu, Li Xu, Li Xu, Meng Zhao, Li Xu, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Li Xu, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Li Xu, Li Xu, Jiajia Zhang, Yanhua Chen, Guoyuan Zou Yanhua Chen, Yanhua Chen, Yanhua Chen, Guoyuan Zou Congping Li, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Congping Li, Guoyuan Zou Meng Zhao, Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Guoyuan Zou Meng Zhao, Guoyuan Zou

Summary

Researchers tested how biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics interact with biochar in soil contaminated with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, and found that the combination reduced cadmium uptake in Chinese cabbage by up to 47%. The PLA promoted formation of natural chelating compounds in the root zone that bound the cadmium, suggesting a possible soil remediation benefit from certain biodegradable plastics.

Abstract The impact of microplastics on the remediation of cadmium-contaminated soil by biochar is still unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the effects of combining different biochars with polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics on the growth of Chinese cabbage, rhizosphere soil metabolomics, bacterial community structure, and Cd accumulation in Cd-contaminated soil. Compared with the treatment with biochar alone, the addition of PLA suppressed plant growth, but also reduced Cd accumulation in Chinese cabbage by 8–42%; the treatment with sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBC)–PLA showed the most prominent effect. Compared with the treatment with SBC alone, SBC–PLA reduced Cd accumulation in roots and aboveground parts by 47 and 22%, respectively ( p < 0.05). The addition of PLA enhanced the soil organic matter, dissolved organic carbon, and total nitrogen contents, but reduced the available phosphorus and readily available potassium contents, with no significant impact on available Cd. The rhizosphere metabolite analysis showed that PLA plus biochar promoted the formation of cyclohexene terpenoids and chelating agents, the urea cycle, and chelation with Cd ions, thereby reducing Cd uptake by Chinese cabbage roots. The microbial structure analysis demonstrated that PLA plus biochar drove chelation between organic carbon, nitrogen, and Cd. This study highlights the potential of microplastics for mitigating Cd accumulation in plants and the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. Graphical Abstract

Sign in to start a discussion.

Share this paper