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Biodegradation Mechanisms and Sustainable Governance of Marine Polypropylene Microplastics
Summary
This review covers how polypropylene microplastics—one of the most common plastic types in the ocean—resist breakdown in marine environments despite surface weathering by UV light and mechanical abrasion. It evaluates emerging solutions including biodegradable plastic alternatives, engineered microbes, and AI-assisted monitoring, underscoring that current natural degradation rates are far too slow to keep pace with plastic pollution.
Polypropylene microplastics (PP-MPs) represent a persistent class of marine pollutants due to their hydrophobicity, high crystallinity, and resistance to environmental degradation. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the environmental behavior, physicochemical aging, and ecotoxicological risks of PP-MPs, with emphasis on microbial degradation pathways involving bacteria, fungi, algae, and filter-feeding invertebrates. The biodegradation of PP-MPs is jointly regulated by environmental conditions, polymer properties, and the structure and function of plastisphere communities. Although photo-oxidation and mechanical abrasion enhance microbial colonization by increasing surface roughness and introducing oxygenated functional groups, overall degradation rates remain low in marine environments. Emerging mitigation strategies include biodegradable polymer alternatives, multifunctional catalytic and adsorptive materials, engineered microbial consortia, and integrated photo-biodegradation systems. Key research priorities include elucidating molecular degradation mechanisms, designing programmable degradable materials, and establishing AI-based monitoring frameworks. This review provides a concise foundation for developing ecologically safe and scalable approaches to PP-MP reduction and sustainable marine pollution management.