We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Biocatalytic strategies for the degradation of emerging micropollutants: From nanoplastics to pharmaceuticals
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers demonstrated that specific bacteria can break down both nanoplastics and common pharmaceuticals such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, which frequently contaminate waterways. Encasing these bacteria in alginate beads improved their stability and reusability, pointing toward practical bioremediation tools for tackling multiple classes of emerging pollutants simultaneously.
The increasing presence of micropollutants such as nanoplastics, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals poses a growing environmental concern. While enzymatic degradation strategies show promise, extending their application beyond PET plastics and fully elucidating pharmaceutical degradation pathways remains challenging. This work focuses on widely used pharmaceuticals—paracetamol, enalapril, ibuprofen, and atenolol—frequently detected in aquatic environments. We demonstrate the degradation capacity of bacteria from the genera Alcanivorax, Paraburkholderia, and Pseudomonas. Additionally, an alginate-based immobilization strategy enables complete paracetamol degradation while improving stability, reusability, and process efficiency.
More Papers Like This
Biocatalytic strategies for the degradation of emerging micropollutants: From nanoplastics to pharmaceuticals
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers demonstrated that specific bacteria can break down both nanoplastics and common pharmaceuticals such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, which frequently contaminate waterways. Encasing these bacteria in alginate beads improved their stability and reusability, pointing toward practical bioremediation tools for tackling multiple classes of emerging pollutants simultaneously.
Pharmaceutical transforming microbes from wastewater and natural environments can colonize microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that pharmaceutical-transforming bacteria from wastewater and natural environments can colonize microplastic bead surfaces and degrade the pharmaceutical naproxen. This shows microplastics can serve as substrates that concentrate pharmaceutical-degrading microorganisms in waterways.
Biodegradation of anti-inflammatory drugs and plastics. Identification of microbial activities by metagenomics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used metagenomic sequencing to identify microbial communities capable of degrading both anti-inflammatory drugs and plastics in wastewater treatment systems. The study found specialized microorganisms that could degrade both types of pollutants, suggesting potential for biological treatment strategies that simultaneously address pharmaceutical and microplastic contamination.
Microbes as Biocatalysts of Marine Micropollutants
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how marine microorganisms can serve as biocatalysts to break down micropollutants including industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics in ocean environments. The study highlights advances in synthetic biology and genomics that are improving microbial efficiency for targeted bioremediation, while noting the need for cooperation among scientists, policymakers, and industry to address implementation challenges.
Characterization of microplastics and their interaction with antibiotics in wastewater
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastics in wastewater and investigated their interactions with antibiotics, examining how microplastic surfaces adsorb antibiotic compounds and the implications for antibiotic transport and dissemination in wastewater treatment systems.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.