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In situ microplastics immobilization by bacterial cellulose-producing strain, Novacetimonas hansenii PA9
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Scientists grew a bacteria strain that produces nano-scale cellulose fibers and found it could completely immobilize microplastic particles within 48 hours by entangling them in a natural fiber matrix, after which the cellulose could be broken down with enzymes to recover the trapped plastic. The approach uses biodegradable materials and avoids harsh chemicals, making it a potentially eco-friendly method for removing microplastics from water. Biologically based removal strategies are gaining interest as alternatives to energy-intensive filtration for addressing microplastic contamination in water systems.
This study developed a bio-immobilized method for removing microplastics using biodegradable nano-cellulose through in situ bacterial cultivation. A nano-scale bacterial cellulose (BC) producing strain, Novacetimonas hansenii PA9, was screened for immobilizing microplastics after optimizing incubation conditions for BC production. An optimal 8.87 g/L BC yield was achieved by incubating N. hansenii PA9 in HS medium supplemented with 2% glucose at 30 °C for 7 days. The BC yield was improved by 170.02% through static scale-up cultivation in a 250 mL flask compared to a 20 mL glass tube. Adding 2 g/L to 10 g/L polyethylene (PE, average particle size 125 μm) resulted in 100% immobilization by BC after 48 h of microbial cultivation. Above 90% immobilized PE in the BC matrix was recovered through enzymatic hydrolysis using cellulase. N. hansenii PA was a potential strain to provide high purity, crystallinity, and tensile strength BC as an excellent biodegradable and eco-friendly material for microplastics removal.
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