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Distribution of microplastics and phthalic acid esters during dry anaerobic digestion of food waste and potential microbial degradation analysis
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Researchers analyzed microplastic and phthalic acid ester contamination throughout the dry anaerobic digestion process of food waste at an industrial scale in China. The study found that both contaminants reached their highest levels during the biogas residue extrusion stage, and while plastic-degrading microorganisms were present, the digestion process alone could not fully resolve the contamination problem.
Food waste (FW) and its biogas residue were considered as sources of terrestrial microplastics (MPs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) contamination. However, there was a lack of research and understanding of the MPs and PAEs pollution problem in FW dry anaerobic digestion process (DADP). The MPs and PAEs in three stages of the DADP with the largest monomer disposal scale in China were identified. At the biogas residue extrusion stage, MPs abundance and PAEs concentration reached the highest values, which were 3.63 ± 0.45 × 10 N·kg and 3.62 ± 0.72 mg·kg, respectively. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between MPs and PAEs throughout the process (p < 0.05). Although bacteria and fungi with plastic degradation potential were present in all stages, the contamination problem of MPs and PAEs cannot be completely solved through DADP. This study provides a scientific basis for preventing and controlling the pollution of MPs and PAEs.
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