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Hybrid mechanism of microplastics degradation via biological and chemical process during composting
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Researchers explored how composting can degrade microplastics through combined biological and chemical processes. They found that pre-aged microplastics broke down about three times faster than non-aged ones during composting, with microorganisms and chemical oxidation working together to accelerate degradation. The study suggests that composting may offer a practical approach for reducing microplastic contamination in organic waste streams.
Little is known about the synergistic effects of abiotic aging and biodegradation on microplastics (MPs) transformation in the environment. Herein, a hybrid process of MPs degradation was proposed by analyzing the effect of microorganisms and abiotic aging on aging MPs and non-aging MPs degradation during composting. The results showed that composting facilitated the oxidation and depolymerization of aging MPs, and its degradation efficiency was about three times that of non-aging MPs. Further investigation revealed that aging MPs contained higher abundance of plastic-degrading bacteria and enzyme activity than non-aging MPs. In addition, free radicals also influenced the degradation of MPs. However, path model and shielding experiments confirmed that free radicals mainly facilitated the non-aging MPs degradation (contribution was 68.8 %), while aging MPs was easily degraded by microorganisms (contribution was 72.6 %). This study provides promising strategies for scaling up plastic treatment in bioreactors through a hybrid collaboration of biological and abiotic processes.
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Researchers tracked microplastic abundance and polymer composition across five consecutive composting stages of municipal waste at the Galuga landfill in Indonesia, finding stage-specific changes including process-based reduction and fragmentation dynamics that highlight both the capacity and limitations of composting for mitigating microplastic contamination.
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Researchers tested whether adding livestock manure biochar to composting systems could enhance the breakdown of biodegradable microplastics. They found that biochar significantly accelerated the decomposition of polyhydroxyalkanoate microplastics by enriching beneficial microbial communities and improving composting conditions. The study suggests that biochar-enhanced composting could be a practical strategy for reducing biodegradable microplastic contamination in organic waste.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.