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Succession of bacterial community during electroactive methanogenic biofilm development under microplastic manipulation
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Researchers studied how PET microplastics affect the formation and function of methane-producing biofilms used in waste-to-energy systems. The study found that microplastic exposure reduced the proportion of living cells in the biofilm and shifted the microbial community composition, ultimately decreasing methane production efficiency.
Electrochemical methanogenesis is a promising and reliable process to convert waste streams into CH4, where the electroactive methanogenic biofilms play a key role. However, given that microplastics (MP) have now been spread ubiquitously in the environment, their regulation on the performance and succession of methanogenesis biofilm remains an enigma. Herein, we developed the single-chamber electrochemical methanogenic systems to investigate how poly (ethylene terephthalate) MP (PET-MP) regulates methanogenic biofilm formation and microbial metabolisms. The microbial volume of biofilm formed under MP exposure was similar to that without exposure. However, the live/dead cell ratio of the microbes in the biofilm under the PET-MP exposure decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Correspondingly, the richness and diversity of the microbial community in the presence of MP were also lower. Network analysis implied the interspecific cooperation among the microbial communities to cope with the MP stress. Meanwhile, the biofilm produced more extracellular polymer substrates during the biofilm thickening, possibly as a defense against MP invasion. At the gene level, the content of methanogenic gene mcrA was found to positively linearly correlate with the cultivation cycles, both in presence (r = 0.945, p < 0.05) or absence of PET-MP (r = 0.913, p < 0.05). The outcomes of this study could provide insights into the practical application of electrochemical methanogenesis technology to upcycle the MP-polluted biowastes and to implement the Power&Waste-to-X concept better.
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Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics inhibited methane recovery in bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion systems by disrupting microbial communities and electrochemical performance, though low concentrations had less severe effects.
Thermally aged PET microplastics disrupt methanogenic syntrophy via toxic leachates: Microbial assembly dynamics unravel biotoxicity in anaerobic digestion
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Researchers found that thermally aged PET microplastics disrupted methane production during anaerobic digestion more severely than pristine microplastics. The aging process increased reactive oxygen species levels and released toxic chemical compounds that interfered with the microbial communities responsible for biogas production, with longer aging periods causing greater inhibition of methane upgrading.
Revealing the Mechanisms of Polyethylene Microplastics Affecting Anaerobic Digestion of Waste Activated Sludge
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Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics affect the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, a common wastewater treatment process. They found that higher concentrations of microplastics significantly reduced methane production by disrupting microbial communities and enzyme activities essential for digestion. The study reveals that microplastic contamination in wastewater systems can undermine the efficiency of sludge treatment and biogas generation.
Responses of anaerobic hydrogen-producing granules to acute microplastics exposure during biological hydrogen production from wastewater
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Researchers examined how anaerobic hydrogen-producing granules respond to microplastic exposure during biological hydrogen production from wastewater, finding that multiple coexisting microplastic types reduced hydrogen yields and altered microbial community composition.
A Study of the Effects of Microplastics on Microbial Communities in Marine Sediments
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This study investigated how the presence of microplastics in marine sediments affects microbial communities and, specifically, the methane cycle, finding that microplastics significantly altered microbial community structure and function. Since marine sediment microbes play a critical role in regulating greenhouse gas emissions, microplastic contamination could have broader climate-relevant effects beyond direct toxicity.
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