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Microbial community acclimatization enhances bioplastics biodegradation and biogas production under thermophilic anaerobic digestion
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Three sequential anaerobic digestion runs showed that microbial community acclimatization enhanced biodegradation and biogas production from starch-based and polylactic acid bioplastics, demonstrating that inoculum adaptation is key to improving bioplastic treatment in anaerobic systems.
This paper reports the results of a novel study of microbial acclimatization for bioplastics anaerobic degradation and conversion into biogas. Three sequential anaerobic digestion (AD) runs were carried out to favour microbial acclimatization to two different bioplastics, starch-based (SBS) and polyactic-acid (PLA). AD of SBS and PLA bioplastics was favoured by the acclimatization of the inoculum to the substrate after each run of AD. SBS conversion into biogas increased by 52 % (from 94 to 143 NL kgVS-1) and it was correlated with the enhanced growth of starch degrading bacteria such as Hydrogenispora, Halocella and Haloplasma. PLA anaerobic degradation increased by 97 % (from 395 to 779 NLbiogas kgVS-1) and it was related to the acclimatization of known PLA-degraders such as Tepidimicrobium, Methanothermobacter and Tepidanaerobacter. Microbial acclimatization appears a suitable and low-cost strategy to enhance bioplastics circularity by promoting their anaerobic biodegradation and conversion into biogas.
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Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of polylactic acid, polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics: effect of inoculum-substrate ratio and microbiome
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Researchers tested thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic digestion of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polylactic acid microplastics at different substrate ratios to assess methane production and MP degradation. PLA showed greater degradation under thermophilic conditions, while PE and PP were largely resistant to both digestion temperatures.
Enhancing Bioplastic Degradation in Anaerobic Digestion: A Review of Pretreatment and Co-Digestion Strategies
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This review examines strategies to improve the breakdown of bioplastics—including PLA, PHB, and starch-based materials—through anaerobic digestion, finding that pretreatment techniques (mechanical, thermal, and enzymatic) combined with co-digestion of food waste or sewage sludge can significantly boost methane yields and support circular waste management.
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This study examined the fate and impact of polyamide-6 microplastics during mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion, finding that digestion temperature affects polymer degradation rates and that microplastics influence methane production and microbial communities.
Review on anaerobic biodegradation of waste bioplastics: Mechanisms, influencing factors, and pretreatment strategies
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This review analyzed anaerobic biodegradation mechanisms for bioplastics such as PLA and PHAs, finding that many bioplastics degrade poorly under real anaerobic conditions and that additives can inhibit biodegradation and generate microplastic fragments. The results challenge the 'green' narrative around bioplastics, showing they can persist in waste streams and contribute to microplastic pollution unless degradation processes are carefully tailored to specific material compositions.
Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Bioplastics and Food Waste under Mesophilic and Thermophilic Conditions: Synergistic Effect and Biodegradation
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Researchers investigated anaerobic co-digestion of bioplastics (PLA and PHA) with food waste under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, finding synergistic effects that enhanced methane production yields, demonstrating that co-digestion could be an effective strategy for managing bioplastic waste while generating renewable energy.
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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.