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Degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) plastics in seawater
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Laboratory experiments simulating deep ocean conditions found that PET and PP plastic degradation in seawater increased with time, with pressure having minimal effect on degradation rate, suggesting that understanding plastic carbon footprint must account for deep-sea degradation dynamics.
The world's marine litter consists mainly of plastic, and 99% of it does not float on the surface of the sea but on the seabed. The plastic carbon footprint necessarily includes the extraction or manufacture of raw materials, the conversion process, the distribution of products, the consumption of specific types of products and the disposal of the final product, as all these stages release carbon into the atmosphere. This work, inspired by marine microplastics and investigates how plastic waste is degraded and transformed in high-pressure, low-temperature seawater, this paper investigates the corrosion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) plastics in seawater at high-pressure, using artificial seawater temperatures to simulate ocean temperatures of approximately 4 °C and time settings of 1 day–7 days. The results show that increasing the time enhances the degradation of the plastics and that changing the pressure has little effect on the degradation effect. Understanding its degradation in seawater can help us to better treat plastic waste and thus reduce the carbon footprint of the disposal process.
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Environmental Factors Shaping Microbial Biodegradation of Marine Microplastics
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This review systematically summarises microbial degradation mechanisms for polyethylene and PET in marine environments, examining biofilm formation, key enzymatic reactions, aerobic and anaerobic pathways, and how environmental factors including temperature, pressure, oxygen, salinity, and light constrain biodegradation in shallow versus deep-sea systems.
Experimental investigations on polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics’ degradation. A review
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Researchers conducted experiments to study the physical and chemical behavior of polyethylene and PET microplastic particles under different environmental conditions. The study contributes to understanding how these plastics persist and transform in the environment.
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Scientists used microcosm studies to investigate whether marine hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria can break down PET plastic, finding that specific bacterial strains could colonize and degrade PET surfaces, offering insights into natural plastic biodegradation in the ocean.
How long for plastics to decompose in the deep sea?
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Researchers recovered 103 plastic debris items from deep-sea floors (746-3,997 m depth) in the South China Sea using a manned submersible and examined surface corrosion to assess long-term plastic degradation rates. They found abundant corrosion structures on polyethylene (the dominant type at 80%), with rod-like and filamentous features indicating biological and physical degradation, though the timeline for full decomposition remains uncertain.
Diversity and distribution of potential polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene plastic-degrading bacteria communities in deep-sea cold-seep ecosystems
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Researchers tested bacteria from deep-sea cold-seep sites, places with natural methane and oil-like compounds, to see if they could break down common plastics (PET and PP). After months of lab growth using plastic as the only food source, certain bacterial groups increased in number and visible grooves appeared on the plastic surfaces, suggesting these microbes may help degrade plastic.
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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.