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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.
λ Bioplastics are reviewed with focus on anaerobic biodegradation behavior. λ Abiotic and biotic factors influencing anaerobic digestion are systematically analyzed. λ Pretreatment methods enhance bioplastic degradation and methane production. λ Additives can hinder biodegradability and cause microplastic formation. λ Sustainable use requires tailored processes and next-generation bioplastic feedstocks. Bioplastics are increasingly used as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, aiming to reduce fossil fuel use and pollution. However, concerns have emerged regarding their accumulation in waste streams and the complexities of their treatment. Although promoted for biodegradability, many bioplastics degrade poorly in real conditions, particularly under anaerobic environments. This review investigates anaerobic degradation mechanisms for bioplastics such as PLA, PHAs, and starch-based polymers. We analyze physicochemical properties that influence biodegradability, including crystallinity, molecular weight, and additives. Environmental factors like temperature, pH, retention time, and microbial composition are also reviewed. Special attention is given to pretreatment strategies—mechanical, thermal, chemical, and biological—that enhance hydrolysis and digestion efficiency. The paper compares lab- and pilot-scale studies and considers implications for full-scale applications. We highlight knowledge gaps and propose future directions for integrating anaerobic bioplastic treatment into circular economy frameworks. This review supports informed, sustainable waste management by critically examining the fate of bioplastics in anaerobic waste treatment systems.
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Impact of Microplastics on Anaerobic Digestion: A Concise Review
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This review examines how microplastics entering wastewater treatment plants disrupt anaerobic digestion by inducing oxidative stress in microbial communities and acting as vectors for adsorbed pollutants such as heavy metals, antibiotics, and organic contaminants. Because anaerobic digestion is the primary method for stabilizing sewage sludge, microplastic-driven disruption has direct consequences for both treatment efficiency and the safety of biosolids applied to agricultural land.
Microbial Biodegradation of Plastics and Microplastics: Recent Development
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Researchers reviewed recent advances in microbial biodegradation of plastics and microplastics, identifying key bacterial and fungal species capable of breaking down synthetic polymers and highlighting the biological mechanisms that could underpin scalable plastic waste remediation strategies.
Dynamics of Biodegradable Plastics in the Process of Food Waste Biotreatment and Environmental Risks of Residual Plastic Fragments
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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.