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Exploring the Potential of Algae in the Mitigation of Plastic Pollution in Aquatic Environments
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This review examined how algae can help mitigate plastic pollution in aquatic environments, finding that certain algal species can adsorb, degrade, or entrap microplastics, suggesting potential bioremediation applications though large-scale effectiveness remains to be demonstrated.
The continuous increase in global demand for plastic products caused a significant increase in plastic waste pollution. Therefore, this increase in plastic waste represents a serious problem affecting aquatic and human life because microplastics can enter the food chain and cause several diseases. Also, the convention disposal techniques appear to be ineffective strategies to mitigate plastic pollution. However, the physicochemical characteristics of plastics represent a challenge to microbial degradation. This chapter discusses the proposed eco-friendly techniques for plastic biodegradation using algae to mitigate the plastic waste crisis. Several species have been identified as excellent plastic biodegraders. However, few researchers have investigated the algal role in plastic degradation. Microalgae may degrade plastic materials by employing generated toxins or enzymes. The use of algae for plastic biodegradation has been reviewed to offer new insights into various biodegradation mechanisms and contemporary bioremediation concepts for chemicals and algae-based by-products.
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Potential for Using Algae to Reduce Microplastics in the Environment
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This review examined the potential of algae to reduce microplastic pollution both by adsorbing and intercepting plastic particles in water and by serving as a feedstock for biosynthesizing biodegradable bioplastics as alternatives to petroleum-based materials.
Potential for Using Algae to Reduce Microplastics in the Environment
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This review described how algae can reduce microplastic pollution through two mechanisms: physical adsorption and entrapment of particles into aggregates that sink, and enzymatic degradation of polymers. Additionally, algae can serve as feedstocks for producing bioplastics, offering a dual role in both plastic remediation and sustainable material production.
Exploring the potential of microalgae in removal of microplastics from the environment and scope of this entity as feedstock for biofuel production
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This review explores the potential of microalgae to capture and remove microplastics from aquatic environments, examining the mechanisms by which algal cells adsorb or aggregate plastic particles and discussing the feasibility of algae-based remediation at scale.
Algae for plastic biodegradation
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This review examines how algae interact with microplastics in marine environments, both as organisms harmed by plastic pollution and as potential agents for plastic biodegradation. Microplastics reduce algal photosynthesis and growth, while algal extracellular polymeric substances can trap and sink microplastic particles. Algae-driven biodegradation represents a promising avenue for reducing the persistence of microplastic contamination in the ocean.
Interplay of plastic pollution with algae and plants: hidden danger or a blessing?
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Researchers tested the ability of three microalgae species to remove microplastics from water through bioadhesion, finding that all three species could adsorb particles onto their surfaces. Removal efficiency depended on particle size, surface charge, and algae cell morphology.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.