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Laboratory-scale study of a biodegradable microplastic polylactic acid stabilizing aerobic granular sludge system
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Researchers found that adding biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics to aerobic granular sludge systems at low-to-moderate concentrations actually stabilized granule formation and improved pollutant removal by stimulating extracellular polymer secretion.
The effects of microplastics on aerobic granular sludge technology are an emerging issue, although the impact of degradable microplastics (DMPs) on the aerobic granular system is still unexplored. In this study, degradable microplastic polylactic acid (DMP-PLA) was added at three concentrations (5, 15, 40 mg/L), which strengthened the granular stability and consequently stabilized pollutant removal compared to the control (without DMP-PLA). The experiment showed that adding DMP-PLA made cells secrete more extracellular polymeric substances [64.8 mg/g MLVSS (mixed liquor suspended solids)], particularly retaining β-D-glucopyranose polysaccharides in experimental group. In addition, abundant hydrogen bonds were also maintained. The reactor under the stress of DMP-PLA exhibited high pollutant removal efficiency (COD>88%, TP>91%, TIN>86%), indicating high performance of the microbes. Microbial analysis at the genus level indicated that Defuviicoccus and Candidatus_Competibacter were dominant after DMP-PLA addition, which identified denitrifying glycogen-accumulating organisms as beneficial for nitrogenous compound removal. Redundancy analysis showed that the abundance of Candidatus_Competibacter was positively related to the addition of DMP-PLA. This study demonstrated that DMP-PLA was feasibly employed in the aerobic granular water treatment process, and presents a new method to optimize the stability and extracellular secretion of the microbial community.
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The impacts of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastic on the performance and microbial community characterization of aerobic granular sludge
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Researchers compared the effects of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics and non-biodegradable polyethylene microplastics on aerobic granular sludge used in wastewater treatment. They found that high concentrations of both types impaired the sludge's ability to remove organic pollutants, but both actually enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal at moderate levels. The study reveals that even biodegradable microplastics can disrupt wastewater treatment processes in unexpected ways.
From impact to restoration: Biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics in microalgal-bacterial granular sludge systems
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Even "biodegradable" plastics aren't automatically harmless: researchers found that at high concentrations, tiny bits of polylactic acid (PLA) plastic, a common eco-friendly plastic used in things like compostable cups and food packaging, can seriously disrupt the microbe communities that treat our wastewater and remove pollutants. The good news is these treatment systems bounced back within a month once the plastic exposure stopped, but the finding is a reminder that swapping regular plastics for "biodegradable" ones doesn't eliminate their environmental impact, which matters since wastewater treatment plays a role in ke
Impact of Polylactic Acid Microplastics on Performance and Microbial Dynamics in Activated Sludge System
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This study found that polylactic acid microplastics at higher concentrations impaired nitrification and phosphorus removal in activated sludge wastewater treatment systems. Even biodegradable microplastics can disrupt the microbial communities essential for wastewater treatment, potentially reducing the quality of treated water discharged to the environment.
Impact of the concentration and type of microplastics on the treatment efficiency and biomass structure in aerobic granular sludge reactors
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Researchers investigated how polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene microplastics at varying concentrations affect treatment efficiency, granule morphology, extracellular polymer production, microbial species composition, and metabolic activity in aerobic granular sludge reactors used for wastewater treatment. The study tested four hypotheses regarding MP effects on both the biological performance and structural integrity of aerobic granular sludge as a promising technology for MP-contaminated wastewater.
Effects of degradable and non-degradable microplastics on SPNEDPR-AGS system: Sludge characteristics, nutrient transformation, key enzyme, and microbial community
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Researchers examined how degradable and non-degradable microplastics affect an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) wastewater treatment system, measuring impacts on granule formation, microbial community, and treatment performance. Degradable microplastics caused more pronounced disruption to the AGS system than conventional non-degradable plastics.
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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.