We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The degradation performance of different microplastics and their effect on microbial community during composting process
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested whether composting could break down three types of microplastics (polyethylene, PVC, and a biodegradable alternative called PHA) over 60 days. All microplastics showed surface erosion, cracking, and reduced carbon content after composting, though PVC was most resistant to size reduction. The study also found that microplastic contamination reduced the diversity of beneficial bacteria during the composting process, particularly PVC.
The objectives of this study were to investigate the degradation characteristics of different microplastics (polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)) and their effect on the bacterial community during composting. In this study, 0.5% PE, 0.5% PVC and 0.5% PHA microplastics were individually added to the mixture of cow manure and sawdust and then composted for 60 days. The treatment without microplastics was regarded as control. Results indicated that the abundance and smaller size (0-800 μm) of microplastics in all treatments obviously decreased after composting, except PVC treatment. The surface morphology of all microplastics occurred obvious erosions and cracks and the carbon content of PE, PVC and PHA microplastics were reduced by 30, 17 and 30%, respectively. After composting, all microplastics were significantly oxidized and the functional groups O-H, C=O and C-O increased. Furthermore, all microplastics exposure reduced the richness and diversity of bacteria community at thermophilic phase, especially PVC microplastics.
More Papers Like This
Effects of microplastics on humification and fungal community during cow manure composting
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polyethylene, PVC, and biodegradable PHA microplastics affect the composting process of cow manure. They found that all types of microplastics reduced humification quality, decreased fungal community diversity during peak composting temperatures, and some types increased the relative abundance of plant-pathogenic fungi.
Effect of microplastics on greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions during aerobic composting
AI summary Read the abstract
Adding polyethylene, PVC, or biodegradable PHA microplastics to composting manure altered greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions, with PE and PHA increasing methane and ammonia while PVC reduced them. All three types of microplastics reduced compost quality and nitrogen content, raising concerns about plastic contamination in organic waste recycling.
The Polymer-Plastisphere-Function Nexus Links to Divergent Biodegradation of Microplastics During Composting.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found a fundamental dichotomy in microplastic biodegradation during thermophilic composting, where biodegradable polymers (PLA, PBS, PBAT) underwent rapid degradation driven by selective microbial community assembly shaped by polymer chemistry, while conventional plastics resisted breakdown despite similar composting conditions.
Enhancing microplastics biodegradation during composting using livestock manure biochar
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested whether adding livestock manure biochar to composting systems could enhance the breakdown of biodegradable microplastics. They found that biochar significantly accelerated the decomposition of polyhydroxyalkanoate microplastics by enriching beneficial microbial communities and improving composting conditions. The study suggests that biochar-enhanced composting could be a practical strategy for reducing biodegradable microplastic contamination in organic waste.
Incomplete degradation of aromatic–aliphatic copolymer leads to proliferation of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that incomplete composting of biodegradable aromatic-aliphatic copolymer plastics releases microplastic fragments and alters microbial community composition in compost, raising questions about whether biodegradable plastics are adequately treated in standard composting conditions.
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.