We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Influence of physico-chemical parameters on biodegradation of microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
This Croatian thesis examines physicochemical factors that influence microplastic biodegradation rates including temperature, UV exposure, salinity, and pH. The author reviews how environmental conditions affect the pace at which microplastic particles are broken down by microorganisms.
Stalno povećanje proizvodnje plastike i loše gospodarenje plastičnim otpadom doveli su do ogromnog porasta odlaganja otpada u okoliš. Razgradnjom makroplastike ili ciljanom proizvodnjom čestica mikro veličina nastaju čestice mikroplastike (MP). Sve plastične čestice manje od 5 mm smatraju se mikroplastikom. Mikroplastika sadrži različite aditive i često je prijenosnik različitih onečišćujućih tvari što doprinosi njenom štetnom djelovanju na biocenozu. Zbog štetnog učinka, MP-u je potrebno ukloniti iz okoliša. U posljednje vrijeme istražuju se mogućnosti biorazgradnje MP-e mikroorganizmima izoliranih iz okoliša. U ovom radu ispitala se učinkovitost biorazgradnje dviju vrsta mikroplastike, polistirena (PS) i polietilena niske gustoće (LDPE), primjenom bakterija Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis i mješovitom kulturom Pseudomonas alcaligenes i Bacillus sp.. Istraživanja su se provodila 22 dana pri 160 o/min, T = ± 25 °C, veličini čestica PS-a i LDPE-a 300 – 500 μm i koncentraciji od 100 mg/L. Tijekom 22 dana pratila se promjena optičke gustoće (OG), broja izraslih kolonija bakterija (CFU), koncentracije kisika, temperature, pH-vrijednosti, ukupnog organskog ugljika (TOC), anorganskog ugljika (IC) i ukupnog ugljika (TC) te koncentracije aniona i kationa. Na početku i na kraju procesa LDPE i PS su se okarakterizirali infracrvenom spektroskopijom s Fourierovim transformacijama (FTIR-ATR). Dobiveni rezultati ukazuju da se tijekom procesa biorazgradnje pH – vrijednost, temperatura i provodnost nisu mijenjale. Ispitane bakterijske kulture učinkovito su razgradile PS i LDPE tijekom 22 dana, što je dokazano smanjenjem koncentracije otopljenog kisika u uzorcima s MP-om, povećanjem CFU te nastajanjem anorganskog ugljika (CO2). Nadalje, spektri dobiveni FTIR-ATR analizom prije i nakon biorazgradnje ukazuju na nastajanje novih skupina, smanjenje intenziteta pikova te pomicanja pikova prema manjim valnim duljinama. B. cereus je bolje razgradio PS od LDPE, B. subtilis LDPE, a Ps. alcaligenes i Bacillus sp. PS. Rezultati provedenih analiza ukazuju da je mješovita bakterijska kultura Ps. alcaligenes i Bacillus sp. najbolje razgradila obje vrste mikroplastike.
More Papers Like This
Biodegradation of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
This Croatian thesis reviews biodegradation of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems, examining the organisms and environmental conditions that influence plastic breakdown rates. The author covers the slow and incomplete nature of microplastic biodegradation in water environments.
Biodegradation of microplastics in environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This Croatian thesis reviews biodegradation of microplastics in the environment, examining microbial degradation mechanisms and the organisms involved. The author summarizes research on how microorganisms break down plastic particles and the challenges of achieving complete degradation.
Razgradnja mikroplastike v okolju
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the degradation of microplastics in the environment, explaining how the rate of polymer breakdown is governed by intrinsic material properties -- including chemical structure, molecular weight, crystallinity, and additives -- alongside environmental factors such as UV radiation, temperature, humidity, and the specific matrix in which the plastic resides.
Fate of polymers in the environment: mechanisms and kinetics of degradation
AI summary Read the abstract
This French-language thesis examined how plastics degrade and fragment into microplastics in aquatic environments through UV exposure, mechanical forces, and biodegradation, noting that microplastics are both more harmful and more persistent than the larger plastic waste they originate from.
Influence of UV exposure time and simulated marine environment on different microplastic degradation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how UV radiation and saltwater conditions affect the degradation of polypropylene, polystyrene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate microplastics. The study found that each polymer type responded differently to photodegradation, with changes in surface properties, crystallinity, and chemical bond formation varying by material. Evidence indicates that saline marine conditions can intensify certain degradation processes, suggesting that multiple environmental factors must be considered when assessing microplastic breakdown.
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.