We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microbial degradation of plastic in aqueous solutions demonstrated by CO 2 evolution and quantification
AI summary Read the abstract
A new CO2 evolution method was developed and used to assess the biodegradability of conventional and biodegradable plastics in aqueous environments. The study found that conventional plastics showed negligible microbial degradation while some marketed biodegradable polymers also degraded poorly under realistic conditions, raising questions about environmental claims.
Abstract The environmental accumulation of plastics worldwide is a consequence of the durability of the material. Alternative polymers, marketed as biodegradable, present a potential solution to mitigate their ecological damage. However, understanding of biodegradability has been hindered by a lack of reproducible testing methods. Here, we present a new approach to assess biodegradability by monitoring bacterial respiration, in an aqueous media supplemented with a polymer as a single carbon source. Rhodococcus rhodochrous and Alcanivorax borkumensis are good model organisms for soil and marine systems respectively, allowing simulations of plastic biodegradation in these key environments. We demonstrate that polymer molecular weight reduction is the critical factor in the biodegradability of low-density polyethylene. Additionally, we tested a wide variety of plastics, including environmentally weathered and laboratory aged samples, using the same method allowing direct comparisons of the relative biodegradability of various polymers.
More Papers Like This
Microbial Degradation of Plastic in Aqueous Solutions Demonstrated by CO2 Evolution and Quantification
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a novel CO2 evolution-based method to measure microbial degradation of plastics in aqueous solutions, providing a reproducible and quantitative way to assess the true biodegradability of both conventional and marketed 'biodegradable' polymers. The method revealed that many commercially available biodegradable plastics degrade far more slowly than claimed under realistic environmental conditions.
The biochemical mechanisms of plastic biodegradation
AI summary Read the abstract
This review comprehensively maps the biochemical pathways by which microorganisms break down synthetic plastics, ranking the most effective biodegrading organisms for each major plastic type and cataloging experimental techniques used in the field to guide future biodegradation research.
Challenges with Verifying Microbial Degradation of Polyethylene
AI summary Read the abstract
This critical review examines published claims of microbial polyethylene degradation, finding that while surface colonization and minor chemical changes have been demonstrated, complete biodegradation of polyethylene under ambient conditions remains unproven and methodological rigor is often lacking.
Microbial Biodegradation of Plastics: Methods for Assessing Degradation Mechanisms and Optimization Strategies
AI summary Read the abstract
This review summarizes existing research on how microbes break down plastic, covering the methods scientists use to measure this process, the biological steps involved, and ways to improve degradation efficiency. It also outlines challenges such as the lack of standard testing methods and the need for more real-world applications.
Biodegradation kinetics in soil of a multi-constituent biodegradable plastic
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured the biodegradation kinetics of a multi-constituent biodegradable plastic material in soil using CO2 evolution, identifying three distinct degradation phases corresponding to different plastic components and providing data relevant to assessing the environmental persistence of biodegradable plastics.
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.