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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Gut & Microbiome Human Health Effects Sign in to save

Revealing the Mechanisms of Polyethylene Microplastics Affecting Anaerobic Digestion of Waste Activated Sludge

Environmental Science & Technology 2019 351 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Wei Wei, Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Jing Sun, Jing Sun, Jing Sun, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Xiaohu Dai, Xiaohu Dai, Xiaohu Dai, Qi-Su Huang, Qi-Su Huang, Qi-Su Huang, Qi-Su Huang, Qi-Su Huang, Qi-Su Huang, Jing Sun, Jing Sun, Jing Sun, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Jing Sun, Jing Sun, Wei Wei, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Qi-Su Huang, Qi-Su Huang, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Bing‐Jie Ni Qi-Su Huang, Qi-Su Huang, Wei Wei, Jing Sun, Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Xiaohu Dai, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Xiaohu Dai, Xiaohu Dai, Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Wei Wei, Jing Sun, Jing Sun, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Xiaohu Dai, Jing Sun, Bing‐Jie Ni Xiaohu Dai, Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Jing Sun, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Xiaohu Dai, Xiaohu Dai, Xiaohu Dai, Xiaohu Dai, Wei Wei, Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Bing‐Jie Ni Jing Sun, Xiaohu Dai, Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Bing‐Jie Ni Wei Wei, Bing‐Jie Ni

Summary

Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics affect the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, a common wastewater treatment process. They found that higher concentrations of microplastics significantly reduced methane production by disrupting microbial communities and enzyme activities essential for digestion. The study reveals that microplastic contamination in wastewater systems can undermine the efficiency of sludge treatment and biogas generation.

Polymers
PE

Polyethylene (PE) microplastics retained in sewage sludge inevitably enter the anaerobic digestion system. To date, no information has been reported on the mechanisms of PE microplastics affecting anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge (WAS). This study evaluated the mechanisms using batch and continuous tests. Short exposure to PE microplastics at lower levels (i.e., 10, 30, and 60 particles/g-TS) did not significantly affect the methane production, but higher levels of PE microplastics (i.e., 100 and 200 particles/g TS) significantly (<i>P</i> = 0.006 and 0.0003) decreased methane production by 12.4-27.5%, with a lower methane potential and hydrolysis coefficient. In continuous test over 130 days, feeding WAS with 200 particles PE microplastics/g TS decreased vs destruction by up to 27.3% (<i>P</i> = 2.18 × 10<sup>-18</sup>) and resulted in a 9.1% (<i>P</i> = 0.002) increase in the volume of digested sludge for disposal. Correspondingly, the microbial community was shifted in the direction against anaerobic digestion. A mechanisms study revealed that the negative effect of PE microplastics was likely attributed to the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) rather than the released acetyl tri-<i>n</i>-butyl citrate. The generation of ROS caused a 7.6-15.4% reduction of cell viability, thereby restraining sludge hydrolysis, acidification, and methanogenesis.

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