We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Biodegradation of micro-polyethylene particles by bacterial colonization of a mixed microbial consortium isolated from a landfill site
AI summary Read the abstract
A bacterial consortium isolated from a municipal landfill, dominated by Bacillus and Paenibacillus species, was shown to reduce the dry weight of polyethylene microplastic particles by 14.7% and particle diameter by 22.8% after 60 days of incubation. The study provides evidence that landfill-adapted bacteria can biodegrade PE microplastics under mesophilic conditions.
In this study, we investigated the decomposition of micro-sized polyethylene (PE) by mesophilic mixed bacterial culture isolates obtained from a municipal landfill sediment. Among these, Bacillus sp. and Paenibacillus sp. were more specifically enriched in the non-carbonaceous nutrient medium (i.e., Basal medium) as they were the most dominant species when they were exposed to PE microplastics. They reduced the dry weight of particles (14.7% after 60 d) and the mean particle diameter (22.8% after 60 d; obtained by field-emission scanning electron microscopy analysis). In the gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis of biologically aged particles, the amount and types of organic contents eluted from the PE microplastics were far lower in the early decomposition phase; however, they increased in the later phase. Thermal gravimetric analysis showed that the aged particles had higher thermal stability at temperatures greater than 570 °C compared to the control, thereby suggesting that microplastics were degraded by enzymatic chain scission, which could in turn be ascribed to the greater refractory fractions of aged particles remaining at a high combustion temperature. It was further verified that PE particles could be biologically utilized as a sole carbon source and broken down during the test period.
More Papers Like This
Significance of landfill microbial communities in biodegradation of polyethylene and nylon 6,6 microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers isolated bacteria from a municipal landfill and tested their ability to degrade polyethylene and nylon 6,6 microplastics. The study demonstrated that Achromobacter xylosoxidans reduced microplastic weight by up to 26.7% in 40 days through enzyme-mediated polymer chain breakdown, suggesting that landfill microbial communities may offer potential pathways for sustainable plastic waste management.
Bioprospecting indigenous bacteria from landfill leachate for enhanced polypropylene microplastics degradation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers isolated bacteria from landfill leachate to test their ability to degrade polypropylene microplastics. They identified a novel Staphylococcus haemolyticus strain that reduced polypropylene dry weight by over 25% in 30 days, with surface and chemical analysis confirming structural degradation through hydrolysis and oxidation.
Synergistic functional activity of a landfill microbial consortium in a microplastic-enriched environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists studied soil bacteria from a decades-old landfill to understand how microbes adapt to high concentrations of polyethylene and PET microplastics. They found that multiple bacterial species work together to break down these plastics, with different roles for bacteria floating freely versus those attached to plastic surfaces. While biodegradation of microplastics is possible, it is slow, and understanding these natural processes could eventually help with cleanup efforts.
Biodeterioration of Microplastics: A Promising Step towards Plastics Waste Management
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers screened bacteria from a landfill site for plastic-degrading ability, finding Alcaligenes faecalis and Bacillus cereus as the most active strains, achieving up to 17% degradation of polyester and 29% degradation of polyester by Bacillus cereus. Surface changes confirmed degradation was occurring, and no pre-treatment was needed for these bacteria to utilize plastic as an energy source.
Microbial degradation of virgin polyethylene by bacteria isolated from a landfill site
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers isolated bacteria from landfill sites that had been exposed to plastic waste for up to 17 years and tested their ability to break down high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a common plastic used in packaging. The bacterium Bacillus cereus achieved the highest degradation at only 1.78% weight loss, confirming that plastic biodegradation in landfills is an extremely slow process.
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.