Effects and Mechanisms of Microplastics on Photosynthetic Bacterial Protein Production in Wastewater

The Effects of Microplastics on Growth and Photosynthetic Activity of Chlorella pyrenoidosa: The Role of Types and Sizes

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Researchers exposed the freshwater alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa to polystyrene and PVC microplastics across three size ranges for 14 days, finding that smaller particles caused greater growth inhibition — up to 43% — and that algae responded by secreting extracellular polymers and forming aggregates to resist the particles.

Evidence that microplastics at environmentally relevant concentration and size interfere with energy metabolism of microalgal community

Photoelectrocatalytic biosynthesis fuelled by microplastics

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Researchers developed a photoelectrochemical system that uses PET microplastics as an electron source to power redox enzyme-driven biosynthetic reactions, achieving turnover numbers up to 362,000 for useful organic chemical transformations. This approach simultaneously degrades non-recyclable plastic waste and produces value-added chemicals, demonstrating a dual-benefit strategy that could incentivize microplastic remediation by converting pollution into a productive feedstock.

Algal-based Degradation of Microplastic: Prospects for Combating Microplastic Pollution

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Researchers reviewed the potential of microalgae to break down microplastics, exploring how these tiny aquatic organisms could offer a natural, low-cost solution to combat the growing problem of plastic pollution in freshwater and ocean environments.

Nanoscale Insights into the Impacts of Microplastics on Marine Phytoplankton

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Researchers used atomic force microscopy, physiological measurements, and chemical analysis to reveal how microplastics damage marine phytoplankton at the nanoscale — denting smooth-walled algae, trapping within diatom frustules, and reducing mechanical strength — with silicon limitation amplifying vulnerability by producing weaker, more adhesive cell walls that adsorb more particles.