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Papers
8 resultsShowing papers from Metropolitan University
ClearImpact of Microplastics on Forest Soil Properties in Pollution Hotspots in Alluvial Plains of Large Rivers (Morava, Sava, and Danube) of Serbia
Researchers sampled topsoils from three forest waste dump sites and adjacent reference sites across Serbia's largest river alluvial plains to assess how illegal waste dumping and microplastic contamination affect forest soil properties. MPs negatively impacted soil structure, chemistry, and biological activity, with effects varying by season, highlighting forest soils as an understudied sink for plastic pollution.
Changes in Soil Properties Under the Influence of Microplastics in Plastic and Open Field Production in Three Serbian Valleys
Researchers examined soil physical, chemical, and biological properties in greenhouse and open-field soils across three Serbian valleys to test whether mulch film use leads to microplastic accumulation and soil alteration. Greenhouse soils showed elevated MP concentrations that correlated with changes in chemical and biological parameters, supporting the hypothesis that repeated plastic mulch use degrades soil quality.
Tenebrio molitor Could Be an Efficient Pre-Treatment Bioagent for Polystyrene Initial Deterioration and Further Application of Pleurotus eryngii and Trametes versicolor in Microplastic Biodegradation
Researchers found that Tenebrio molitor beetle larvae can initiate polystyrene degradation, but their frass still contains microplastics — however, subsequent cultivation of Pleurotus eryngii and Trametes versicolor fungi on this frass further degraded the residual polystyrene, demonstrating a two-stage biological system for plastic breakdown.
Upgraded Protocol for Microplastics’ Extraction from the Soil Matrix by Sucrose Density Gradient Centrifugation
Extracting microplastics from soil is technically difficult because soil contains dense organic matter and particles that look similar to plastic under analysis. This study refined a sucrose density gradient centrifugation method to more cleanly separate microplastics from soil, improving recovery rates while reducing contamination from non-plastic material. A reliable soil extraction protocol is essential for accurately measuring how much microplastic pollution has accumulated in agricultural and urban land.
High-frequency ultrasound combined with deep learning enables identification and size estimation of microplastics
Scientists developed a new method using sound waves and artificial intelligence to quickly detect tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the environment with over 97% accuracy. This technology could help us better monitor microplastic pollution in water and food sources, which is important since these particles can end up in our bodies through what we eat and drink. The new method is much faster than current testing approaches, making it easier to track plastic pollution on a large scale.
Functional differentiation of two autochthonous cohabiting strains of Pleurotus ostreatus and Cyclocybe aegerita from Serbia in lignin compound degradation
Researchers compared ligninolytic enzyme activities and degradation capacity of two autochthonous fungal strains (Pleurotus ostreatus Ser1 and Cyclocybe aegerita Ser1) on oak sawdust, isolated cell walls, and synthetic lignin polymer, revealing functional differentiation in wood degradation strategies.
Investigation of multivariate analysis of surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectra using simple machine-learning models: Prediction of the composition of mixed self-assembled monolayer on gold surface
This analytical chemistry study investigates machine learning methods for analyzing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) data to predict the composition of mixed chemical layers on gold surfaces. While focused on analytical chemistry, SERS is also used to identify and characterize microplastics, and improved analysis methods could benefit environmental monitoring.
Display of PETase on the cell surface of Escherichia coli using the anchor protein PgsA
This study engineered bacteria to display a PET-degrading enzyme (PETase) on their cell surface, eliminating the costly step of purifying the enzyme for plastic breakdown. The approach could reduce the cost of biological PET plastic recycling, potentially offering a more scalable pathway for breaking down one of the most common plastic types.