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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Performance of a modified screening method for polymer biodegradability testing
ClearScreening for polymer degradation using a modified method with 14C-radiolabelled alginate
Researchers developed a modified screening method using 14C-radiolabelled alginate to assess polymer biodegradation rates, providing a faster alternative to standard OECD test guidelines needed to verify compliance with the EU 2023/2055 restriction on intentionally added synthetic microplastics in products.
pH-Stat Titration: A Rapid Assay for Enzymatic Degradability of Bio-Based Polymers
Researchers developed a rapid pH-based test for measuring how quickly enzymes can degrade different biodegradable polymers, enabling faster comparison of bioplastic degradability. Developing reliably biodegradable plastics is key to preventing the accumulation of microplastics from packaging and consumer products.
New advances to assess biodegradation and toxicity of alternative environmentally friendly polymers
Researchers developed new methods to assess the biodegradation rates and ecotoxicity of alternative polymers including biobased, recycled, and biodegradable plastics, addressing a gap in risk assessment frameworks focused primarily on conventional plastics. Results showed biodegradability varied greatly by polymer type and environmental conditions, and alternative plastics still exhibited measurable toxicity during degradation.
The effect of biodegradable plastics on microplastic accumulation and exposure
Researchers developed a comprehensive method to quantify microplastic accumulation from biodegradable polymers in natural environments, examining whether biodegradable alternatives actually reduce plastic loads compared to conventional polymers under real-world outdoor conditions.
A New Colorimetric Test for Accurate Determination of Plastic Biodegradation
This paper introduces a new colorimetric test designed to detect actual plastic biodegradation more directly and rapidly than conventional mineralisation-based methods, addressing a major gap in reliably assessing whether plastics break down in natural environments. Better biodegradability testing tools are essential for validating claims about "biodegradable" plastics and for tracking microplastic fate in soils and water.
A versatile assay platform for enzymatic poly(ethylene-terephthalate) degradation
Researchers developed a fast, reliable assay platform for testing enzymes that break down PET plastic, a common component of bottles and packaging. Better enzyme-based recycling tools could help reduce PET accumulation in the environment and the microplastics it generates.
Screening for polymer degradation using a modified method with 14C-radiolabelled alginate
Researchers adapted a 14C-radiolabelled alginate screening method to rapidly assess biodegradation rates and degradation products of polymers, providing a tool to support compliance assessment under the EU Commission Regulation 2023/2055 restricting intentionally added synthetic microplastics.
Laboratory Test Methods to Determine the Degradation of Plastics in Marine Environmental Conditions
This paper reviewed laboratory test methods for determining how plastics degrade in marine environments, evaluating the relevance of existing tests for predicting real-world biodegradation rates and calling for more standardized and environmentally realistic protocols.
Novel insight into the in-situ study of biodegradable microplastics in soil aggregates
An in-situ study of biodegradable microplastic degradation under real environmental conditions revealed insights into how quickly these materials actually break down compared to lab predictions. The findings show that biodegradation rates in nature often differ significantly from those measured in controlled experiments.
A polyethylene surrogate for microbial community enrichment and characterization
Researchers developed a method to enrich and characterize microbial communities capable of biodegrading a polyethylene surrogate, enabling study of potential polyethylene degradation over much shorter timescales than direct polyethylene experiments would allow, and using the approach to isolate several candidate degrading microbial communities.
Experimental modeling of biodegradable microplastics
Researchers experimentally modeled the formation of biodegradable microplastics by subjecting polymers to environmental degradation factors, characterizing the resulting particles' surface properties and their capacity to adsorb toxic chemicals and microorganisms relevant to ecological risk assessment.
Biodegradation of plastics in the pelagic environment of the coastal zone – Proposed test method under controlled laboratory conditions
This paper proposed a standardized test method for evaluating the biodegradation of bio-based plastics in the pelagic coastal zone environment, addressing the lack of suitable protocols for assessing marine biodegradability as an alternative to conventional non-degradable plastics.
Biodegradation assessment of polymer-based films by bacterial species in the marine environment and its correlation with microplastic production and toxicity
Researchers tested five polymer-based film materials in marine environments and measured biodegradation, bacterial colonization, and microplastic formation, finding that polymer composition strongly determines both marine biodegradability and the amount of microplastic debris generated during degradation.
Microplastic aging processes: Environmental relevance and analytical implications
Researchers reviewed how microplastics change physically and chemically over time in the environment — a process called 'aging' — and found that standard lab methods for detecting microplastics were mostly developed using fresh, unaged plastics, making it harder to accurately measure real-world contamination. Improved analytical methods that account for aged microplastics are needed for reliable environmental assessment.
Research on a New Green and Low Carbon Degradation Test Scheme
Researchers compared compost and vermiculite inoculant methods for testing biodegradable plastic degradation according to GB/T 19277.1, finding that the vermiculite scheme offered more stable and reproducible results, and proposing an optimized vermiculite culture solution formula to improve detection efficiency for degradable plastics.
A micro-spray-based high-throughput screening system for bioplastic-degrading microorganisms
Researchers developed a facile micro-spray-based high-throughput screening system for identifying bioplastic-degrading microorganisms, validating the approach by successfully isolating multiple bioplastic-degrading bacterial strains from activated sludge.
Application of MicroResp™ for quick and easy detection of plastic degradation by marine bacterial isolates
Researchers adapted the MicroResp colorimetric respiration system as a rapid 3-day screening assay to identify marine bacteria capable of degrading biodegradable plastics, demonstrating it can detect biodegradation of PBSA, PCL, and polyhydroxy compounds in strains that conventional clear-zone plate methods failed to identify.
Analysis of the microplastic emission potential of a starch-based biodegradable plastic material
Researchers developed a method to assess the microplastic emission potential of biodegradable starch-based plastics under environmental conditions, finding that even materials labeled biodegradable can fragment into persistent microplastic particles depending on environmental degradation pathways.
Disintegration of commercial biodegradable plastic products under simulated industrial composting conditions
Researchers tested ten commercial biodegradable plastic products under simulated industrial composting conditions to see how well they actually break down. While some products disintegrated significantly, others showed incomplete breakdown, and the process generated microplastic fragments during degradation. This raises questions about whether biodegradable plastics truly solve the plastic pollution problem or simply create smaller plastic particles.
Can biodegradable polymers make microplastics?
Researchers investigated whether biodegradable polymers can form microplastics during their intended use and degradation, finding that several biodegradable materials do indeed fragment into micro- and nanoscale particles before fully mineralizing. The study raises important questions about whether "biodegradable" plastics fully solve the microplastic problem.
A community of marine bacteria with potential to biodegrade petroleum-based and biobased microplastics
Researchers showed that a consortium of marine bacteria could partially biodegrade both conventional low-density polyethylene and biobased polyethylene terephthalate microplastic films over 45 days, with spectroscopic and chemical evidence confirming surface changes and early-stage degradation.
Degradation of Biodegradable Microplastics under Artificially Controlled Aging Conditions with UV Radiation
Researchers subjected biodegradable plastics to controlled UV aging and found that they fragmented into microplastics faster than conventional plastics under simulated outdoor conditions. Biodegradable plastics are promoted as an eco-friendly alternative, but this study shows they may actually create microplastic pollution more rapidly in real-world environments. The findings raise important questions about whether biodegradable plastics are a genuine solution to plastic pollution.
Assessing the biodegradability of microparticles disposed down the drain
This study tested the biodegradability of microparticles made from natural and biodegradable materials proposed as alternatives to synthetic microplastic particles in personal care products, finding that they broke down efficiently under standard conditions. The results support the use of naturally derived microparticles as safer substitutes for plastic microbeads in cosmetics.
Microbial abilities to degrade global environmental plastic polymer waste are overstated
This critical review examines claims of microbial plastic degradation in the scientific literature, arguing that many announcements of novel plastic-degrading microorganisms overstate the extent and rate of actual polymer breakdown. The authors call for standardized verification methods to distinguish genuine biodegradation from superficial surface weathering in studies of plastic-degrading microbes.