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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to New insights into microbial degradation of polyethylene microplastic and potential polyethylene-degrading bacteria in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, South China
ClearDynamic succession and biodegradation potential of microplastic prokaryotic microbial communities in the Pearl River estuary
Researchers conducted a 35-day field experiment in the Pearl River Estuary to study how microbial communities colonize and change over time on different types of microplastic surfaces. They found that the bacterial communities on microplastics underwent distinct succession phases and differed significantly from those in surrounding water and sediment. The study identified several microorganisms with potential plastic-degrading capabilities, suggesting that microplastic surfaces in estuarine environments may harbor unique biodegradation-relevant microbial communities.
Diversity and functional genes of bacterial communities enriched from an estuarine sediment for degradation of polylactic acid microplastics
Researchers enriched bacterial communities from estuarine sediment to study their ability to break down polylactic acid microplastics, a common biodegradable plastic. After 60 days, the enriched cultures reduced the weight of the microplastics by 40 percent, with specific bacterial groups and degradation-related genes becoming more abundant. The study suggests that naturally occurring microbes in coastal sediments have meaningful potential to biodegrade certain types of plastic pollution.
Distribution characteristics and microbial synergistic degradation potential of polyethylene and polypropylene in freshwater estuarine sediments
Researchers examined the distribution and microbial degradation potential of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in freshwater estuarine sediments. The study found that downstream sediments with slower flow rates accumulated more small-size microplastics along with higher concentrations of plastic-degrading genes and enzymes, identifying these zones as potential hotspots for natural microbial plastic degradation.
Screening and isolation of polyethylene microplastic degrading bacteria from mangrove sediments in southern China
Four polyethylene microplastic-degrading bacterial strains (Acinetobacter venetianus, Serratia marcescens, Chryseobacterium cucumeris, and Bacillus albus) were isolated from southern China mangrove sediments, demonstrating measurable PE degradation and offering candidates for bioremediation of PE-contaminated coastal ecosystems.
Microplastic pollution and its relationship with the bacterial community in coastal sediments near Guangdong Province, South China
This study systematically characterized microplastic pollution in coastal sediments near Guangdong Province, China, and found that microplastic abundance was linked to changes in the local bacterial community. Higher microplastic levels were associated with shifts in microbial diversity, suggesting plastic pollution can alter the microbial ecology of marine sediments.
Diversity and structure of microbial biofilms on microplastics in riverine waters of the Pearl River Delta, China
Microbial biofilm communities on microplastics in Pearl River Delta waterways showed distinct composition and diversity compared to surrounding water and natural surfaces, with river environmental conditions more influential than plastic polymer type in shaping biofilm structure.
Mycobacteriaceae Mineralizes Micropolyethylene in Riverine Ecosystems
Researchers provided direct evidence that Mycobacteriaceae bacteria in the heavily polluted Pearl River can mineralize micropolyethylene into CO2, identifying specific Actinobacteria groups responsible and demonstrating true biodegradation rather than mere surface fragmentation.
Microplastics Biodegradation by Estuarine and Landfill Microbiomes
Researchers tested whether natural microbes from landfills and estuaries could break down common plastics. While one biodegradable plastic (PCL) was almost completely broken down in weeks, polyethylene and PET — the plastics most commonly found as microplastics — showed no significant degradation. This highlights how persistent everyday plastics are in the environment and why microplastic pollution continues to accumulate.
Isolation and Characterization of Polyethylene and Polyethylene Terephthalate-degrading Bacteria from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia
Researchers isolated bacteria from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, that showed the ability to degrade polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in laboratory conditions. They identified the most effective bacterial strains and confirmed plastic degradation through weight loss measurements and surface analysis. The study supports the potential of using naturally occurring marine bacteria for bioremediation of plastic-polluted coastal environments.
Diversity, abundance and distribution characteristics of potential polyethylene and polypropylene microplastic degradation bacterial communities in the urban river
Researchers conducted a 1,150-day experiment in an urban river to identify bacteria capable of degrading polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics. The study found two distinct groups of plastic-degrading bacteria, with many rare or low-abundance species in natural river biofilms that may serve as potential degraders, helping explain the slow breakdown rate of these common microplastics in waterways.
Bacterial screening in Indian coastal regions for efficient polypropylene microplastics biodegradation
Researchers screened marine bacteria from two coastal regions in India for their ability to break down polypropylene microplastics. They identified several bacterial strains that caused measurable weight loss and structural changes in polypropylene particles over a 60-day period. The study suggests that naturally occurring marine bacteria could potentially be harnessed for biological approaches to reducing microplastic pollution in ocean environments.
Microplastics in coastal sediments of Pakistan: Site-specific patterns and biodegradation by native bacterial isolates
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination along Pakistan's 850-kilometer coastline and identified seven native bacterial species capable of breaking down common plastics like PET, PVC, and polyethylene — with Pseudomonas azotoformans degrading nearly 38% of polyethylene by weight — pointing toward local microbial solutions for plastic pollution in under-studied regions.
Microplastics under siege: Biofilm-forming marine bacteria from the microplastisphere and their role in plastic degradation
Researchers isolated and screened bacteria from microplastics collected along coastal beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to assess their ability to degrade plastic. One bacterial strain achieved over 10% degradation of low-density polyethylene, with surface analysis confirming physical breakdown of the plastic. The study suggests that naturally occurring marine bacteria colonizing microplastics may play a role in plastic biodegradation in ocean environments.
Microplastics selectively enrich potential plastic-degrading bacteria in estuaries
Microplastic particles in soil were found to selectively enrich bacteria with known or suspected plastic-degrading capabilities in the surrounding microbial community. This suggests that microplastics actively shape local soil microbial ecology, potentially building communities better suited to breaking down plastics over time.
Growth kinetics and biodeterioration of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus sp. and Rhodococcus sp. isolated from mangrove sediment
Researchers isolated two bacterial strains from mangrove sediments and tested their ability to break down polypropylene microplastics. Both Bacillus and Rhodococcus bacteria were able to use the plastic as a carbon source for growth, reducing the polymer mass by 4-6% over 40 days. The study provides evidence that naturally occurring soil bacteria have some capacity to biodegrade common microplastics, though the process is slow.
Microbial Allies in Plastic Degradation: Specific bacterial genera as universal plastic-degraders in various environments
Researchers identified specific bacterial genera capable of degrading multiple types of plastic across different environments including landfill soil, sewage sludge, and river water. They found that certain bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus species, consistently appeared as effective plastic degraders regardless of the environment. The study suggests that these universal plastic-degrading bacteria could be valuable candidates for developing bioremediation strategies to address plastic pollution.
Isolation and Identification of Four Strains of Bacteria with Potential to Biodegrade Polyethylene and Polypropylene from Mangrove
Researchers screened mangrove sediment and surface water bacteria for the ability to biodegrade polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics, successfully isolating four candidate strains. The identified bacteria showed measurable plastic degradation activity, highlighting mangrove ecosystems as a source of novel plastic-degrading microorganisms.
Bacterial degradation of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in a mangrove ecosystem
Researchers isolated bacteria from a mangrove ecosystem that can break down polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics, achieving measurable weight loss over 60 days. The bacteria produced enzymes that caused visible surface degradation of the plastic particles, confirmed through microscopy and chemical analysis. While the degradation rates were modest, the study demonstrates that naturally occurring bacteria in coastal environments have the potential to help address microplastic pollution.
Are bacterial communities associated with microplastics influenced by marine habitats?
A three-month field exposure experiment on a Chinese island compared bacterial communities on polyethylene and PET microplastics in three marine habitats (intertidal, supralittoral, seawater), finding that habitat significantly shaped community structure but polymer type had a weaker influence.
Enhanced microbial degradation of PET and PS microplastics under natural conditions in mangrove environment
Researchers isolated bacteria from microplastic-contaminated mangrove soil and tested their ability to break down PET and polystyrene microplastics under natural conditions. Over 90 days, the microbial consortium achieved an 18% weight loss in the treated microplastics and visibly altered their surface structure. The study suggests that naturally occurring bacteria in polluted environments hold potential for bioremediation of microplastic-contaminated soils.
Psychrobacter species enrichment as potential microplastic degrader and the putative biodegradation mechanism in Shenzhen Bay sediment, China
This metagenomic study of sediments near a Shenzhen Bay sewage outlet identified Psychrobacter bacteria as the dominant microplastic-associated microorganisms in heavily contaminated sediments, where they made up over 16% of the bacterial community. The researchers identified 28 enzymes in these bacteria that are potentially involved in degrading plastic polymers, and proposed a degradation pathway involving initial breakdown of long polymer chains followed by oxidation of shorter fragments. This adds to understanding of how marine sediment microbiomes respond to plastic pollution and which bacteria might be harnessed for bioremediation.
Microplastics pollution alters bacterial community in hyporheic sediments: A case study from the Beiluo River Basin
Researchers surveyed microplastics in hyporheic zone sediments (the biologically active layer beneath riverbeds) of China's Beiluo River and found that PET fragments smaller than 30 µm dominated, with polymer type and particle size driving distinct shifts in bacterial community composition and suppressing overall microbial diversity.
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.
Introducing the LDPE degrading microbes of sedimentary systems: from dumpsite to laboratory
This study identified and characterized low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-degrading microbes from dumpsite sedimentary systems, isolating bacteria capable of utilizing LDPE as a carbon source—providing a starting point for developing biological solutions to plastic pollution remediation.