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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microbial Consortia in the Remediation of Single-Use Waste: The Case of Face Masks
ClearThe Bad Side of Face Masks and How Bacteria Can Help
This review examines how single-use face masks contributed to environmental microplastic pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores how bacteria and other microorganisms might be harnessed to biodegrade mask-derived microplastics in wastewater treatment systems.
Microbial strategies for degradation of microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste
Researchers reviewed microbial strategies for degrading microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste such as masks, gloves, and personal protective equipment. The study discusses how improper disposal of pandemic-related plastic waste creates microplastic pollution and explores the potential of microorganisms to break down these polymeric materials as a bioremediation approach.
Environmental Hazard of Polypropylene from Disposable Face Masks Linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Possible Mitigation Techniques through a Green Approach
Researchers assessed the biodegradation of disposable face masks made from polypropylene using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and found partial degradation was achievable, highlighting both the environmental hazard of pandemic-era PPE waste and potential microbial remediation strategies.
Isolates of Polypropylene-degrading Bacteria from a Landfill
Researchers isolated and characterized polypropylene-degrading bacteria from a landfill site, identifying microbial strains capable of breaking down this widely used plastic, including the polypropylene found in disposable medical face masks that increased in use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The isolates demonstrated measurable degradation activity on polypropylene substrates, contributing to the search for biodegradation-based plastic waste management solutions.
Comparison between discarded facemask and common plastic waste on microbial colonization and physiochemical properties during aging in seawater
Researchers found that discarded surgical facemasks in seawater hosted more diverse microbial communities than conventional plastic waste, with higher degradation-related enzyme activity and more pronounced physicochemical changes during aging, raising concerns about their environmental impact.
Potency of Face Mask-Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Parangtritis Beach, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Researchers isolated and characterised face mask-degrading bacteria from discarded masks at Parangtritis Beach in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using Mineral Salt Media containing black duckbill, blue surgical, and white KF94 mask materials as selective substrates. The study aimed to identify microbial agents capable of degrading COVID-19 pandemic-related mask waste that had become a significant environmental contaminant at coastal sites.
[Microbial Ecology in the Mask-derived Plastisphere in a Water Environment].
Researchers studied the microbial ecology of plastisphere communities forming on different layers of discarded face masks in aquatic environments over time. Each mask layer harbored a unique microbial community with increasing richness over time; functional analysis revealed pathogenic, phototrophic, and compound-degrading capabilities, as well as roles in carbon and nitrogen cycling, indicating ecological significance of mask-derived plastisphere.
Bacterial consortia based enhanced biofilm mediated synthetic plastic waste treatment
Researchers investigated bacterial consortia-enhanced biofilm formation as a biodegradation strategy for synthetic plastic waste, examining how multi-species consortia can improve polymer degradation performance compared to single organisms, positioning biodegradation as a sustainable approach to reducing plastic accumulation in air, water, and soil.
Identifikasi Bakteri Pendegradasi Polipropilen Pada Limbah Masker Dari Tpa Piyungan
This Indonesian study identified bacteria capable of degrading polypropylene in disposable face mask waste collected from a landfill. Bacteria that can break down synthetic polymers offer a potential biological tool for reducing microplastic formation from the large volumes of mask waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Potential of Freshwater Microalgae in Biodegradation of Disposable Face Masks
Researchers investigated whether freshwater microalgae could biodegrade disposable face masks — a major source of pandemic plastic waste — measuring plastic weight loss and surface degradation under algal cultures. Selected algal species showed measurable degradation of mask fibers, suggesting a biological treatment pathway.
Biotransformation of microplastics from three-layer face masks by nitrifying-denitrifying consortia
Lab experiments showed that microorganisms performing nitrogen cycling (nitrification and denitrification) can chemically alter the surface of polypropylene microplastics shed from COVID-era disposable face masks. The biological changes to the plastic surface may increase its ability to adsorb other contaminants or alter how long it persists in the environment, raising new questions about what happens to the surge of pandemic-era plastic waste in wastewater systems.
Microbial degradation of polypropylene microplastics and concomitant polyhydroxybutyrate production: An integrated bioremediation approach with metagenomic insights
Researchers isolated microbial consortia capable of degrading polypropylene microplastics, achieving weight losses of up to 17.8% after 30 days of incubation. The most effective consortium also produced polyhydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable plastic alternative, while breaking down the polypropylene. Metagenomic analysis revealed abundant carbohydrate-active enzymes and oxidation pathways, suggesting an integrated bioremediation approach that simultaneously degrades plastic waste and generates a useful bioplastic.
Plastic-Degrading Microbial Consortia from a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Researchers isolated bacteria from a wastewater treatment plant that can break down common plastics including polyethylene and polystyrene, some of the hardest plastics to recycle. The microbial communities worked together to degrade the plastics more effectively than individual bacterial strains. While biological plastic degradation is still slow compared to the scale of pollution, identifying these bacteria is a step toward developing biotechnology solutions for plastic waste cleanup.
Characterization of microplastic degrading bacteria isolated from the Putri Cempo landfill
Researchers isolated bacteria from a landfill in Indonesia and characterized their ability to degrade microplastics, identifying indigenous strains with potential for use in bioremediation of plastic pollution.
Synergistic functional activity of a landfill microbial consortium in a microplastic-enriched environment
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.
Shotgun metagenomic dataset of a synthetic microbial consortium for mixed PP/PE/PVC microplastic transformation
Researchers assembled a synthetic microbial consortium using a stepwise enrichment-selection-reconstruction strategy to transform mixed PP, PE, and PVC microplastics, and generated shotgun metagenomic data revealing functional genes tied to hydrocarbon oxidation, β-oxidation, and intermediate metabolism coordinating multi-polymer degradation.
Shotgun metagenomic dataset of a synthetic microbial consortium for mixed PP/PE/PVC microplastic transformation
Researchers assembled a synthetic microbial consortium using a stepwise enrichment-selection-reconstruction strategy to transform mixed PP, PE, and PVC microplastics, and generated shotgun metagenomic data revealing functional genes tied to hydrocarbon oxidation, β-oxidation, and intermediate metabolism coordinating multi-polymer degradation.
Development of tailored indigenous marine consortia for the degradation of naturally weathered polyethylene films
Researchers developed tailored indigenous marine bacterial consortia for polyethylene degradation, conducting a two-phase microcosm experiment that bioaugmented naturally weathered PE films with strains capable of using low-density polyethylene as a sole carbon source.
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.
Microbial solutions for plastic pollutants: Caprolactam, Polyvinyl alcohol, and surgical face masks
Researchers isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa from soil and demonstrated its capacity to degrade caprolactam, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and surgical face mask materials, identified through 16S rRNA sequencing and HPLC analysis. The findings highlight microbial biodegradation as a promising approach for managing these persistent plastic pollutants.