Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Pivotal Role of Microbes in Solid Waste Management

This review discusses the role of lactic acid bacteria in solid waste management, including their use as probiotics in food systems and their potential to produce polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic. Using microbes to produce bioplastics that break down naturally could help reduce persistent microplastic pollution.

2023 International Journal of Environment and Climate Change
Article Tier 2

Microbial synthesis of eco-friendly polylactate plastic from low-cost agro-industrial wastes as an alternative to petrochemical-based plastic

This study isolated soil and food waste bacteria capable of producing polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic from low-cost agricultural byproducts. PLA is a biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, and producing it from waste feedstocks improves both its economics and environmental profile.

2023 Global NEST Journal 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging technologies for conversion of sustainable macroalgal carrageenan biomass into L-lactic acid: A state-of-the-art review

This review examines how macroalgae (seaweed) can be converted into lactic acid for making polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plastic alternative. Using non-food biomass like seaweed to produce biodegradable plastics could help reduce dependence on fossil-based plastics that generate persistent microplastic pollution.

2023 MATEC Web of Conferences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of an oxidative-biological treatment strategy for production of lactic acid and biomass from vinasse of sugarcane bioethanol industry

Researchers evaluated lactic acid and biomass production from vinasse, a sugarcane bioethanol byproduct, by cultivating Lactococcus lactis strains on ozone- and air-pretreated vinasse at concentrations of 0-33% v/v. The study found that oxidative pretreatment reduced inhibitory compounds, enabling viable microbial growth and lactic acid yields from this high-strength organic waste stream.

2024 Journal of Applied Biology & Biotechnology
Article Tier 2

Optimization of production and evaluation of Microbial kojic Acid obtained from Sugarcane Molasses (SCM) by Aspergillus sp.

Not relevant to microplastics — this study optimizes fermentation conditions for producing kojic acid (an antifungal and antioxidant compound) from sugarcane molasses using Aspergillus fungal strains, with no connection to plastic pollution.

2024 Food systems 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient One‐Step Synthesis of Lactide with High Yield and Selectivity Using Brønsted Acid Catalysis

Despite its title referencing lactide synthesis, this paper studies a one-step chemical process for producing lactide (a precursor to biodegradable PLA plastic) using an acid catalyst — not microplastic pollution. It examines reaction chemistry and yield optimization, and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

2025 ChemSusChem 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Modification of Poly(lactic acid) by the Plasticization for Application in the Packaging Industry

Researchers investigated the modification of poly(lactic acid) through plasticization to improve its mechanical properties for use in packaging industry applications as a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics.

2021 Polymers 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing volatile fatty acid production from sewage sludge in batch fermentation tests

This paper is not directly about microplastics; it compares four pre-treatment methods for sewage sludge to optimize the production of volatile fatty acids through acidogenic fermentation, finding potassium permanganate treatment most effective — relevant to wastewater resource recovery.

2023 Chemosphere 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic waste as a novel substrate for industrial biotechnology

This paper reviewed the potential of plastic waste as a novel substrate for industrial biotechnology, arguing that plastic polymers could serve as feedstocks for microbial processes that generate value-added chemicals or fuels.

2015 Microbial Biotechnology 181 citations
Article Tier 2

Leachate as an alternative culture medium for microalgae growth: Perspectives and challenges

Not relevant to microplastics — this review focuses on growing microalgae in landfill leachate as a way to produce biofuels and treat wastewater, with only incidental mention of contaminants in that leachate.

2026 Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining
Article Tier 2

Selection of polyhydroxybutyrate-producing bacteria and their polyhydroxybutyrate production using cassava and glycerol as carbon sources

Researchers selected effective polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-producing bacteria and evaluated their ability to produce PHB using low-cost carbon sources including cassava and glycerol, aiming to reduce the high production costs that limit PHB bioplastics as a competitive alternative to synthetic plastics.

2025 Agriculture and Natural Resources
Article Tier 2

Pleurotus ostreatus-Mediated Bioremediation of PolylacticAcid Microplastics: Unveilinga Sustainable Solution

Researchers found that the edible white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus degrades polylactic acid microplastics within 30 days through laccase-driven oxidative scission of ester bonds, producing new carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl surface groups while increasing crystallinity as enzymatic attack preferentially targets amorphous polymer domains.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Innovative co-production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and methane from broken rice

Researchers demonstrated a biorefinery approach using broken rice as feedstock, exploiting the acidogenesis phase of anaerobic digestion to produce volatile fatty acids for polyhydroxyalkanoate (a biodegradable plastic) biosynthesis by Cupriavidus necator, while co-generating methane from residual solids without requiring costly enzyme pre-treatment.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioplastics: Environment-friendly materials and their production technologies

This review analyzes recent developments in bioplastics as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastics, examining raw material sources, production technologies, and biodegradation assessment methods, with special emphasis on polylactic acid (PLA) as the most widely used biodegradable polymer.

2023 Agro Productividad 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Pleurotus ostreatus -Mediated Bioremediation of Polylactic Acid Microplastics: Unveiling a Sustainable Solution

Researchers found that the edible white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus degrades polylactic acid microplastics within 30 days through laccase-driven oxidative scission of ester bonds, producing new carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl surface groups while increasing crystallinity as enzymatic attack preferentially targets amorphous polymer domains.

2025 ACS Omega
Article Tier 2

Polyhydroxyalkanoate production from rice straw hydrolysate obtained by alkaline pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis using Bacillus strains isolated from decomposing straw

Researchers used rice straw — an agricultural waste product — both as the source for isolating bacteria and as the carbon-rich feedstock to grow them on, successfully producing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a biodegradable plastic alternative. The best-performing Bacillus bacterial strains converted pretreated rice straw into up to 59% of their body weight as PHA, demonstrating a low-cost pathway for producing compostable bioplastics from farm waste.

2021 Bioresources and Bioprocessing 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Mesophilic fermentation explorations for anaerobic carboxylates production from commercial bioplastic products: PHA-based cups & PLA-based lids

Mesophilic (moderate-temperature) fermentation conditions were explored for anaerobic carboxylation reactions, with relevance to converting plastic-derived carbon compounds into useful chemicals. The research supports valorization pathways that could reduce plastic waste accumulation.

2025 Bioresource Technology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and Characterization of Microplastic Degrading Bacteria in Three Landfills of Lampung Province

Researchers isolated and characterized microplastic-degrading bacteria from three landfills in Lampung Province, Indonesia, identifying species capable of using plastic as a carbon source with potential utility for bioremediation of plastic-contaminated sites.

2025 Jurnal Bioteknologi & Biosains Indonesia (JBBI)
Article Tier 2

Role of microalgae as a sustainable alternative of biopolymers and its application in industries

Not a microplastics paper — this review examines the potential of algae-derived biopolymers (such as alginate, carrageenan, and polyhydroxyalkanoates) as biodegradable, eco-friendly replacements for petroleum-based plastics, highlighting their advantages but noting challenges for large-scale production.

2023 Plant Science Today 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of Time and Concentration Conditions Affecting Polylactic Acid (Pla) Production

Despite its title referencing polylactic acid (PLA) production, this paper studies the chemistry of synthesizing a biodegradable bioplastic — not microplastic pollution per se. It examines how catalyst concentration and reaction time affect the yield and quality of PLA made via ring-opening polymerization and is focused on materials science rather than environmental microplastic contamination or human health.

2025 Polymers 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The Production of High-Added-Value Bioproducts from Non-Conventional Biomasses: An Overview

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it is a broad review of biomass valorisation from food-processing residues for producing bioproducts, focused on circular economy applications in the food and materials sectors.

2023 Biomass 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Potensi Mikroorganisme Sebagai Agen Bioremediasi Mikroplastik Di Laut

This Indonesian review examines microorganisms with the potential to biodegrade microplastics in marine environments, including bacteria that can use plastic as a carbon source. Identifying plastic-degrading microbes is a step toward developing biological remediation strategies for marine microplastic pollution.

2020 OSEANA 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Polycarbonate biodegradation by newly isolated Bacillus strains

Researchers isolated Bacillus strains capable of biodegrading polycarbonate from buried plastic films, demonstrating measurable polymer degradation through enzymatic activity including lipase and amylase production over the screening period.

2023 Archives of Environmental Protection 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploiting sugar-rich feedstocks for sustainable polyhydroxyalkanoate production

Researchers investigated the use of sugar-rich agricultural feedstocks for sustainable production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), evaluating these bacterial biopolymers as biodegradable alternatives to petrochemical plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.

2025 Circular Agricultural Systems