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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Impacts of poly(lactic acid) microplastics on organic compound leaching and heavy metal distribution during hydrothermal treatment of sludge
ClearAging of polylactic acid microplastics during hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge and its effects on heavy metals adsorption
Researchers examined how hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge causes polylactic acid microplastics to age, and how this aging changes their heavy metal adsorption capacity. Hydrothermal treatment accelerated PLA-MP degradation, increasing surface oxygen groups and enhancing adsorption of copper, cadmium, and lead compared to untreated particles.
The microbial response to biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics during anaerobic fermentation of waste activated sludge
Polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics — often assumed to be benign because they are 'biodegradable' — were found to inhibit the breakdown of organic matter in wastewater sludge by 5–18%, disrupting microbial communities and key enzymes. The result challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are environmentally safe once they enter wastewater treatment systems.
Changes in physicochemical and leachate characteristics of microplastics during hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge
Researchers examined hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge containing microplastics and found that while the process degraded polyethylene, polystyrene, and PET to varying degrees, it also generated potentially harmful leachates, highlighting trade-offs in this treatment approach.
The Hidden Crisis of Biodegradable Plastics: Polylactic Acid Microplastics Increase Soil Cd and Pb Bioavailability and Associated Human Health Risks
Researchers found that biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, often marketed as eco-friendly alternatives, significantly increased the availability of toxic heavy metals like cadmium and lead in agricultural soil. The PLA particles altered soil chemistry and microbial communities, leading to greater heavy metal uptake by lettuce and substantially increased health risks for humans consuming the crops.
Insights into interactions of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics with heavy metals
Researchers found that biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics can adsorb heavy metals like cadmium, copper, and chromium at rates comparable to or exceeding conventional non-biodegradable plastics, suggesting biodegradable microplastics may also serve as carriers of toxic metals in the environment.
Exploring the influence of sludge dewatering agents on Microplastic aging under hydrothermal treatment: Insights from Polylactic Acid microplastics
This study examined how industrial wastewater sludge treatment chemicals (dewatering agents) interact with hydrothermal processing to alter the physical and chemical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics in sludge. The findings matter because different treatment chemistries transform microplastic surfaces in distinct ways — affecting their porosity, reactivity, and persistence — which has implications for how microplastics behave after leaving wastewater treatment facilities.
Molecular properties and biotoxicity of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastic (MP-DOM) during typical hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge
Researchers investigated the dissolved organic matter that leaches from microplastics during sewage sludge treatment processes like thermal hydrolysis. Different plastic types released chemically distinct compounds, some of which showed toxicity to aquatic organisms. The findings highlight that microplastics are not just physical pollutants but also release harmful chemical byproducts during waste treatment.
The Hidden Crisisof Biodegradable Plastics: PolylacticAcid Microplastics Increase Soil Cd and Pb Bioavailability and AssociatedHuman Health Risks
Researchers conducted a pot experiment to assess how polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics affect the soil availability and plant uptake of cadmium and lead in co-contaminated agricultural soils. PLA microplastics increased the bioavailability of both heavy metals, raising human health risks from crops grown in PLA-contaminated soils.
Molecular characteristics and biological effects of dissolved organic matter leached from microplastics during sludge hydrothermal treatment
Researchers analyzed the dissolved organic matter that leaches from microplastics during sludge hydrothermal treatment, a common waste processing method. The study found that higher treatment temperatures produced more complex and diverse chemical mixtures from the microplastics, some of which showed toxic effects on plants and aquatic organisms. The results highlight a previously overlooked source of chemical pollution from microplastic-containing waste.
Do poly(lactic acid) microplastics instigate a threat? A perception for their dynamic towards environmental pollution and toxicity
This review examines whether poly(lactic acid), a popular biodegradable plastic marketed as an eco-friendly alternative, actually poses environmental risks as it breaks down into microplastics. Researchers found that PLA only degrades fully under specific industrial composting conditions with high temperatures and moisture, and may persist much longer in natural environments. The study calls for deeper investigation into the environmental fate and potential toxicity of PLA microplastics as their use continues to grow.
Current understanding on the fate of contaminants during hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge
This review examines how hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge handles various contaminants including microplastics, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals. While the high-temperature water treatment can break down many pollutants, its effectiveness against microplastics specifically is still being studied. Since sewage sludge is often spread on farmland, understanding how well treatment destroys microplastics is important for preventing them from entering the food supply.
Insights into effects of drying–wetting cycles on dissolved organic matter and Cd bioavailability in riparian sediments amended with microplastics
This study examined how microplastics interact with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in riverside sediments during wet and dry cycles that mimic natural flooding conditions. Biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics increased cadmium availability more than conventional plastics, likely because they release chemical additives as they break down. The results suggest that even biodegradable plastics in soil and sediment can make heavy metal contamination worse, raising concerns about their impact on water quality and food safety.
Impact of Polylactic Acid Microplastics on Performance and Microbial Dynamics in Activated Sludge System
This study found that polylactic acid microplastics at higher concentrations impaired nitrification and phosphorus removal in activated sludge wastewater treatment systems. Even biodegradable microplastics can disrupt the microbial communities essential for wastewater treatment, potentially reducing the quality of treated water discharged to the environment.
Pyrolysis-induced migration and transformation of heavy metals in sewage sludge containing microplastics
Researchers studied how the presence of PVC and PET microplastics affects the behavior of heavy metals during sewage sludge pyrolysis. They found that microplastic addition influenced the migration and chemical transformation of metals like chromium, copper, and zinc during heating, with effects varying by plastic type and concentration. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in sewage sludge should be considered when designing pyrolysis processes for sludge recycling.
Inhibitory effect of microplastics derived organic matters on humification reaction of organics in sewage sludge under alkali-hydrothermal treatment
This study investigated how microplastics in sewage sludge affect the formation of humic acids during alkali-hydrothermal treatment, a common method for recovering valuable organic matter. Researchers found that organic compounds leached from microplastics inhibited the humification process, suggesting that microplastic contamination can reduce the quality of recovered materials from wastewater sludge.
Microplastics and metals: Microplastics generated from biodegradable polylactic acid mulch reduce bioaccumulation of cadmium in earthworms compared to those generated from polyethylene
Researchers compared how microplastics from biodegradable (PLA) and conventional (polyethylene) plastic mulch interact with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in soil with earthworms. PLA microplastics absorbed much more cadmium than polyethylene, reducing the amount of this toxic metal available to earthworms. While this suggests biodegradable plastics may offer some protection against heavy metal exposure in contaminated soils, both types still contribute to microplastic pollution.
State of the art on biodegradability of bio-based plastics containing polylactic acid
This review examines whether bio-based plastics made from polylactic acid (PLA) actually break down in the environment as intended. While certain microorganisms can degrade PLA, the process is slow and depends heavily on conditions like temperature and moisture. The findings matter because if bio-based plastics do not fully break down, they can still fragment into microplastics, posing many of the same environmental and health risks as conventional plastics.
Impacts of Polylactic Acid Microplastics on Performance and Microbial Dynamics in Activated Sludge System
Researchers examined the effects of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics at different concentrations on activated sludge system performance, including nitrification, phosphorus removal, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The study found that PLA microplastics disrupted microbial activity and pollutant removal performance in wastewater treatment under comparable conditions.
Fate of polylactic acid microplastics during anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste: Insights on property changes, released dissolved organic matters, and biofilm formation
Polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics were tracked through the anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste, revealing that PLA particles underwent surface changes and released dissolved organic matter but were not fully degraded during the process. The study shows that even supposedly biodegradable plastics can persist and alter biofilm formation in anaerobic digestion systems.
Polyamide microplastics outperform polylactic acid in reducing cadmium health risks in arsenic-cadmium co-contaminated water: Insights from experimental and theoretical analysis
Researchers compared how polyamide and polylactic acid microplastics interact with arsenic and cadmium in contaminated water and assessed resulting health risks. The study found that while PLA microplastics absorbed more cadmium, they also released it more readily during digestion due to surface degradation by gut enzymes, making polyamide microplastics paradoxically less hazardous as cadmium carriers despite being a conventional plastic.
Mineralization and microbial utilization of poly(lactic acid) microplastic in soil
Researchers tracked how polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, a common biodegradable plastic, actually break down in different agricultural soils. They found that standard testing methods significantly overestimate how quickly PLA degrades because they fail to account for interactions with soil organic matter. The study reveals that PLA microplastics may persist longer in some soils than previously thought, raising questions about how truly biodegradable these materials are in real-world conditions.
Hydrolyzable microplastics in soil—low biodegradation but formation of a specific microbial habitat?
Hydrolyzable microplastics such as polylactic acid showed low biodegradation in soil despite their marketed degradability, while their surfaces hosted distinct microbial communities forming a specialized plastisphere. The study questions the environmental safety of biodegradable plastics in agricultural soil contexts.
Interactions of humic acid with pristine poly (lactic acid) microplastics in aqueous solution
Researchers studied the adsorption of humic acid onto polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics in water, finding that humic acid forms a coating on PLA surfaces through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, altering the environmental behavior of this biodegradable plastic.
The role of photooxidation and organic matter in Cr(III) and Cr(VI) interactions with poly(lactic acid) microplastics in aqueous solution
Researchers studied how UV exposure and organic matter influence the interaction between chromium and biodegradable poly(lactic acid) microplastics in water. They found that pristine PLA has low affinity for chromium, but the presence of organic matter like humic and tannic acids increased chromium adsorption by up to 620-fold, while UV-induced photooxidation of PLA also substantially enhanced adsorption. The study provides important insights into how environmental conditions alter the ability of biodegradable microplastics to transport heavy metals in aquatic systems.