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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Evaluation of spherulite growth in PHB‐based systems – A DoE approach
ClearPolyhydroxybutyrate: a review of experimental and simulation studies of the effect of fillers on crystallinity and mechanical properties
This review covers experimental and simulation studies on how various fillers affect the crystallinity and mechanical properties of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable polymer candidate for replacing petroleum-based food packaging plastics. The authors synthesize findings on filler types, loading levels, and processing conditions that optimize the balance between biodegradability and structural performance.
Influence of microbial biomass content on biodegradation and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composites
This paper is not about microplastics — it studies how adding microbial biomass (algae and cyanobacteria) to a biodegradable polyester (PHB) accelerates its degradation rate in soil.
Isolation, Production, Extraction, Optimization and Fortification of PHB using Silver Nanoparticles from Lactobacillus Casei
Researchers isolated soil bacteria capable of producing the biopolymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) as a biodegradable plastic substitute, optimizing PHB production from Lactobacillus casei and exploring fortification with silver nanoparticles to enhance material properties.
Production and optimization of bioplastic (Polyhydroxybutyrate) from Bacillus cereus strain SH-02 using response surface methodology
Researchers optimized conditions for a bacterium called Bacillus cereus to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) — a biodegradable plastic made naturally by bacteria — achieving high yields using a statistical optimization method called response surface methodology. PHB is a promising alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics because it breaks down in the environment, potentially reducing long-term microplastic accumulation.
Structural and Functional Characteristics of Microplastic Associated Biofilms in Response to Temporal Dynamics and Polymer Types
Researchers found that biofilm structural and functional characteristics on microplastics differ significantly depending on polymer type (polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene) and change over time, with implications for understanding microbial colonization and the plastisphere.
Integrated effects of polymer type, size and shape on the sinking dynamics of biofouled microplastics
Researchers investigated how polymer type, size, and shape interact with biofouling to influence microplastic sinking dynamics, finding that biofilm growth altered buoyancy and settling rates in ways that depend on the physical characteristics of each particle.
Bio-Polyester/Rubber Compounds: Fabrication, Characterization, and Biodegradation
This paper is not about microplastics; it investigates biodegradable bioplastic blends made from polyhydroxybutyrate and natural rubber as potential alternatives to fossil-based plastics.
Microbial Production of Biopolymer Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB): Current Challenges and its Application
This review examines the microbial production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable polyester produced by microorganisms as an energy and carbon storage compound, covering current production challenges and industrial applications. The study discusses PHB as a biopolymer alternative to petroleum-based plastics, addressing cost, yield, and scalability barriers limiting its commercial adoption.
Sinking rates of microplastics and potential implications of their alteration by physical, biological, and chemical factors
Researchers conducted sinking experiments with diverse microplastic particles and found that sinking velocity depends not only on density and size but also on particle shape, and that biofouling and weathering can substantially alter sinking rates with implications for how microplastics distribute through the water column.
Influence of FFF Process Conditions on the Thermal, Mechanical, and Rheological Properties of Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxy Hexanoate)
Fused filament fabrication of the biodegradable polymer PHBH was characterized, finding that crystallization occurs isothermally after bed deposition rather than during cooling, and that higher nozzle and bed temperatures improved mechanical properties by reducing void formation and improving interlayer adhesion.
Copolymers and Blends Based on 3-Hydroxybutyrate and 3-Hydroxyvalerate Units
This paper is not about microplastics. It reviews the biodegradable biopolymer PHBV (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)), covering its production, properties, degradation behavior, and applications in various sectors. While PHBV is studied as a potential biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics, this paper focuses on polymer science and materials engineering rather than microplastic pollution.
Characteristics and Sinking Behavior of Typical Microplastics Including the Potential Effect of Biofouling: Implications for Remediation
Researchers characterized how microplastics of different shapes sink through water, finding that shape is a critical factor, with films behaving very differently from spheres and fibers. The study also examines how biofouling on floating plastics can cause them to sink, with implications for designing filtration and remediation systems.
Characterization of PHB/Clay Biocomposites Exposed to Degradation in an Aquatic Environment
This study examined how bioplastic composites made from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and clay degrade in water. Adding clay altered the degradation rate, and the type of clay (natural vs. organically modified) had different effects — important for designing biodegradable plastics that break down predictably in aquatic environments.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates biosynthesis, resulting polymer structures, and plasticization
This review examines polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a class of biodegradable biopolymers synthesized by microorganisms, discussing strategies including plasticizers and monomer inclusion to overcome the brittleness and processing challenges of the most common PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).
Photodegradationof Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate)and Its Effects on Marine Biodegradability
Researchers examined the photodegradation dynamics of the biodegradable polymer PHBH under simulated UV conditions and assessed the effects on its marine biodegradability. UV weathering altered PHBH's surface properties and modified its degradation rate in marine environments, raising questions about the environmental safety claims for this material.
Silicon-infused bacterial cellulose: in situ bioprocessing for tailored strength and surface characteristics
Not relevant to microplastics — this is a materials science study on producing silicon-modified bacterial cellulose for applications requiring tailored surface characteristics and tensile strength.
Towards more realistic reference microplastics and nanoplastics: preparation of polyethylene micro/nanoparticles with a biosurfactant
Polyethylene micro/nanoparticles stabilized with a biosurfactant were prepared as more realistic reference materials for ecotoxicity testing, better representing the surface properties and behavior of environmental microplastics compared to commercial standard materials. The study addresses a key methodological limitation in nanoplastic research by providing particles with environmentally relevant surface chemistry.
Advances in the Modeling of Synthesis, Design and Properties of Polymers
This computational chemistry dissertation used atomistic simulations to study the synthesis and properties of emerging polymer materials. Computational approaches to polymer design could accelerate development of biodegradable plastics that break down quickly rather than persisting as microplastics.
A Biodegradable Composite of Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with Short Cellulose Fiber for Packaging
Researchers developed biodegradable composite materials by incorporating short cellulose fibers into PHBV biopolymer, addressing the polymer's narrow processing window and improving its suitability for sustainable packaging applications.
Ecotoxicity testing of microplastics: Considering the heterogeneity of physicochemical properties
Researchers reviewed how the diverse physical and chemical properties of microplastics, including particle size, shape, crystallinity, surface chemistry, and polymer composition, may influence their ecotoxicity. They argue that standard testing with uniform microbeads fails to capture the heterogeneity of environmental microplastics and may lead to inaccurate risk assessments. The study calls for a more structured approach to testing different microplastic properties to identify the key drivers of toxicity.
A Review of PHB Production by Cyanobacteria and Its Applications
This review examines cyanobacteria as photoautotrophic producers of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) bioplastic, summarizing how nutrient-stress conditions stimulate PHB accumulation and evaluating the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of using cyanobacteria as an alternative to conventional feedstocks for biodegradable plastic production.
Influence of Shape on Heteroaggregation of Model Microplastics: A Simulation Study
This simulation study examined how the shape of microplastic particles (spheres vs. fibers vs. fragments) affects how they clump together (heteroaggregate) with natural organic matter in water. Particle shape influences how far microplastics travel, where they settle, and how available they are to aquatic organisms.
Properties of PLA-co-PBSu Copolymers Rapidly Synthesized by Reactive Processing
Not relevant to microplastics research; this paper describes the laboratory synthesis and material properties of biodegradable PLA-PBSu copolymers intended for industrial applications, with no investigation of microplastic pollution or environmental fate.
Hierarchical Plant Protein Microcapsules for Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Cargo Molecules
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper describes biodegradable plant protein microcapsules for food and pharmaceutical delivery, which meet ISO biodegradability standards for freshwater but are not themselves a microplastic source or subject.