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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Utilization of Household Plastic Waste in Technologies with Final Biodegradation
ClearEmerging Technologies for Converting Mixed Plastic Waste into Biodegradable Polymers
Scientists are developing new ways to turn mixed plastic waste (like food containers and shopping bags) into biodegradable materials that naturally break down instead of polluting the environment. This research review summarizes promising techniques that could help reduce the microplastics that end up in our food and water. If these methods can be made affordable and used widely, they could significantly cut plastic pollution and the health risks it poses to humans.
Emerging Technologies for Converting Mixed Plastic Waste into Biodegradable Polymers
Scientists are developing new ways to turn mixed plastic waste (like food containers and shopping bags all jumbled together) into materials that naturally break down in the environment, instead of lasting forever like regular plastic. This research review shows these emerging technologies could help solve our plastic pollution problem by preventing more microplastics from forming and contaminating our food and water. If these methods can be scaled up, they could transform how we handle plastic waste and reduce health risks from tiny plastic particles that are increasingly found in our bodies.
Unravelling the ecological ramifications of biodegradable microplastics in soil environment: A systematic review
Researchers reviewed 85 studies on biodegradable microplastics in soil, finding that when biodegradable plastics fail to fully break down they can disrupt soil structure, nutrient cycling, and microbial life in ways that depend heavily on concentration and plastic type. The review highlights that "biodegradable" plastics are not a simple fix for microplastic pollution in agricultural soils.
Investigating the sustainability of agricultural plastic products, combined influence of polymer characteristics and environmental conditions on microplastics aging
Researchers investigated how polymer characteristics and environmental conditions influence the photodegradation of agricultural plastic products in soil. The study examined low-density polyethylene microplastic degradation under different UV radiation and humidity conditions. The findings suggest that environmental factors significantly affect how agricultural plastics break down into microplastics, with implications for understanding long-term soil contamination from farming practices.
Identification of microplastics extracted from field soils amended with municipal biosolids
Researchers developed a method for extracting and identifying microplastics from agricultural soils that had been treated with municipal biosolids, a common fertilizer derived from wastewater treatment. They found a variety of plastic polymer types in the soil, confirming that biosolid application is a pathway for microplastic contamination of farmland. The study provides a reliable technique for tracking how microplastics cycle through agricultural environments.
Waste-Derived Fertilizers: Conversion Technologies, Circular Bioeconomy Perspectives and Agronomic Value
A review assessed conversion technologies that transform waste materials into fertilizers, examining how the resulting products may introduce microplastics and other contaminants into agricultural soils. The study raises concerns about the circularity of nutrient recovery if it inadvertently spreads plastic pollution.
Plant species-specific impact of polyethylene microspheres on seedling growth and the metabolome
Researchers modeled the lifecycle of plastic packaging and estimated the generation of secondary microplastics from different disposal pathways including landfill, incineration, and recycling. Results indicate that recycling significantly reduces microplastic generation but does not eliminate it entirely.
[Occurrence and Characteristics of Macro/Micro-plastics and Phthalates in Soils Under Different Plastic Film Mulching].
Researchers assessed residual characteristics of macroplastics, microplastics, and phthalate plasticizers in agricultural soils under different plastic film mulching treatments over a three-year field experiment, comparing traditional PE film with three types of biodegradable mulch and a no-mulch control. The study examined whether biodegradable film substitution effectively reduces soil plastic and PAE residual pollution.
Agricultural Plastic Waste Management
This article describes a European research project on recycling agricultural plastic waste including mulch films, packaging, and greenhouse covers, which are significant sources of microplastic contamination in farmland soils. The project developed innovative biodegradation routes as an alternative to landfill disposal.
Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies
Researchers developed a method for generating representative micro- and nano-plastics directly from agricultural mulch films (polyethylene and biodegradable starch-based films) for use in ecotoxicology studies, addressing limitations of using commercially manufactured polystyrene spheres as surrogates. The method produced particles with surface chemistry and size distributions more reflective of real environmental agricultural plastic fragments.
Biodegradation of microplastics derived from controlled release fertilizer coating: Selective microbial colonization and metabolism in plastisphere
Scientists studied how microplastics from fertilizer coatings break down in soil over more than two years, finding that polyethylene degraded the most (nearly 17% weight loss) while producing secondary microplastic fragments and chemical byproducts. Specific bacteria and fungi colonized the plastic surfaces, forming biofilms that helped break down the material. This research shows that coated fertilizers are a direct source of microplastic pollution in farmland, where the breakdown products could enter crops and groundwater.
In-soil degradation of polymer materials waste – A survey of different approaches in relation with environmental impact
This review surveys the in-soil degradation of polymer materials — including natural fibers, synthetic plastics, and composites — examining how environmental factors such as UV radiation, microorganisms, moisture, and temperature drive degradation and influence the environmental impact of plastic waste in terrestrial ecosystems.
Microplastic accumulation in soils: Unlocking the mechanism and biodegradation pathway
Researchers reviewed how microplastics accumulate in soil and break down biologically, finding that certain microorganisms can form biofilms on plastic surfaces and use enzymes to slowly degrade the polymers — though conditions like pH, temperature, and moisture must be optimized and new plastic-degrading microbes need to be identified before this approach can be widely applied.
A new tool to screen biodegradable polymers as technically and commercially viable fertiliser coatings
Researchers developed a screening tool to evaluate biodegradable polymers against technical and commercial viability criteria, enabling manufacturers and regulators to assess whether proposed biodegradable materials will genuinely perform as advertised in real-world disposal environments.
Microplastic incorporation into soil aggregates: Insights from two-year field experiments in European agricultural topsoils
Researchers conducted two-year field experiments in European agricultural topsoils comparing microplastic incorporation into soil aggregates from biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch films, finding that soil properties and MP size and shape influence the degree of occlusion, with aggregate embedment potentially protecting MPs from further degradation.
A progress update on the biological effects of biodegradable microplastics on soil and ocean environment: A perfect substitute or new threat?
This review examines whether biodegradable plastics, often marketed as eco-friendly alternatives, actually break down safely in the environment. The evidence shows that biodegradable plastics often fragment into microplastics rather than fully decomposing, and these biodegradable microplastics can harm soil organisms, marine life, and disrupt nutrient cycles. The findings suggest that simply switching to biodegradable plastics may not solve the microplastic pollution problem and could introduce new environmental risks.
Functionalization of slow-release fertilizers and “passive predation microplastics” mechanism for polylactic acid composites
Researchers developed a biodegradable fertilizer film made from polylactic acid (PLA) and modified lignin that can slowly release nutrients while breaking down naturally in soil, offering an alternative to conventional plastic mulch. The study also explored how plants absorb tiny fragments of bio-based plastics, which is important for understanding whether even biodegradable alternatives still pose risks to food safety.
Establishment of Microcosm to Bio-Stimulate Soil Microbiota for Sustainable Waste Management of Plastic Polymer
Researchers proposed using microcosm systems to biostimulate soil microbiota as a sustainable approach to plastic polymer degradation, addressing the global problem of plastic waste that can take over 500 years to decompose naturally. The study examined how engineered microbial communities could be optimized to break down plastic polymers under controlled conditions.
Effect of Abiotic Treatments on Agricultural Plastic Waste: Efficiency of the Degradation Processes
Researchers tested different degradation treatments on four types of agricultural plastic films, including UV radiation, electron beam radiation, and thermochemical approaches. They found that combining multiple treatments was more effective at breaking down the plastics than any single method alone. The study provides practical insights into which approaches work best for accelerating the degradation of common agricultural plastic waste.
The fate of post-use biodegradable PBAT-based mulch films buried in agricultural soil
Scientists tracked the breakdown of a biodegradable mulch film in farm soil over 16 months and found that while the film lost more than half its surface area, it released microplastics into the surrounding soil during the process. About 17-23% of the original film material was still recoverable from the soil after nearly 500 days. The study shows that even biodegradable plastics can be a source of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.
Plastics in biogenic matrices intended for reuse in agriculture and the potential contribution to soil accumulation
Researchers measured plastic contamination across agricultural input materials including manures, digestate, compost, and sewage sludge, finding plastics in all samples ranging from 0.06 plastics/g in animal manure to 986 plastics/g in compost. Fibres were the dominant shape and polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene were the most common polymers, highlighting the risk these reused matrices pose for soil plastic accumulation.
Effect of microplastics used in agronomic practices on agricultural soil properties and plant functions: Potential contribution to the circular economy of rural areas
Researchers measured the effects of microplastics used in common agricultural practices — including mulch film residues and irrigation-delivered particles — on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Microplastic presence altered soil aggregation, water retention, and microbial community composition, with effects depending on plastic concentration, polymer type, and soil texture.
Two-step conversion of polyethylene into recombinant proteins using a microbial platform
Researchers engineered bacteria to break down polyethylene plastic — one of the most common types of plastic pollution — and convert it into useful proteins, demonstrating a promising biological pathway for upcycling plastic waste into valuable materials.
The Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Soil Bacteria
Researchers investigated whether soil bacteria could biodegrade polystyrene, a plastic historically considered highly resistant to natural degradation since studies dating to the 1970s first examined its environmental persistence. They found evidence that certain soil bacterial communities can break down polystyrene, suggesting a potential biological pathway for remediating this persistent plastic pollutant in terrestrial and marine environments.