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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Marine vs freshwater microalgae exopolymers as biosolutions to microplastics pollution
ClearBio‐Mediated Flocculation of Freshwater Microplastics: Effects of Microalgae With Exopolymer Attachments
Three freshwater microalgae species with varying levels of transparent exopolymer particle (TEP) production were incubated with microplastics to study bio-mediated flocculation. TEP production significantly increased the flocculation rate of microplastics, with higher TEP levels correlating with faster aggregation and sedimentation.
Heterogeneous aggregation between microplastics and microalgae: May provide new insights for microplastics removal
Researchers investigated heterogeneous aggregation between microplastics and various microalgal species, elucidating the formation process and influencing factors, which may provide new insights for developing microplastic removal strategies from aquatic environments.
Microplastic interactions with freshwater microalgae: Hetero-aggregation and changes in plastic density appear strongly dependent on polymer type
Researchers studied interactions between microplastics and freshwater microalgae, finding that microplastics can physically attach to algal cells to form hetero-aggregates, altering both particle behavior and algal physiology.
Functional groups in microalgal extracellular polymeric substances: A promising biopolymer for microplastic mitigation in marine ecosystems
Researchers characterized the sticky, sugar-like substances (extracellular polymeric substances, or EPS) produced by three types of microalgae and found these natural biopolymers could potentially bind and aggregate microplastics in marine environments, pointing toward a nature-based approach to reducing ocean plastic pollution.
Interplay of plastic pollution with algae and plants: hidden danger or a blessing?
Researchers tested the ability of three microalgae species to remove microplastics from water through bioadhesion, finding that all three species could adsorb particles onto their surfaces. Removal efficiency depended on particle size, surface charge, and algae cell morphology.
Agglomeration of nano- and microplastic particles in seawater by autochthonous and de novo-produced sources of exopolymeric substances
Nano- and microplastic particles in seawater were found to readily form agglomerates with naturally produced exopolymeric substances, altering their surface properties, size, and sinking behavior compared to pristine particles. The study demonstrates that natural organic matter in seawater fundamentally changes how plastic particles behave and interact with marine organisms and sediments.
Microalgae–microplastics interactions at environmentally relevant concentrations: Implications toward ecology, bioeconomy, and UN SDGs
This study investigated how microalgae interact with microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations, examining growth inhibition, aggregation, and photosynthetic effects, with implications for aquatic ecosystem function and the feasibility of microalgae-based bioremediation.
Potential for Using Algae to Reduce Microplastics in the Environment
This review examined the potential of algae to reduce microplastic pollution both by adsorbing and intercepting plastic particles in water and by serving as a feedstock for biosynthesizing biodegradable bioplastics as alternatives to petroleum-based materials.
An ecotoxicological approach towards the understanding of the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics in the marine environment
This PhD thesis investigated how micro- and nanoplastics affect marine microalgae and associated microbial consortia, examining how extracellular polymeric substances mediate plastic-biota interactions and how these effects cascade to higher trophic levels in marine food webs.
Microplastic removal in aquatic systems using extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of microalgae
Researchers tested whether extracellular polymeric substances produced by microalgae could remove microplastics from water. Among four microalgae strains tested under stress conditions, Spirulina produced the most polymeric substances and formed the largest aggregates with microplastic particles. The study suggests that microalgae-based bioremediation could offer a sustainable, low-cost approach to reducing microplastic contamination in water sources.
Extracellular polymeric substances in green alga facilitate microplastic deposition
Extracellular polymeric substances secreted by the green alga Spirogyra facilitated microplastic aggregation and deposition in lab experiments, with EPS forming physical bridges between plastic particles and sediment, suggesting that algal biofilm formation can accelerate the settling and burial of buoyant microplastics in aquatic environments.
Settling of microplastics in mucus-rich water column: The role of biologically modified rheology of seawater
Laboratory experiments showed that naturally occurring exopolymers secreted by marine algae and bacteria convert seawater into a non-Newtonian fluid that slows the sinking of microplastic particles, altering how and where they accumulate in the ocean water column. Understanding these biologically driven settling dynamics is important for predicting microplastic distribution and exposure risk for marine organisms at different depths.
Exploring the potential of microalgae in removal of microplastics from the environment and scope of this entity as feedstock for biofuel production
This review explores the potential of microalgae to capture and remove microplastics from aquatic environments, examining the mechanisms by which algal cells adsorb or aggregate plastic particles and discussing the feasibility of algae-based remediation at scale.
Microplastics removal from water body by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from microalge through surfactants pre-treatment
Researchers explored using extracellular polymeric substances extracted from microalgae — combined with surfactant pretreatment — to remove microplastics from water. The biological approach showed promise as a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional filtration methods.
Spatial heterogeneity of EPS-mediated microplastic aggregation in phycosphere shapes polymer-specific Trojan horse effects
Researchers investigated how algal communities in water aggregate different types of microplastics through sticky extracellular substances they produce. They found that the binding behavior varied significantly by plastic type and by the layer of the algal colony, with some plastics being captured more effectively than others. The study reveals that these natural aggregation processes can concentrate pollutants on microplastic surfaces, creating a "Trojan horse" effect that increases risks to organisms that consume the clumps.
Impact of Heterosigma akashiwo on the environmental behavior of microplastics: Aggregation, sinking, and resuspension dynamics
The harmful microalga Heterosigma akashiwo promoted aggregation and sinking of microplastics through extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) rather than direct cell attachment, with aggregation causing low-density PE spheres to sink following a logistic curve—demonstrating how harmful algal blooms can alter microplastic vertical distribution.
Exploring the Potential of Algae in the Mitigation of Plastic Pollution in Aquatic Environments
This review examined how algae can help mitigate plastic pollution in aquatic environments, finding that certain algal species can adsorb, degrade, or entrap microplastics, suggesting potential bioremediation applications though large-scale effectiveness remains to be demonstrated.
Microalgae colonization of different microplastic polymers in experimental mesocosms across an environmental gradient
Microalgal colonization of five different microplastic polymer types was monitored in freshwater mesocosms across an environmental gradient, finding that polymer type, surface properties, and environmental conditions all influenced the biomass and community composition of epiplastic microalgal biofilms.
The utilization of exopolysaccharide (EPS) from microalgae Chlorella vulgaris in microplastic removal
Researchers investigated whether exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by Chlorella vulgaris microalgae can facilitate the removal of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics from aquatic systems, while also examining microplastic effects on algal growth. The study demonstrates that EPS functions as a bioflocculant capable of binding microplastics, with implications for biologically-based water treatment.
Freshwater algal biofilm assemblages are more effective than invertebrate assemblages at aggregating microplastics
Researchers compared the ability of freshwater algal biofilm assemblages versus invertebrate assemblages to aggregate microplastics at an Oasis Marina in Maryland, USA, finding that algal biofilms were more effective at capturing and retaining microplastic particles than invertebrate assemblages. The study provides insights into the role of biological communities as a fate pathway for microplastics in freshwater environments.
Impacts of extracellular polymeric substances on the behaviors of micro/nanoplastics in the water environment
This review examines how extracellular polymeric substances produced by microorganisms interact with micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments. Researchers found that these natural polymers can form coatings on plastic particles that enhance pollutant adsorption and promote sinking, influencing how microplastics are transported, distributed, and ultimately removed from the water column.
Extracellular polymeric substances from Spirulina sp. for the bioremediation of fishing net–derived microplastics in seawater
Researchers tested whether extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secreted by the microalga Spirulina could remove polyethylene microplastics derived from fishing nets from seawater. The biological substances from Spirulina showed measurable ability to bind and aggregate the plastic particles, suggesting a natural bioremediation approach for marine microplastic pollution. This is relevant because discarded fishing nets are a major and persistent source of microplastics in the ocean.
Algae for plastic biodegradation
This review examines how algae interact with microplastics in marine environments, both as organisms harmed by plastic pollution and as potential agents for plastic biodegradation. Microplastics reduce algal photosynthesis and growth, while algal extracellular polymeric substances can trap and sink microplastic particles. Algae-driven biodegradation represents a promising avenue for reducing the persistence of microplastic contamination in the ocean.
Eradicating microplastics in wastewater: microalgae as a sustainable strategy
This review examines the use of microalgae as a sustainable strategy for removing microplastics from wastewater, discussing biosorption mechanisms, removal efficiencies, and the limitations of conventional treatment plants that typically achieve only up to 90% MP removal.