Degradation Rates of Plastics in the Environment

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8(9), P. 3494 - 3511

Published: Feb. 3, 2020

Plastic waste is currently generated at a rate approaching 400 Mt year–1. The amount of plastics accumulating in the environment growing rapidly, yet our understanding its persistence very limited. This Perspective summarizes existing literature on environmental degradation rates and pathways for major types thermoplastic polymers. A metric to harmonize disparate measurements, specific surface (SSDR), implemented used extrapolate half-lives. SSDR values cover wide range, with some variability arising due studies conducted different natural environments. SSDRs high density polyethylene (HDPE) marine range from practically 0 approximately 11 μm approach yields number interesting insights. Using mean HDPE environment, linear extrapolation leads estimated half-lives ranging 58 years (bottles) 1200 (pipes). For example, polylactic acid (PLA) are surprisingly similar although PLA degrades 20 times faster than land. Our study highlights need better experimental under well-defined reaction conditions, standardized reporting rates, methods simulate polymer using.

Language: Английский

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Understanding plastic degradation and microplastic formation in the environment: A review

Environmental Pollution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 274, P. 116554 - 116554

Published: Jan. 22, 2021

Language: Английский

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Microplastics affect sedimentary microbial communities and nitrogen cycling

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: May 12, 2020

Abstract Microplastics are ubiquitous in estuarine, coastal, and deep sea sediments. The impacts of microplastics on sedimentary microbial ecosystems biogeochemical carbon nitrogen cycles, however, have not been well reported. To evaluate if influence the composition function communities, we conducted a microcosm experiment using salt marsh sediment amended with polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane foam (PUF) or polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics. We report that presence alters community cycling processes. Compared to control sediments without microplastic, PUF- PLA-amended promote nitrification denitrification, while PVC amendment inhibits both These results indicate processes can be significantly affected by different microplastics, which may serve as organic substrates for communities. Considering this evidence increasing microplastic pollution, impact plastics global merits critical investigation.

Language: Английский

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Plastics: Environmental and Biotechnological Perspectives on Microbial Degradation

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 85(19)

Published: July 17, 2019

Plastics are widely used in the global economy, and each year, at least 350 to 400 million tons being produced. Due poor recycling low circular use, millions of accumulate annually terrestrial or marine environments. Today it has become clear that plastic causes adverse effects all ecosystems microplastics particular concern our health.

Language: Английский

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Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 13(17), P. 9963 - 9963

Published: Sept. 6, 2021

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. waste exposed to the environment creates problems of significant concern for all life forms. production accumulation natural are occurring at an unprecedented rate due indiscriminate use, inadequate recycling, deposits landfills. In 2019, global plastic was 370 million tons, with only 9% it being recycled, 12% incinerated, remaining left or The leakage wastes into ecosystems rate. management a challenging problem researchers, policymakers, citizens, other stakeholders. Therefore, here, we summarize current understanding concerns plastics (microplastics nanoplastics) on overall goal this review provide background assessment adverse effects ecosystems; interlink sustainable development goals; address policy initiatives under transdisciplinary approaches through cycle assessment, circular economy, sustainability; identify knowledge gaps; recommendations. community involvement socio-economic inputs different countries presented discussed. ban policies public awareness likely major mitigation interventions. need circularity assess potential environmental impacts resources used throughout product’s span emphasized. Innovations needed reduce, reuse, recycle, recover find eco-friendly replacements plastics. Empowering educating communities citizens act collectively minimize use alternative options must be promoted enforced. that addressed utmost priority.

Language: Английский

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Selective Phosphate Removal from Water and Wastewater using Sorption: Process Fundamentals and Removal Mechanisms

Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 54(1), P. 50 - 66

Published: Dec. 5, 2019

Eutrophication of water bodies is a serious and widespread environmental problem. Achieving low levels phosphate concentration to prevent eutrophication one the important goals wastewater engineering surface management. Meeting increasingly stringent standards feasible in using phosphate-selective sorption system. This critical review discusses most fundamental aspects selective removal processes highlights gains from latest developments sorbents. Selective over other competing anions can be achieved based on their differences acid–base properties, geometric shapes, metal complexing abilities. Correspondingly, interaction mechanisms between sorbent are categorized as hydrogen bonding, shape complementarity, inner-sphere complexation, representative sorbents organic-functionalized materials, molecularly imprinted polymers, metal-based respectively. Dominating factors affecting performance these critically examined, along with discussion some overlooked facts regarding development high-performance for wastewater.

Language: Английский

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Removal of microplastics from the environment. A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 18(3), P. 807 - 828

Published: March 17, 2020

Language: Английский

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Plastic biodegradation: Frontline microbes and their enzymes

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 759, P. 143536 - 143536

Published: Nov. 6, 2020

Language: Английский

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Degradation of plastics and plastic-degrading bacteria in cold marine habitats

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 102(18), P. 7669 - 7678

Published: July 11, 2018

Synthetic plastics present in everyday materials constitute the main anthropogenic debris entering Earth's oceans. The oceans provide important and valuable resources such as food, energy, water. They are also way of international trade stabilizer climate. Hence, changes marine ecosystem caused by influences plastic pollution can have a dramatic impact on global scale. Although problem still remains unsolved, different ways being considered to reduce their environment. One them is use microorganisms capable degradation plastic. A particularly interesting area application isolated from cold regions view unique characteristics. Nevertheless, interactions between poorly known. Here, we review current knowledge plastic-microorganism habitats. Moreover, highlight advantages this environment for eliminating waste ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Microbial Ecotoxicology of Marine Plastic Debris: A Review on Colonization and Biodegradation by the “Plastisphere”

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: April 25, 2019

Over the last decades, it has become clear that plastic pollution presents a global societal and environmental challenge given its increasing presence in oceans. A growing literature focused on microbial life surfaces of these polluants, called 'plastisphere', but general concepts ecotoxicology have only rarely been integrated. Microbial deals with (i) impact pollutants communities inversely (ii) how much microbes can influence their biodegradation. The goal this review is to enlighten 15 years related First, we focus marine various functions ensures ecosystems. In part, also discuss driving factors influencing biofilm development potential role debris as vector for dispersal harmful pathogen species. Second, give critical view extent which microorganisms participate decomposition oceans relevance current standard tests biodegradability at sea. We highlight some examples metabolic pathways polymer conclude several questions regarding gaps knowledge biodegration by identification possible directions future research.

Language: Английский

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