Biofilm formation on polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics in freshwater: Influence of environmental factors

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216305%3A26210%2F26%3A0201427" target="_blank" >RIV/00216305:26210/26:0201427 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001565151200001" target="_blank" >https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001565151200001</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.118689" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.jece.2025.118689</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Biofilm formation on polyethylene and polylactic acid microplastics in freshwater: Influence of environmental factors

Original language description

To overcome the environmental challenges posed by conventional plastics, new alternative plastic materials are being developed and increasingly used. However, their fate in the natural environment is still poorly understood. This study compared biofilm formation on polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics (MPs) under different conditions i.e. water regimes (static and moving conditions), nutrient levels (excess of nitrogen and phosphorus), light exposure (light and dark), and pollution levels (presence and absence of wastewater). Although PE and PLA differ in their composition and physico-chemical properties, the processes of aging and biofilm formation on both materials exhibited many similarities. Light availability had the strongest influence, as the formation of biofilm on both PE and PLA was suppressed in the dark, as shown by reduced biomass, chlorophyll a content, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The availability of nutrients influenced the composition of the biofilm. High N:P ratios favoured photosynthetic microorganisms with increased chlorophyll a and EPS content, while phosphorus enrichment reduced their presence. Pollution, simulated by adding sterilized municipal wastewater, slightly reduced total biofilm mass but supported the growth of photosynthetic microorganisms. Static condition led to the formation of elongated microbial structures. Biofilm growth altered the density of MPs (increasing for PE, decreasing for PLA), reaching similar to 1.1 g/cm(3) for both, suggesting biofilminduced sedimentation. Crystallinity of both PE and PLA decreased by 9-30 % due to the presence of biofilm, which has amorphous structure. The multivariate analysis confirmed environmental factors as primary drivers of biofilm development over polymer type.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

20401 - Chemical engineering (plants, products)

Project

<a href="/en/project/GF23-13617L" target="_blank" >GF23-13617L: Investigating the environmental fate of microplastics and their effects on model organisms through structural and chemical imaging</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

ISSN

2213-2929

e-ISSN

2213-3437

Volume of the periodical

13

Issue of the periodical within the volume

5

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001565151200001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105015143955