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

Kód výsledku v 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>

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

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

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

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

Popis výsledku anglicky

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.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

20401 - Chemical engineering (plants, products)

Projekt

<a href="/cs/project/GF23-13617L" target="_blank" >GF23-13617L: Vliv mikroplastů na modelové organismy a jejich osud v životním prostředí za použití zobrazovacích a spektroskopických technik</a><br>

Návaznosti

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

Rok uplatnění

2025

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

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

Název periodika

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

ISSN

2213-2929

e-ISSN

2213-3437

Svazek periodika

13

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

5

Stát vydavatele periodika

GB - Spojené království Velké Británie a Severního Irska

Počet stran výsledku

11

Strana od-do

—

Kód UT WoS článku

001565151200001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-105015143955