Microbial degradation of bioplastic (PHBV) is limited by nutrient availability at high microplastic loadings
Michaela K. Reay, Martine Graf, Lucy M. Greenfield, Rafael Bargiela, Charles Onyije, Charlotte Lloyd, Ian D. Bull, Richard P. Evershed, Peter N. Golyshin, David R. Chadwick, Davey L. Jones
Abstract
Degradation of PHBV in soil, quantified with pyrolysis GC-MS, was nutrient limited at increasing microplastic concentrations. Hydrophobicity increased while plant and soil microbial biomass decreased at higher soil microplastic concentrations.
Topics & Concepts
Degradation (telecommunications)BioplasticNutrientBiomass (ecology)PyrolysisEnvironmental scienceChemistryEnvironmental chemistryPulp and paper industryAgronomyWaste managementBiologyOrganic chemistryComputer scienceEngineeringTelecommunicationsMicroplastics and Plastic PollutionRecycling and Waste Management Techniquesbiodegradable polymer synthesis and properties