Effects of Different Microplastics on Methane Production and Microbial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure
Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the environment, and they inevitably enter animal bodies during livestock and poultry farming, leading to their presence in livestock and poultry manure. However, there is limited research on the effects of different types of MPs on the anaerobic digesti...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/107 |
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| author | Mengjiao Zhang Congxu Zhao Tian Yuan Qing Wang Qiuxian Zhang Shuangdui Yan Xiaohong Guo Yanzhuan Cao Hongyan Cheng |
| author_facet | Mengjiao Zhang Congxu Zhao Tian Yuan Qing Wang Qiuxian Zhang Shuangdui Yan Xiaohong Guo Yanzhuan Cao Hongyan Cheng |
| author_sort | Mengjiao Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the environment, and they inevitably enter animal bodies during livestock and poultry farming, leading to their presence in livestock and poultry manure. However, there is limited research on the effects of different types of MPs on the anaerobic digestion (AD) performance of livestock and poultry manure. Herein, we investigated the impact of four types of MPs (polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)) on AD performance using cattle manure as a substrate. Results demonstrated that the cumulative methane production in the PE group reached 5568.05 mL, exhibiting an 11.97% increase compared to the control group. Conversely, the cumulative methane production was decreased by 5.52%, 9.69%, and 14.48% in the PP, PVC, and PHA groups, respectively. Physicochemical analyses showed that MPs promoted organic matter hydrolysis on day 4 of AD, leading to the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the initial stage. Specifically, the acetic acid content of PE was 44.48–92.07 mL/L higher than that of the control during the first 8 days. PE MPs also enriched microorganisms associated with methane production. The abundance of <i>Firmicutes</i> was enhanced by 2.89–17.57%, <i>Methanosaeta</i> by 8.42–12.48%, and <i>Methanospirillum</i> by 10.91–16.89% in comparison to the control; whereas PHA MPs decreased the abundance of <i>Methanosaeta</i> by 8.14–31.40%. Moreover, PHA MPs inhibited methane production by suppressing acetate kinase activity while promoting lactate dehydrogenase release from microorganisms involved in the AD process. Based on changes observed in key enzyme functional gene abundances, PHA MPs reduced acetyl-CoA carboxylase functional gene abundance, negatively affecting the acetone cleavage methanogenesis pathway. Meanwhile, PE MPs significantly increased acetate-CoA ligase abundance, thereby promoting the acetic acid methanogenesis pathway. The results provide novel insights into the influence exerted by MPs on AD performance when applied to livestock manure. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d01e865a4f6d44aa94daf7d48123f101 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-d01e865a4f6d44aa94daf7d48123f1012025-01-24T13:16:45ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-01-0115110710.3390/agronomy15010107Effects of Different Microplastics on Methane Production and Microbial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle ManureMengjiao Zhang0Congxu Zhao1Tian Yuan2Qing Wang3Qiuxian Zhang4Shuangdui Yan5Xiaohong Guo6Yanzhuan Cao7Hongyan Cheng8College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaCollege of Resources and Environment, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030800, ChinaMicroplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in the environment, and they inevitably enter animal bodies during livestock and poultry farming, leading to their presence in livestock and poultry manure. However, there is limited research on the effects of different types of MPs on the anaerobic digestion (AD) performance of livestock and poultry manure. Herein, we investigated the impact of four types of MPs (polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)) on AD performance using cattle manure as a substrate. Results demonstrated that the cumulative methane production in the PE group reached 5568.05 mL, exhibiting an 11.97% increase compared to the control group. Conversely, the cumulative methane production was decreased by 5.52%, 9.69%, and 14.48% in the PP, PVC, and PHA groups, respectively. Physicochemical analyses showed that MPs promoted organic matter hydrolysis on day 4 of AD, leading to the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the initial stage. Specifically, the acetic acid content of PE was 44.48–92.07 mL/L higher than that of the control during the first 8 days. PE MPs also enriched microorganisms associated with methane production. The abundance of <i>Firmicutes</i> was enhanced by 2.89–17.57%, <i>Methanosaeta</i> by 8.42–12.48%, and <i>Methanospirillum</i> by 10.91–16.89% in comparison to the control; whereas PHA MPs decreased the abundance of <i>Methanosaeta</i> by 8.14–31.40%. Moreover, PHA MPs inhibited methane production by suppressing acetate kinase activity while promoting lactate dehydrogenase release from microorganisms involved in the AD process. Based on changes observed in key enzyme functional gene abundances, PHA MPs reduced acetyl-CoA carboxylase functional gene abundance, negatively affecting the acetone cleavage methanogenesis pathway. Meanwhile, PE MPs significantly increased acetate-CoA ligase abundance, thereby promoting the acetic acid methanogenesis pathway. The results provide novel insights into the influence exerted by MPs on AD performance when applied to livestock manure.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/107microplasticsanaerobic digestionmethanemetabolic functionmicrobial community |
| spellingShingle | Mengjiao Zhang Congxu Zhao Tian Yuan Qing Wang Qiuxian Zhang Shuangdui Yan Xiaohong Guo Yanzhuan Cao Hongyan Cheng Effects of Different Microplastics on Methane Production and Microbial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure Agronomy microplastics anaerobic digestion methane metabolic function microbial community |
| title | Effects of Different Microplastics on Methane Production and Microbial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure |
| title_full | Effects of Different Microplastics on Methane Production and Microbial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Different Microplastics on Methane Production and Microbial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Different Microplastics on Methane Production and Microbial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure |
| title_short | Effects of Different Microplastics on Methane Production and Microbial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure |
| title_sort | effects of different microplastics on methane production and microbial community structure in anaerobic digestion of cattle manure |
| topic | microplastics anaerobic digestion methane metabolic function microbial community |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/1/107 |
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