Biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus pasteurii isolated from a gold mine tailing
Microplastics (MPs) are present throughout the environment, and due to their nature, they are extremely difficult to decompose. Reportedly, microorganisms play an important role in degrading and decomposing MPs. Bacillus pasteurii can degrade various complex organic matter, including MPs, which are...
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KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Emerging Contaminants |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665024000982 |
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| author | Zhichao Wang Yaxinyue Li Long Bai Chenli Hou Chunli Zheng Weiping Li |
| author_facet | Zhichao Wang Yaxinyue Li Long Bai Chenli Hou Chunli Zheng Weiping Li |
| author_sort | Zhichao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics (MPs) are present throughout the environment, and due to their nature, they are extremely difficult to decompose. Reportedly, microorganisms play an important role in degrading and decomposing MPs. Bacillus pasteurii can degrade various complex organic matter, including MPs, which are a class of polymeric organic compounds. This study investigated the degradation effect of B. pasteurii on polypropylene MPs (PP-MPs) in soil. B. pasteurii was extracted from gold mine tailings. Herein, three experimental groups were established—a blank control treatment group, a group with bacteria without Ca2+ added (T2 group), and a group with bacteria supplemented with Ca2+ (T3 group)—for a 30-day indoor simulation of MP degradation in MP-treated soil. The results showed that the total mass change rate of the PP-MPs in the T2 group was 20.95 %, and grooves and holes appeared on the PP-MP surfaces. The total mass change rate of the PP-MPs in the T3 group was 23.22 %, and abundant fissures and pits appeared on the PP-MP surfaces. Additionally, new dominant phyla, such as Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, appeared after bacterial addition. The relative abundance of several common soil genera, such as Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Flavobacterium, and Arthrobacter, and genera capable of breaking down complex compounds increased after B. pasteurii addition. The soil microbial community diversity improved, with the distribution of each species being relatively uniform. These findings indicated that the B. pasteurii strain can be used to degrade PP-MPs. Additionally, the addition of Ca2+ generated microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation, which further improved the degradation of MPs. This study provides theoretical support for studying the degradation mechanism of PP-MPs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-edac1946b8d14d0b8d13f8564ba20860 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2405-6650 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Contaminants |
| spelling | doaj-art-edac1946b8d14d0b8d13f8564ba208602025-08-20T02:27:47ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Emerging Contaminants2405-66502025-03-0111110039710.1016/j.emcon.2024.100397Biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus pasteurii isolated from a gold mine tailingZhichao Wang0Yaxinyue Li1Long Bai2Chenli Hou3Chunli Zheng4Weiping Li5College of Environment and Energy Resources, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, ChinaCollege of Environment and Energy Resources, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, ChinaCollege of Environment and Energy Resources, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, ChinaCollege of Environment and Energy Resources, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, ChinaCollege of Faculty of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, 201209, China; Corresponding author.College of Environment and Energy Resources, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, China; Corresponding author. College of Environment and Energy Resources, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, No. 7, Alding Street, Kundulun District, Baotou, 014010, China.Microplastics (MPs) are present throughout the environment, and due to their nature, they are extremely difficult to decompose. Reportedly, microorganisms play an important role in degrading and decomposing MPs. Bacillus pasteurii can degrade various complex organic matter, including MPs, which are a class of polymeric organic compounds. This study investigated the degradation effect of B. pasteurii on polypropylene MPs (PP-MPs) in soil. B. pasteurii was extracted from gold mine tailings. Herein, three experimental groups were established—a blank control treatment group, a group with bacteria without Ca2+ added (T2 group), and a group with bacteria supplemented with Ca2+ (T3 group)—for a 30-day indoor simulation of MP degradation in MP-treated soil. The results showed that the total mass change rate of the PP-MPs in the T2 group was 20.95 %, and grooves and holes appeared on the PP-MP surfaces. The total mass change rate of the PP-MPs in the T3 group was 23.22 %, and abundant fissures and pits appeared on the PP-MP surfaces. Additionally, new dominant phyla, such as Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, appeared after bacterial addition. The relative abundance of several common soil genera, such as Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Flavobacterium, and Arthrobacter, and genera capable of breaking down complex compounds increased after B. pasteurii addition. The soil microbial community diversity improved, with the distribution of each species being relatively uniform. These findings indicated that the B. pasteurii strain can be used to degrade PP-MPs. Additionally, the addition of Ca2+ generated microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation, which further improved the degradation of MPs. This study provides theoretical support for studying the degradation mechanism of PP-MPs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665024000982Plastic pollutionPolypropyleneBiodegradationBacillus pasteuriiMICPSoil |
| spellingShingle | Zhichao Wang Yaxinyue Li Long Bai Chenli Hou Chunli Zheng Weiping Li Biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus pasteurii isolated from a gold mine tailing Emerging Contaminants Plastic pollution Polypropylene Biodegradation Bacillus pasteurii MICP Soil |
| title | Biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus pasteurii isolated from a gold mine tailing |
| title_full | Biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus pasteurii isolated from a gold mine tailing |
| title_fullStr | Biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus pasteurii isolated from a gold mine tailing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus pasteurii isolated from a gold mine tailing |
| title_short | Biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics by Bacillus pasteurii isolated from a gold mine tailing |
| title_sort | biodegradation of polypropylene microplastics by bacillus pasteurii isolated from a gold mine tailing |
| topic | Plastic pollution Polypropylene Biodegradation Bacillus pasteurii MICP Soil |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665024000982 |
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