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Intertwined synergistic abiotic and biotic degradation of polypropylene pellets in marine mesocosms

Karkanorachaki Aikaterini, Syranidou Evdokia, Maravelaki Pagona, Kalogerakis Nikos

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URIhttp://purl.tuc.gr/dl/dias/BB831686-947A-447F-A324-CF6735F6B2F8-
Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131710-
Identifierhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389423009937-
Languageen-
Extent14 pagesen
TitleIntertwined synergistic abiotic and biotic degradation of polypropylene pellets in marine mesocosmsen
CreatorKarkanorachaki Aikaterinien
CreatorΚαρκανοραχακη Αικατερινηel
CreatorSyranidou Evdokiaen
CreatorΣυρανιδου Ευδοκιαel
CreatorMaravelaki Pagonaen
CreatorΜαραβελακη Παγωναel
CreatorKalogerakis Nikosen
CreatorΚαλογερακης Νικοςel
PublisherElsevieren
DescriptionThis research was co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund-ESF) through the Operational Program "Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning" in the context of the project “Strengthening Human Resources Research Potential via Doctorate Research” (MIS-5000432), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). In addition, funding by the European Union H2020 project INMARE (grant agreement No. 634486) is highly appreciated.en
Content SummaryThe accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans has caused growing concern for its effects on marine life. The interactions of plastics with environmental factors have been linked to fragmentation to micro- and nanoparticles with different properties and consequences, but the mechanism of fragmentation has not been fully understood yet. In this work, we investigate the combined effect of marine communities and ultraviolet (UV) radiation towards the degradation of virgin and artificially weathered polypropylene (PP) pellets after a long-term incubation period in marine mesocosms. The surface chemical alterations and deterioration of the polymer, in conjunction with the attachment and evolution of marine bacterial communities, the development of biofilm and exopolymeric substances (EPS), as well as the colloidal properties (zeta-potential and hydrodynamic diameter) of the mesocosms were studied. The surface area of both types of pellets decreased over time, despite no concrete weight change being observed. Cell growth, EPS production and colloid particle size were correlated to the loss of area. Therefore, we propose that surface area could be effectively monitored, instead of weight loss, as an alternative indicator of polymer degradation in biodegradation experiments. Changes in the chemical structure of the polymer, in addition to the evolution of the biological factors, implied that a complex degradation process alternated between two phases: an abiotic phase, when UV irradiation contributes to the deterioration of the polymer surface layers and a biotic phase, when marine communities degrade the weathered polymer surface to reveal the underlying layer of virgin polymer. Finally, microscopic particles, produced as a result of the decrease in pellet area, promoted the aggregation of colloidal particles. The role and impacts of these colloidal particles in marine ecosystems are yet as unidentified as that of micro- and nano-sized plastic particles and call for further investigation.en
Type of ItemPeer-Reviewed Journal Publicationen
Type of ItemΔημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτέςel
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
Date of Item2025-03-20-
Date of Publication2023-
SubjectMarine environmenten
SubjectMicroplasticsen
SubjectNanoplasticsen
SubjectDegradationen
SubjectAggregationen
SubjectATR-FTIRen
Bibliographic CitationK. Karkanorachaki, E. Syranidou, P.-N. Maravelaki and N. Kalogerakis, “Intertwined synergistic abiotic and biotic degradation of polypropylene pellets in marine mesocosms,” J. Hazard. Mater., vol. 457, Sep. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131710.en

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