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Biodegradation of LDPE microplastics in the marine environment

Dasenakis Georgios

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Summary

Plastic pollution has been the main environmental issue plaguing planet Earth for many years since plastic has entered humanity's everyday life. Plastic pollution has become widespread in the last decade, as a post, or article about it, will often be seen on the internet. The internet itself has helped to inform growing numbers of people and to raise awareness about plastic pollution, and has also helped to take action in recent years to combat it. Pollution, however, is found mainly in the oceans, where due to their vastness it is not easily distinguishable. Therefore, pollution is not a new phenomenon. It was always there. From the mass production of plastics after the end of World War II, to the present day. Their annual production increases exponentially with time and, as a result, their waste increases exponentially as well. Much of it ends up in the oceans. Plastic waste that enters the sea varies in size and type. Most waste consists of disposable plastics, obviously due to their short-term use (we could already consider them as waste at the time of their production). Plastic pollution has been the main environmental issue plaguing planet Earth for many years since plastic has entered humanity's everyday life. Plastic pollution has become widespread in the last decade, as a post, or article about it, will often be seen on the internet. The internet itself has helped to inform growing numbers of people and to raise awareness about plastic pollution, and has also helped to take action in recent years to combat it. Pollution, however, is found mainly in the oceans, where due to their vastness it is not easily distinguishable. Therefore, pollution is not a new phenomenon. It was always there. From the mass production of plastics after the end of World War II, to the present day. Their annual production increases exponentially with time and, as a result, their waste increases exponentially as well. Much of it ends up in the oceans. Plastic waste that enters the sea varies in size and type. Most waste consists of disposable plastics, obviously due to their short-term use (we could already consider them as waste at the time of their production). In the following experiment, some low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags were used. After 7 months of exposure to UV-A radiation, mild mechanical stress was applied to create secondary microplastics (250mm - 2mm). The microplastics were then divided into conical flasks and inoculated with two different microbial communities, one from the Bay of Agios Onoufrios and the other from the Gulf of Souda. Both areas are located in Chania, Crete. The experiment lasted 4 months. Weight changes, microbial growth, diameter dispersion in the filtered fluid, extracellular polymers (EPS) and the chemical composition of the microplastic surface were measured monthly. The purpose of these measurements is to study the effect of microbial communities on secondary microplastics in a marine simulated environment with low density polyethylene (LDPE) as a sole carbon source. Microorganisms have been able to grow and biodegrade the surface of microplastics in these 4 months. The spectroscopy of the 4th month for both of microbial communities shows the effect they cause on the surface bonds of the microplastics.

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