Naslov
Biodegradation of photocatalytically treated textile microplastics

Autori
Podlogar, Matejka ; Černoša, Anja ; Radošević, Tina ; Kocijan, Martina ; Seleš, Patrick ; Vengust, Damjan ; Gunde-Cimerman, Nina ; Gostinčar, Cene

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
4. slovensko posvetovanje mikroskopistov: Knjiga povzetkov / Belec, Blaž - , 2022, 79-79

ISBN
978-961-94264-2-5

Skup
4. slovensko posvetovanje mikroskopistov

Mjesto i datum
Ankaran, Slovenija, 12-13.05.2022

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Domaća recenzija

Ključne riječi
microplastic, decomposition, fungi, scanning electron microscope

Sažetak
Plastic pollution has been identified as a global problem that endangers the entire ecosystem. Numerous studies have shown that water systems are full of plastic particles degraded into microplastics (MP) and nanoplastics (NP). This has prompted investigations to assess the impact of MPs on global ecologies and human health. We aim to find synergies between two naturally occurring processes with the potential to break down toxic microplastics after they have been released into the environment ; namely, photodegradation and biodegradation. While biodegradation slowly converts plastic into harmless residues through biological processes, photodegradation breaks down plastics bonds whit the assistance of photocatalysis. Photocatalytic and microbial degradation was performed on commercial polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers. Fibers were dispersed in suspension of TiO2 photocatalysts while photocatalytic experiments were carried out in an incubator with UV/Vis illumination source for 48 hours. Microbial degradation of PET plastics was performed by selected species of fungi. Fibers were sterilized and transferred to a tube with sterile M9 liquid medium. Cell suspension of each selected strain was added to the tube and incubated at 24°C. We sampled after 14 days, 2 and 6 moths. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy (in Raman shift range from 400-3300 cm-1) were used to characterize fibers surface before and after degradation experiments. SEM analysis showed that the surface of individual PET fiber become rough after photodegradation, the deformations are numerous and very obvious. Raman spectroscopy showed change in the intensity of particular peaks, as a consequence of bond cleavage on the surface of the fibers during photocatalytic treatment. In addition, we compered the growth kinetics of selected fungal species when intact or partially degraded fibers were the only source of carbon in our growth medium. SEM analysis also showed successful growth of fungi and that the presence of a photocatalyst did not inhibit fungal growth. In future, our work will be focused on the development of a hybrid geometry which simultaneously harnesses biological and photocatalytic degradation processes.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kemija, Kemijsko inženjerstvo, Temeljne tehničke znanosti, Biotehnologija

POVEZANOST RADA