Bio-Aging of polyethylene during anaerobic and aerobic digestion

Dassouki Dit Tahan M., Canbulat Özdemir M., SANİN F. D., İMAMOĞLU İ.

Bioresource Technology, cilt.427, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 427
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132395
  • Dergi Adı: Bioresource Technology
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Compendex, EMBASE, Environment Index, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Geobase, INSPEC, MEDLINE, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Biodegradation, Biofilm, HDPE, LDPE, Microplastics, Sludge treatment
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Presence of microplastics (MPs) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) require scrutiny from two perspectives: impact of MPs on treatment and on MPs themselves. Accordingly, this study investigates the impact of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) on mesophilic aerobic and anaerobic digestion, with their concurrent characterization to discern MP biodegradation following digestion. HDPE having UV-stabilizer remains unchanged, whereas additive-free LDPE bio-ages, in both cases. On the flip side, HDPE negatively impacts anaerobic (i.e., 26 % reduction in methane) but not aerobic digestion, while LDPE affects neither. The very high LDPE doses used in our study (300 mg PE/g TS) yielding no negative impact on either aerobic or anaerobic digestion is notable. Lastly, bio-aging potential of PE is closely linked with amorphous/crystalline structure and presence/absence of additives. Such factors may affect microbial colonization, resulting in physical/chemical changes on the surface of PE and on digester operation.