Enzymatic remediation of polyester microfibers in sewage sludge and green compost samples
Abstract Microplastics are accumulating in all ecosystems worldwide, posing risks to biodiversity, environmental and personal health. In agricultural soils, an important source of microplastics is the application of contaminated biofertilizers such as sewage sludge and compost. Preventing micro and...
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| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00132-x |
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| author | Cristina Palacios-Mateo Esperanza Huerta-Lwanga Jules A. W. Harings Lars M. Blank |
| author_facet | Cristina Palacios-Mateo Esperanza Huerta-Lwanga Jules A. W. Harings Lars M. Blank |
| author_sort | Cristina Palacios-Mateo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Microplastics are accumulating in all ecosystems worldwide, posing risks to biodiversity, environmental and personal health. In agricultural soils, an important source of microplastics is the application of contaminated biofertilizers such as sewage sludge and compost. Preventing micro and macro plastics from entering wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and compost heaps in the first place, and developing treatments for the removal of microplastics in these biofertilizers, would be a major step against microplastic pollution. In this article, a novel method for studying the potential of hydrolase enzymes as a bioremediation technique is described. Specifically, we investigated the LCCICCG cutinase against poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) microfibers in buffered water, sewage sludge, and green compost, at their usual operating temperatures (55-70ºC). The assessment of biodegradation was carried out through monomer detection. Different enzyme loadings (0 – 300 µg); substrate concentrations (0 –200 mg/cm3) and mixing methods (shaking – rotating) were tested. Up to 16.6 mg of PET per cm3 of matrix were degraded in 24 h both in buffered water and sewage sludge, with slightly worse results in compost of maximum 13.9 mg/cm3. This difference might be attributed to the total water content of the samples, which is lower for compost. Additionally, in compost, rotational mixing slowed down degradation by 35% in comparison with shaking. The results are discussed in the context of existing limitations, cumulating in a series of recommendations for possible intervention points along the microplastic pollution chain. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f14cb255f5049059386a3b5b5b0d7c8 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2662-4966 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f14cb255f5049059386a3b5b5b0d7c82025-08-20T02:39:23ZengSpringerOpenMicroplastics and Nanoplastics2662-49662025-06-015111410.1186/s43591-025-00132-xEnzymatic remediation of polyester microfibers in sewage sludge and green compost samplesCristina Palacios-Mateo0Esperanza Huerta-Lwanga1Jules A. W. Harings2Lars M. Blank3Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht UniversitySoil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & ResearchAachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht UniversityInstitute of Applied Microbiology – iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology – ABBt, RWTH Aachen UniversityAbstract Microplastics are accumulating in all ecosystems worldwide, posing risks to biodiversity, environmental and personal health. In agricultural soils, an important source of microplastics is the application of contaminated biofertilizers such as sewage sludge and compost. Preventing micro and macro plastics from entering wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and compost heaps in the first place, and developing treatments for the removal of microplastics in these biofertilizers, would be a major step against microplastic pollution. In this article, a novel method for studying the potential of hydrolase enzymes as a bioremediation technique is described. Specifically, we investigated the LCCICCG cutinase against poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) microfibers in buffered water, sewage sludge, and green compost, at their usual operating temperatures (55-70ºC). The assessment of biodegradation was carried out through monomer detection. Different enzyme loadings (0 – 300 µg); substrate concentrations (0 –200 mg/cm3) and mixing methods (shaking – rotating) were tested. Up to 16.6 mg of PET per cm3 of matrix were degraded in 24 h both in buffered water and sewage sludge, with slightly worse results in compost of maximum 13.9 mg/cm3. This difference might be attributed to the total water content of the samples, which is lower for compost. Additionally, in compost, rotational mixing slowed down degradation by 35% in comparison with shaking. The results are discussed in the context of existing limitations, cumulating in a series of recommendations for possible intervention points along the microplastic pollution chain.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00132-xBioremediationMicroplasticsMicrofibersPlastic biodegradationEnzymatic depolymerizationSewage sludge |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Palacios-Mateo Esperanza Huerta-Lwanga Jules A. W. Harings Lars M. Blank Enzymatic remediation of polyester microfibers in sewage sludge and green compost samples Microplastics and Nanoplastics Bioremediation Microplastics Microfibers Plastic biodegradation Enzymatic depolymerization Sewage sludge |
| title | Enzymatic remediation of polyester microfibers in sewage sludge and green compost samples |
| title_full | Enzymatic remediation of polyester microfibers in sewage sludge and green compost samples |
| title_fullStr | Enzymatic remediation of polyester microfibers in sewage sludge and green compost samples |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enzymatic remediation of polyester microfibers in sewage sludge and green compost samples |
| title_short | Enzymatic remediation of polyester microfibers in sewage sludge and green compost samples |
| title_sort | enzymatic remediation of polyester microfibers in sewage sludge and green compost samples |
| topic | Bioremediation Microplastics Microfibers Plastic biodegradation Enzymatic depolymerization Sewage sludge |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00132-x |
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