Biofilm development as a factor driving the degradation of plasticised marine microplastics

Alexandra M Gulizia; Sara C Bell; Felicity Kuek; Marina M F Santana; Richard C Edmunds; Yun Kit Yeoh; Yui Sato; Pirjo Haikola; Lynne van Herwerden; Cherie A Motti; David G Bourne; George Vamvounis

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136975

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Biofilm development as a factor driving the degradation of plasticised marine microplastics

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Biofilm development as a factor driving the degradation of plasticised marine microplastics

Alexandra M Gulizia, Sara C Bell, Felicity Kuek, Marina M F Santana, Richard C Edmunds, Yun Kit Yeoh, Yui Sato, Pirjo Haikola, Lynne van Herwerden, Cherie A Motti, …

Journal of hazardous materials, Vol.487, 136975

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136975

PMID: 39787933

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Abstract

Coral reef ecosystems

Polyvinyl chloride

Polystyrene

Biofouling

Great Barrier Reef

Plastisphere

Biodegradation of microplastics facilitated by natural marine biofouling is a promising approach for ocean bioremediation. However, implementation requires a comprehensive understanding of how interactions between the marine microbiome and dominant microplastic debris types (e.g., polymer and additive combinations) can influence biofilm development and drive biodegradation. To investigate this, polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics (< 200 µm in diameter) were prepared either without any additives (i.e., virgin) or containing 15 wt% of the plasticisers diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) or bisphenol A (BPA). Each polymer-plasticiser microplastic combination was exposed to environmentally relevant conditions in a simulated seawater mesocosm representative of tropical reef waters over a 21-day period to allow for natural biofilm development. Following this, microplastic degradation and the colonising bacterial biofilm was assessed as a function of time, polymer and plasticiser type using infrared, thermal, gel permeation and surface characterisation techniques, as well as 16S ribosomal RNA bacterial gene sequencing, respectively. Together, these analyses revealed time-, polymer- and plasticiser-dependent degradation, particularly of the PS-BPA microplastics. Degradation of the PS-BPA microplastics also coincided with changes in bacterial community composition and an increased total relative abundance of putative biodegradative bacteria. These findings indicate that the metabolic potential and biodegradative capability of the colonising marine biofilm can be significantly impacted by the chemical properties of the microplastic substrate, even within short timeframes.

Details

Title: Biofilm development as a factor driving the degradation of plasticised marine microplastics
Authors/Creators: Alexandra M Gulizia
Sara C Bell - James Cook University
Felicity Kuek - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Marina M F Santana
Richard C Edmunds - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Yun Kit Yeoh - James Cook University
Yui Sato - James Cook University
Pirjo Haikola - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Lynne van Herwerden - James Cook University
Cherie A Motti - James Cook University
David G Bourne - James Cook University
George Vamvounis - James Cook University
Publication Details: Journal of hazardous materials, Vol.487, 136975
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Identifiers: 991005743943507891
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s).
Murdoch Affiliation: Food Futures Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.60 Herbicides, Pesticides & Ground Poisoning; 3.60.2078 Microplastics
Web Of Science research areas: Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas: Engineering