Opinion
Marine microorganisms both biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics are colonized
Author(s): Charlotte Evans*
Oceans are filled with plastic, which provides an ideal environment for bacterial growth. A critical component of evaluating the ecological effects and future of plastics in the marine environment is understanding biofouling mechanisms. In this study, we examined the various stages of plastic colonisation of polyester, Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-Co-3-Hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), and polyolefin-based plastics, including standard low-density Polyethylene (PE), additivities of PE with pro-oxidant (OXO), and Artificially Aged OXO (AA-OXO). We used a variety of methods, some of which were used for the first time on plastics, to combine measurements of physical surface properties of polymers (hydrophobicity and roughness) with biofilm microbiological characterisation (cell counts, taxonomic composition, and heterotrophic activity). We were able to characterise the subsequent stages of primo-co.. Read More»
DOI:
10.37532/puljem.22.4(1).1.
+44 7362049930
