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Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2025

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

Surface-programmed microbiome assembly in phycosphere to microplastics contamination.

Xuan Fan¹, Lingyu Kong¹, Jingyi Wang¹

¹Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.

|July 19, 2024

Summary

Algal-bacterial systems can degrade microplastics, offering a sustainable solution to pollution. This study shows these microbial communities capture and break down various plastics, paving the way for bioremediation.

Keywords:

Algae-bacteria symbiotic system Biodegradation pathway Chemotaxis Microplastics Phycosphere interactions

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Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Published on: July 28, 2018

Area of Science:

Environmental Microbiology
Bioremediation
Polymer Science

Background:

Microplastic pollution poses a global environmental challenge due to its recalcitrance.
Microbial degradation offers a sustainable approach to mitigate microplastic pollution.
Algal-bacterial symbiotic systems show promise for microplastic removal and ecosystem benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the potential of algae-associated microbial communities for degrading common microplastics.
To elucidate the mechanisms of microplastic degradation within an algal-bacterial symbiotic system.
To explore the genetic basis for microplastic biodegradation in enriched microbiomes.

Main Methods:

Enrichment of algae-associated microbial communities from wastewater treatment plants with microplastic contamination.
Analysis of chemical and physical changes in microplastics (polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene) under illumination.
Surface thermodynamic analysis to study algal-bacterial and microplastic interactions.
Pangenomic analysis of the enriched microbiome to identify relevant genes.

Main Results:

Enriched microbial communities demonstrated degradation of multiple microplastic types.
Microplastic degradation altered polymer functionalities and induced structural deformation.
Phycosphere-derived dissolved organic matter expanded niche-width, facilitating microbial activity.
Surface interactions promoted stable aggregation for microplastic capture and microbiota colonization.
Pangenomic analysis revealed genes involved in chemotaxis and microplastic biodegradation pathways.

Conclusions:

Algal-bacterial symbiotic systems are effective in capturing and degrading various microplastics.
The study provides evidence for microplastic biodegradation pathways within these systems.
Leveraging algal-bacterial mutualism is crucial for developing sustainable microplastic bioremediation strategies.