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Cited by 20Microplastics and Plastic Pollutionbiodegradable polymer synthesis and propertiesEnvironmental Chemistry and Analysis

Effects of biodegradable P3HB on the specific growth rate, root length and chlorophyll content of duckweed, Lemna minor

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Procházková, Petra, Mácová, Sabina, Aydın, Seçil, Zlámalová Gargošová, Helena, Kalčíková, Gabriela, Kučerík, Jiří·2023·Heliyon
DOI 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23128PMC PMC10703853
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Abstract

The extensive production and use of plastics have led to widespread pollution of the environment. As a result, biodegradable polymers (BDPs) are receiving a great deal of attention because they are expected to degrade entirely in the environment. Therefore, in this work, we tested the effect of two fractions (particles <63 μm and particles from 63 to 125 μm) of biodegradable poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) at different concentrations on the specific growth rate, root length, and photosynthetic pigment content of the freshwater plant Lemna minor . Microparticles with similar properties made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were also tested for comparison. No adverse effects on the studied parameters were observed for either size fraction; the only effect was the root elongation with increasing P3HB concentration. PET caused statistically significant root elongation only in the highest concentration, but the effect was not as extensive as for P3HB. The development of a biofilm on P3HB particles was observed during the experiment, and the nutrient sorption experiment showed that the sorption capacity of P3HB was greater than PET's. Therefore, depleting the nutrients from the solution could force the plant to increase the root surface area by their elongation. The results suggest that biodegradable microplastics may cause secondary nutrient problems in the aquatic environment due to their biodegradability.

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Authors
Procházková, P., Mácová, S., Aydın, S., Zlámalová Gargošová, H., Kalčíková, G., & Kučerík, J.
Affiliations
  • Brno University of Technology (CZ)
  • Yıldız Technical University (TR)
  • University of Ljubljana (SI)
Corresponding author
Procházková, Petra
ORCID
Venue
Heliyon
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-12
Volume
9
Issue
12
Pages
e23128
ISSN
2405-8440 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23128
PMC
PMC10703853
OpenAlex
W4389166017
Cited by
20
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 5
FWCI
1.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Heliyon (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Brno University of Technology Digital Library (Brno University of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Yildiz Technical University - AVESIS (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • European Cooperation in Science and Technology
  • Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy (FCH–S-23-8297)
  • Javna Agencija za Raziskovalno Dejavnost RS
  • Slovenska Akademija Znanosti in Umetnosti (P2-0191)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
Keywords
polyhydroxybutyrate, biodegradable microplastics, Lemna minor, duckweed, specific growth rate, root length, chlorophyll content, polyethylene terephthalate, particle size fractions, biofilm formation, nutrient sorption, aquatic plants, microplastic toxicity

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