Microbial degradation of [14C]polystyrene and 1,3-diphenylbutane
Abstract
Microbial degradation of [β-14 C]polystyrene and 1,3-diphenylbutane, a compound structurally representing the smallest repeating unit of styrene (dimer), was investigated in soil and liquid enrichment cultures. Degradation rates in soil, as determined by 14 CO 2 evolution from applied [14 C]polystyrene, varied from 1.5 to 3.0% for a 4-month period. Although relatively low, these percentages were 15 to 30 times greater than values previously reported. Enrichment cultures, containing 1,3-diphenylbutane as the only carbon source, were used to determine the mechanisms of microbial oxidation of the polymer chain ends. Metabolism of 1,3-diphenylbutane appeared to involve the attack by a monooxygenase to form 2-phenyl-4-hydroxyphenylbutane followed by a further oxidation and subsequent fission of the benzene ring to yield 4-phenylvaleric acid and an unidentified 5-carbon fragment via the classic meta-fission pathway. Phenylacetic acid was probably formed from 4-phenylvaleric acid by subsequent β-oxidation of the side chain, methyl-oxidation, and decarboxylation. An initial examination of the population of microorganisms in the diphenylbutane enrichment cultures indicated that these oxidative reactions are carried out by common soil microorganisms of the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, and Nocardia.
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Infrared spectroscopy allows measuring plastic oxidation states, and isotopically labelled plastics can be used in isotope probing assays for tracing matter from the polymer into microbial reaction products and biomass.
“The basis for such methods could be, for example, infrared spectroscopy, which allows measuring plastic oxidation states, 82 or isotopically labelled plastics that can be used in isotope probing assays for tracing matter from the polymer into microbial reaction products and biomass.135,136”
From The fate of plastic in the ocean environment – a minireview (2021) · cites this paper as [135]
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- Authors
- Sielicki, M., Focht, D. D., & Martin, J. P.
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Microbiology
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 1978-07-01
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 798-803
- ISSN
- 0008-4166 (ISSN-L)
- 1480-3275
- OpenAlex
- W2033143692
- Cited by
- 60
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Microbiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Keywords
- polystyrene degradation, styrene dimers, microbial degradation, soil microbes, enrichment culture, mixed function oxidase, phenylacetic acid, fatty acid beta-oxidation, 14CO2 evolution, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Nocardia
- MeSH terms
- Bacteria, Biodegradation, Environmental, Butanes, Catechol Oxidase, Oxidation-Reduction, Polystyrenes, Soil Microbiology, Species Specificity
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