{
  "abstract": "Polymer modification shows potential for improving the performance of clays in geotechnical applications. This includes its use as a filler in clay liners under challenging geotechnical and environmental conditions (e.g., exposure to aggressive leachates and intensive drying), as well as applications in soil stabilisation and as supporting fluids for mechanised tunneling and diaphragm wall construction. However, due to the organic nature of most commonly used polymers, they may serve as a substrate for microbial metabolism. The limited understanding of polymer biodegradation and its influence on bentonite behaviour raises concerns regarding the long-term stability of polymer-enhanced clays. This study investigates potential biological degradation of cationic (PAA+) and anionic (PAA-) polyacrylamide-modified bentonite under saturated conditions. Bentonite MX80 was modified via solution intercalation and subjected to 32 weeks of permeation testing. The outflow was analysed chemically and microbiologically. Following permeameter testing, the hydraulic conductivity, rheological behaviour and microbial community composition of the soil material were determined, and initial and post-test microbial communities were compared. Based on the analysis a conceptual degradation model was developed and discussed. Polymer degradation was found to depend on the presence and persistence of specific polymer-degrading microorganisms, with Pseudomonas species identified as key contributors. Although PAA+ modified MX80 exhibited higher microbial degradation activity, the long-term performance of polymer-modified bentonite was governed primarily by the charge-dependent polymer-clay binding mechanism rather than by the extent of polymer loss. Surface-bound PAA+ showed greater robustness than bridging-dominated PAA- systems, as confirmed by hydraulic and rheological analyses.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Chair of Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering and Environmental Geotechnics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany",
    "Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany",
    "Geotechnical Engineering, Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences, Bochum, Germany"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Natascha Kallerhoff"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Eva Heinz"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Wolfgang Lieske"
    },
    {
      "name": "Wiebke Baille"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marc Wichern"
    },
    {
      "name": "Torsten Wichtmann"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2j42y202h4rkx.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357812",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "2j42y202h4rkx",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357812",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2311|Landfill Environmental Impact Studies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Nucleic acids/RNA/Non-coding RNA/Ribosomal RNA"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Ribosomes/Ribosomal RNA"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Bioengineering/Biotechnology/Applied microbiology/Biodegradation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Bioengineering/Biotechnology/Environmental biotechnology/Biodegradation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular structures and organelles/Ribosomes/Ribosomal RNA"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Applied microbiology/Biodegradation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria/Anaerobic bacteria"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria/Pseudomonas"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Bioengineering/Biotechnology/Applied microbiology/Biodegradation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Bioengineering/Biotechnology/Environmental biotechnology/Biodegradation"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Chemical properties/Viscosity"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Physical chemistry/Chemical properties/Viscosity"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Physical chemistry/Sorption/Adsorption"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Polymer chemistry/Macromolecules/Polymers"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Polymer chemistry/Monomers"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Chemistry/Polymer chemistry/Polymers"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials physics/Viscosity"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Materials/Polymers"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Physics/Materials physics/Viscosity"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214982450",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0357812&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2j42y202h4rkx.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0357812",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357812"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:biotechnology",
      "subfield": "systems-synthetic"
    },
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "plos:polymer chemistry",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Impact of biodegradation on the barrier performance of polymer-modified bentonite",
  "title_text": "Impact of biodegradation on the barrier performance of polymer-modified bentonite",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/2j42y202h4rkx",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}