Influence of Fragmentation Techniques on the Biotic Aging of Test Microplastics.
- 1Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 113, Ljubljana1000, Slovenia.
- 2Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia & INSTM RU of Brescia, Via Branze 38, Brescia25123, Italy.
- 3Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Department for Sustainable Process, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science (DiSTAS), Via Emilia Parmense 84, Piacenza29122, Italy.
Abstract
This study investigates how mechanical fragmentation techniques─ultracentrifugal and mixer milling─affect the biotic aging of polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics in freshwater, focusing on biofilm formation, microbial colonization, and changes in their physicochemical properties. Both polymer type and fragmentation methods significantly affected biofilm development. Mixer-milled PP supported greater biofilm accumulation than ultracentrifugally milled PP, while the latter exhibited higher chlorophyll a and extracellular polymeric substances levels, indicating increased phototrophic activity. Metagenomic analysis showed a conserved community dominated by Brevibacillus, with fragmentation-dependent shifts. Brevibacillus and Clostridium enriched in ultracentrifugally milled samples, while Priestia was associated with mixer-milled particles. Bradyrhizobium remained stable despite variations in chlorophyll levels, suggesting a fragmentation-dependent metabolic shift. Plastic-degrading gene profiles mirrored biofilm trends, with oxidative enzymes (laccases and peroxidases) predominating. Spectroscopic and microscopic analysis confirmed functionalization and morphological differences, while density and crystallinity measurements revealed structural changes associated with colonization. These results emphasize the importance of surface properties in the preparation of test materials for microplastic analysis, which depends on the type of polymer and fragmentation method and influences microbial attachment and aging processes. Selection of fragmentation techniques therefore affect microplastic behavior, interactions, and environmental fate.
Related
- Adsorption of Cobalt onto Microplastics in Riverine Mesocosms: Influence of Biofilm Development
- Editorial: Biochar and nanoparticles as tools for enhancing plant resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses
- Contrasting benthic ecological quality within tropical estuaries in Southeastern Brazil based on biotic indices
- Effect of biotic and abiotic degradation on the surface and bulk of rubber compounds
- Microbial Inoculant‐Driven Degradation of Microplastics Associated With Garbage Environment and Assessment of Degradation Product Toxicity
BibTeX
@article{klun2026influence,
title = {{Influence of Fragmentation Techniques on the Biotic Aging of Test Microplastics.}},
author = {Barbara Klun and Serena Ducoli and Mark Starin and Janja Novak and Filippo Vaccari and Edoardo Puglisi and Ula Rozman and Nataša Čelan Korošin and Gabriela Kalčíková and Stefania Federici},
journal = {Environmental science \& technology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.6c03742},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42915397},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Influence of Fragmentation Techniques on the Biotic Aging of Test Microplastics.
AU - Barbara Klun
AU - Serena Ducoli
AU - Mark Starin
AU - Janja Novak
AU - Filippo Vaccari
AU - Edoardo Puglisi
AU - Ula Rozman
AU - Nataša Čelan Korošin
AU - Gabriela Kalčíková
AU - Stefania Federici
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Environmental science & technology
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.6c03742
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42915397
AB - This study investigates how mechanical fragmentation techniques─ultracentrifugal and mixer milling─affect the biotic aging of polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics in freshwater, focusing on biofilm formation, microbial colonization, and changes in their physicochemical properties. Both polymer type and fragmentation methods significantly affected biofilm development. Mixer-milled PP supported greater biofilm accumulation than ultracentrifugally milled PP, while the latter exhibited higher chlorophyll a and extracellular polymeric substances levels, indicating increased phototrophic activity. Metagenomic analysis showed a conserved community dominated by Brevibacillus, with fragmentation-dependent shifts. Brevibacillus and Clostridium enriched in ultracentrifugally milled samples, while Priestia was associated with mixer-milled particles. Bradyrhizobium remained stable despite variations in chlorophyll levels, suggesting a fragmentation-dependent metabolic shift. Plastic-degrading gene profiles mirrored biofilm trends, with oxidative enzymes (laccases and peroxidases) predominating. Spectroscopic and microscopic analysis confirmed functionalization and morphological differences, while density and crystallinity measurements revealed structural changes associated with colonization. These results emphasize the importance of surface properties in the preparation of test materials for microplastic analysis, which depends on the type of polymer and fragmentation method and influences microbial attachment and aging processes. Selection of fragmentation techniques therefore affect microplastic behavior, interactions, and environmental fate.
SN - 0013-936X
SN - 1520-5851
ER -