Effect of microbial communities on advanced and conventional bioplastics biodeterioration in wastewater treatment plant

Over 80% of microplastics (MPs) found in aquatic environments originate from WWTPs. With a shift towards replacing traditional plastics with bioplastics (BPs), it's anticipated that future MPs contamination will also be associated with BPs. Despite many BPs being certified as biodegradable, particularly in industrial composting conditions like PLA, improper disposal and handling at the end of their lifecycle can alter their structures. This often leads to increased crystallinity, resistance to biodegradation, and the eventual formation of MP structures that endure in the environment for extended periods. Therefore, our project aims to address key aspects: (1) understanding the destiny of BPs MPs in the primary streams of WWTPs, encompassing aerobic (activated sludge tank) and anaerobic (anaerobic reactor tank) processes; (2) identifying, quantifying, and characterizing microorganisms capable of BPs degradation using omics approaches under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions within WWTP contexts; and (3) evaluating the impact of other micropollutants such as antibiotics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances present in the primary wastewater on BPs biodegradation.