Isolation and Identification of Native Microorganisms Capable of Biological Degradation of Microplastics and Evaluation of its Performance in the Degradation of These Microplastics

, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology Kashisaz Shahriyar (Author) ; Yaghmaei, Soheila (Supervisor) ; Ghobadi Nejad, Zahra (Supervisor) ; Hamzehluoyan, Tayebeh (Supervisor)

Abstract

In recent years, non-biodegradable microplastics (MPs), which cause a lot of pollution in the environment, have become a major concern worldwide. Due to their small size and large surface area, these plastic particles have a great ability to be absorbed into biological cells. Due to their hydrophobic surface, these particles have the ability to absorb pollutants such as heavy metals, toxic medicinal substances, softeners, etc. Microplastics are usually persistent in the environment, allowing them to be transported along the food chain. Research on the degradation of microplastics is focused on biological and non-biological approaches. To date, microorganisms such as algae, fungi, and...

Enhancing Biological Removal Yield of Microplastics Using Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs)

, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology Shamsi, Zahra (Author) ; Ghasemian, Saloumeh (Supervisor) ; Yaghmaei, Soheila (Supervisor) ; Ghobadinejad, Zahra (Supervisor)

Abstract

Statistics show that plastic production in the world is increasing, with 335 million tonnes in 2016 reaching 367 million tonnes in 2020. Since the presence of plastics in the dimensions of micro and nano, especially in aquatic environments can have adverse effects on human health and other living organisms, it has raised major environmental concerns. Therefore, it is necessary to think of measures to remove them and develop efficient methods for eliminating and decomposing microplastics. Recently, the advanced oxidation processes have attracted much attention because of the ability to eliminate recalcitrant compounds. In this study, electrochemical techniques and Fenton-based techniques for...

The Selection of Appropriate Method for the Degradation of Microplastics

, M.Sc. Thesis Sharif University of Technology Pourjafar Biazar, Fatemeh (Author) ; Yaghmaei, Soheila (Supervisor) ; Ghobadinejad, Zahra (Supervisor)

Abstract

Microplastics are pollutants that are very resistant to natural decomposition and have become a threat to human health by entering the food chain and accumulating in the body. In this research, the second stage of the two-stage treatment of light density polyethylene microplastics was carried out to investigate the effect of pre-treatment on the removal efficiency of this pollutant. For this purpose, the microplastic samples, which were subjected to a pre-treatment stage with advanced oxidation processes, were again subjected to biological degradation by a bacterial consortium for 2 months. The pretreatment processes used were Fenton and Feredfenton reactions, and the bacterial consortium...