Topic: Interfacial Biodegradation of Plasticizers in (micro)plastics

Plasticizers, widely used as essential additives in plastics, pose significant environmental risks due to their bioaccumulation. Emerging evidence reveals that plastics can serve as carbon sources, fueling microbial consortia within the “plastisphere”—a dynamic interfacial ecosystem that colonizes the surfaces of plastics. The microbial consortia can drive the degradation of plasticizers through synergistic enzymatic activities and biofilm-mediated processes. Additionally, the biodegradation of plasticizers may affect the dynamic evolution process of microbial consortia within the plastisphere, further affecting the fate of plastics in the environment. Moreover, the interfacial interaction between plasticizers and the “plastisphere” may play a role in biogeochemical cycles (including those of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen) on a global scale. Therefore, it is urgent to unravel the complex interplay between plasticizers, plastics, and the plastisphere to pave the way for green and sustainable remediation strategies of plastic wastes and associated pollutants.

To this end, a Special Issue “Interfacial Biodegradation of Plastic Plasticizers” in the journal Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics is launched, mainly focusing on:

1. Microbial consortia and degraders utilizing plasticizers as energy sources;

2. Degrader and enzymatic systems targeting various plasticizers;

3. Advanced characterization tools to resolve plastisphere-degrader interfaces.

Submissions related to biofilm formation on (micro/nano)plastics are also encouraged. We welcome high-quality original articles, reviews, short communications, and case studies addressing these pressing issues.

Plastic plasticizers, biofilm, biodegradation, carbon utilization, microplastics, emerging contaminants, enzymatic degradation