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Polyethylene (PE) microplastic (MPs) pollution is a growing environmental concern due to its persistence and resistance to degradation, especially in complex matrices such as landfill leachate. Conventional treatments are insufficient for complete removal, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. Bioaugmented phytoremediation, combining plants with functional rhizobacteria, presents a promising eco-friendly solution. This study investigates the efficiency and mechanisms of PE (MPs) remediation in leachate using Ludwigia octovalvis and its associated rhizobacteria. It focuses on modeling nutrient removal kinetics, assessing structural changes of MPs through physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses, and clarifying the synergistic role of rhizobacteria in enhancing plant performance and MPs removal. A 12-week phytoremediation experiment was performed using L. octovalvis grown in PE-contaminated leachate with and without rhizobacterial augmentation. MPs transformation was evaluated using Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), while adsorption kinetics were applied to model nutrient removal. Raman analysis indicated oxidative depolymerization of PE through C–C and C–H bond cleavage and the formation of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups. FESEM revealed significant particle fragmentation, with size reduction from 42.4–48 µm to 4.4 µm (plant only) and 2.1 µm (with rhizobacteria), indicating surface erosion. Adsorption behavior of ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate followed Elovich and intraparticle diffusion models (R 2 >0.9). HPLC showed MPs removal efficiencies of 65.7% and 73.5% for plant-only and plant–rhizobacteria systems, respectively, demonstrating enhanced transformation through synergistic plant–microbe interactions. These findings support bioaugmented phytoremediation as a promising sustainable strategy for PE remediation in leachate.
Elhabil et al. (Tue,) studied this question.