Carbon nanomaterials enhance polyethylene degradation in the rhizosphere. (IMAGE)
Caption
Carbon nanomaterials enhance polyethylene degradation in the rhizosphere. In a 90-day alfalfa-soil experiment, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) raised surface polyethylene (PE) mass loss to 12.1%, versus 0.6% in unamended planted soil and <0.1% in the abiotic control. Graphene oxide (GO) sustained bottom-layer PE breakdown (5.8% mass loss), linked to root penetration. Both amendments enriched degraders such as Pseudolabrys and Rhodanobacter and predicted pathways K00059 and K00799, increased surface oxidation, and reduced tensile modulus. MWCNTs mainly accelerated surface PE degradation, whereas GO supported deeper, root-associated breakdown.
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Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
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