Nguyen, Hien Thi Choi, Woodan Jeong, Seongpil Bae, Hyokwan Oh, Seungdae Cho, Kyungjin 2024-06-28T07:00:14Z 2024-06-28T07:00:14Z 2024-06-28 2024-08 0304-3894 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/150129 Chlorination on microplastic (MP) biofilms was comprehensively investigated with respect to disinfection efficiency, morphology, and core microbiome. The experiments were performed under various conditions: i) MP particles; polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS), ii) MP biofilms; Escherichia coli for single-species and river water microorganisms for multiple-species, iii) different chlorine concentrations, and iv) different chlorine exposure periods. As a result, chlorination effectively inactivated the MP biofilm microorganisms. The disinfection efficiency increased with increasing the free chlorination concentration and exposure periods for both single- and multiple-species MP biofilms. The multiple-species MP biofilms were inactivated 1.3-6.0 times less than single-species MP biofilms. In addition, the PP-MP biofilms were more vulnerable to chlorination than the PS-MP biofilms. Morphology analysis verified that chlorination detached most MP biofilms, while a small part still remained. Interestingly, chlorination strongly changed the biofilm microbiome on MPs; the relative abundance of some microbes increased after the chlorination, suggesting they could be regarded as chlorine-resistant bacteria. Some potential pathogens were also remained on the MP particles after the chlorination. Notably, chlorination was effective in inactivating the MP biofilms. Further research should be performed to evaluate the impacts of residual MP biofilms on the environment. English Elsevier BV Comprehensive assessment of chlorination disinfection on microplastic-associated biofilms Article 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134751 1 Journal of Hazardous Materials, v.474 Journal of Hazardous Materials 474 Y scie scopus 001248771300002 2-s2.0-85194419386 Engineering, Environmental Environmental Sciences Engineering Environmental Sciences & Ecology Article DRINKING-WATER BACTERIAL COMMUNITY RESISTANCE INACTIVATION TOLERANCE IMPACT Escherichia coli River microorganism rDNA and rRNA sequencing Microplastic biofilm Chlorine treatment