{"type": "FeatureCollection", "features": [{"id": "10.1002/cptc.201900139", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:14:01Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-08-13", "title": "PhotoRAFT Polymerization of Vinylidene Fluoride Using a Household White LED as Light Source at Room Temperature", "description": "Abstract

The photoRAFT (RAFT=reversible addition\uffe2\uff80\uff90fragmentation radical transfer) polymerization of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) mediated by O\uffe2\uff80\uff90ethyl\uffe2\uff80\uff90S\uffe2\uff80\uff90(1\uffe2\uff80\uff90methoxycarbonyl)ethyl dithiocarbonate using a household white LED as light source at room temperature is presented. PVDFs with molar masses up to ca. 8000\uffe2\uff80\uff85g\uffe2\uff80\uff89mol\uffe2\uff88\uff921 and low dispersities (1.11\uffe2\uff80\uff931.49) were obtained. Kinetic experiments revealed that the use of Ir(ppy)3 as photoredox catalyst lead to faster polymerization. A slowdown of the chain equilibration process was observed during the polymerization, attributed to the accumulation of the less reactivatable CF2\uffe2\uff88\uff92CH2\uffe2\uff88\uff92Xa terminated chains.The radical polymerization of styrene (St) initiated by a trifluoromethyl radical generated from a perfluorinated highly branched persistent radical (PPFR) is presented with an isolated yield above 70\uffe2\uff80\uff89%. The release of .CF3 radical occurred from a temperature above 85\uffe2\uff80\uff89\uffc2\uffb0C. Deeper 1H and 19F\uffe2\uff80\uff85NMR spectroscopies of the resulting fluorinated polystyrenes (CF3\uffe2\uff80\uff90PSts) evidenced the presence of both CF3 end\uffe2\uff80\uff90group of the PSt chain and the trifluoromethylation of the phenyl ring (in meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90position mainly). [PPFR]0/[St]0 initial molar ratios of 3:1, 3:10 and 3:100 led to various molar masses ranging from 1750 to 5400\uffe2\uff80\uff85g\uffe2\uff80\uff89mol\uffe2\uff88\uff921 in 70\uffe2\uff80\uff9386\uffe2\uff80\uff89% yields. MALDI\uffe2\uff80\uff90TOF spectrometry of such CF3\uffe2\uff80\uff90PSts highlighted polymeric distributions which evidenced differences between m/z fragments of 104 and 172 corresponding to styrene and trifluoromethyl styrene units, respectively. Such CF3\uffe2\uff80\uff90PSt polymers were also compared to conventional PSts produced from the radical polymerization of St initiated by a peroxydicarbonate initiator. A mechanism of the polymerization is presented showing the formation of a trifluoromethyl styrene first, followed by its radical (co)polymerization with styrene. The thermal properties (thermal stability and glass transition temperature, Tg) of these polymers were also compared and revealed a much better thermal stability of the CF3\uffe2\uff80\uff90PSt (10\uffe2\uff80\uff89% weight loss at 356\uffe2\uff80\uff93376\uffe2\uff80\uff89\uffc2\uffb0C) and a Tg of around 70\uffe2\uff80\uff89\uffc2\uffb0C.This article aims at showing the usefulness of fluoropolymers (FPs), supplying an overview of their synthesis, applications, and recycling. FPs are currently prepared by conventional radical polymerization of fluoromonomers. These specialty polymers, produced in low tonnage compared to that of commodity ones, display outstanding properties, such as chemical, oxidative, and thermal resistances, low refractive index, dissipation factor, permittivity, and water absorptivity, and excellent weatherability and durability. More recent routes for their preparations are suggested, controlled or not, leading to random, alternated, block, graft, dendrimers, or multiarm copolymers, as well as their applications ranging from coatings to high performance (thermoplastic) elastomers, energy related\uffe2\uff80\uff90materials (e.g., fuel cell membranes, components for lithium\uffe2\uff80\uff90ion batteries, electroactive devices, and photovoltaics) to original and surfactants, optical devices, organic electronics, composites, and shape memory polymers.95\u00a0% detectability after three months of storage, highlighting marker temporal stability. Compared to existing methods, this protocol eliminates complex digestion steps, reduces costs, and ensures minimal contamination, providing a robust framework for MP transport studies. It offers potential for enhancement through advanced imaging and machine learning, enabling more efficient and accessible detection in environmental research.", "keywords": ["Soil", "Microplastic transport", "Identification", "TP1080-1185", "Sediment monitoring", "Polymers and polymer manufacture", "Surface runoff", "Fluorescence"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymer%20Testing", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108824"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2025-06-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.watres.2021.117776", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:18:08Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2021-10-18", "title": "Superabsorbent polymer as a supplement substrate of constructed wetland to retain pesticides from agricultural runoff.", "description": "Surface water runoff can export pesticides from agricultural fields into adjacent aquatic ecosystems, where they may pose adverse effects to organisms. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are widely used to treat agricultural runoff contaminated by pesticides, but the removal of hydrophilic pesticides is usually low. In this study, we suggest superabsorbent polymer (SAP), a cross-linked hydrophilic polymer, as a supplement to substrates of CWs and tested the hypothesis that SAP results in an enhanced removal of hydrophilic pesticides. Therefore, batch experiments were conducted to study the retention capacity of water-saturated SAP (w-SAP) for several hydrophilic pesticides. Retention of the pesticides on w-SAP was related to the ionization state and water solubility of the pesticides. The retention of neutral pesticides, imidacloprid, metalaxyl and propiconazole, was about 20% higher than that measured for anionic pesticides, bentazone, glyphosate and MCPA. The retention of the pesticides by w-SAP mainly resulted from their distribution in the gel-water phase of w-SAP, while less water soluble pesticides might have also been adsorbed on the molecular backbone of SAP. Furthermore, we tested the efficacy of w-SAP for treatment of runoff water contaminated by pesticides in lab-scale horizontal subsurface flow CWs. SAP in CWs improved the removal of the pesticides, including the recalcitrant ones. The removal enhancement was owing to the increase of hydraulic retention time and improvement of biodegradation. The removal of the pesticides in SAP containing CWs was > 93% for MCPA, glyphosate, and propiconazole, 62 - 99% for imidacloprid, 50 - 84% for metalaxyl, and 38 - 73% for bentazone. In the control gravel CWs, the removal was > 98% for glyphosate, generally > 83% for MCPA and propiconazole, 46 - 98% for imidacloprid, 32 - 97% for metalaxyl, and 9 - 96% for bentazone.", "keywords": ["Polymers", "13. Climate action", "Wetlands", "Pesticides", "01 natural sciences", "Ecosystem", "Water Pollutants", " Chemical", "6. Clean water", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117776"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Water%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.watres.2021.117776", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.watres.2021.117776", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117776"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-12-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1038/s41396-022-01277-w", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:18:37Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2022-07-07", "title": "Novel form of collective movement by soil bacteria", "description": "Abstract

Although migrations are essential for soil microorganisms to exploit scarce and heterogeneously distributed resources, bacterial mobility in soil remains poorly studied due to experimental limitations. In this study, time-lapse images collected using live microscopy techniques captured collective and coordinated groups of B. subtilis cells exhibiting \uffe2\uff80\uff9ccrowd movement\uffe2\uff80\uff9d. Groups of B. subtilis cells moved through transparent soil (nafion polymer with particle size resembling sand) toward plant roots and re-arranged dynamically around root tips in the form of elongating and retracting \uffe2\uff80\uff9cflocks\uffe2\uff80\uff9d resembling collective behaviour usually associated with higher organisms (e.g., bird flocks or fish schools). Genetic analysis reveals B. subtilis flocks are likely driven by the diffusion of extracellular signalling molecules (e.g., chemotaxis, quorum sensing) and may be impacted by the physical obstacles and hydrodynamics encountered in the soil like environment. Our findings advance understanding of bacterial migration through soil matrices and expand known behaviours for coordinated bacterial movement.The rhizobiota, particularly nitrogen-fixing bacteria, play a crucial role in plant functioning by providing essential nutrients and defense against pathogens. This study investigated the diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in a relatively understudied habitat: technosoils developed from industrial soda production. To analyze the bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere soils of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and aster (Tripolium pannonicum Jacq.), regions of the nifH gene were amplified and sequenced from the resident bacterial communities. A polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was employed for metagenomic DNA extraction, enhancing the detection of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Prior to standard DNA extraction, an enrichment step was conducted in nitrogen-free JMV medium at 26\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb0C for 24\uffc2\uffa0h, with a modification that replaced soil with the PVDF membrane. This approach enabled a more comprehensive analysis of the rhizosphere bacterial community, revealing that unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in aster and wheat membrane samples accounted for a notable proportion of all ASVs in the dataset (8.5% and 23%, respectively) that were not captured using the standard method. Additionally, our findings demonstrated higher alpha diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the wheat rhizosphere compared to the aster rhizosphere. In wheat, the dominant genus was Insolitispirillum (38.80%), followed by unclassified genera within Gammaproteobacteria (9.76%) and Rhodospirillaceae (4.74%). In contrast, the aster rhizosphere was predominantly occupied by Azotobacter (95.69%).

In this paper, the possibility of detecting polymers in plastic mixtures and extruded blends has been investigated. Pyrolysis\u2013gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS) allows researchers to identify multicomponent mixtures and low amounts of polymers without high spatial resolution, background noise and constituents mix interfering, as with molecular spectrometry techniques normally used for this purpose, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In total, 15 solid mixtures of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA) and polycarbonate (PC) in various combinations have been qualitatively analyzed after choosing their characteristic pyrolysis products and each polymer has been detected in every mix; thus, in extruded blends of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), PP and PS had varying weight percentages of the individual constituents ranging from 10 up to 90. Moreover, quantitative analysis of these polymers has been achieved in every blend with a trend that can be considered linear with coefficients of determination higher than 0.9, even though the limits of quantification are lower with respect to the ones reported in the literature, probably due to the extrusion process.

", "keywords": ["blends; calibration curves; polymers; py-GC/MS", "01 natural sciences", "Article", "0104 chemical sciences", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.polito.it/bitstream/11583/2984964/1/Identification_of_Plastics_in_Mixtures_and_Blends_.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010071"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/polym16010071", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/polym16010071", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/polym16010071"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-12-26T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3390/polym9090415", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:22:40Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-09-05", "title": "The Effect of Moisture on Cellulose Nanocrystals Intended as a High Gas Barrier Coating on Flexible Packaging Materials", "description": "

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) exhibit outstanding gas barrier properties, which supports their use as a biobased and biodegradable barrier coating on flexible food packaging materials. As highly hydrophilic biopolymers, however, CNCs have a strong sensitivity to water that can be detrimental to applications with fresh foods and in moist conditions due to the loss of barrier properties. In this work, the oxygen and water vapor permeability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films coated with CNCs obtained from cotton linters were measured at varying levels of relative humidity, both in adsorption and desorption, and from these data, the diffusion and solubility coefficients were estimated. Therefore, the characterization of CNCs was aimed at understanding the fundamentals of the water-CNCs interaction and proposing counteractions. The CNCs\uffe2\uff80\uff99 moisture absorption and desorption isotherms at 25 \uffc2\uffb0C were collected in the range of relative humidity 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9397% using different techniques and analyzed through GAB (Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer) and Oswin models. The effects of moisture on the water status, following the freezable water index, and on the crystal structure of CNCs were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and by X-ray Powder Diffraction, respectively. These findings point to the opportunity of coupling CNCs with hydrophobic layers in order to boost their capabilities as barrier packaging materials.

", "keywords": ["cellulose nanocrystals; flexible packaging materials; oxygen barrier; moisture effects", "cellulose nanocrystals; flexible packaging materials; moisture effects; oxygen barrier; chemistry (all); polymers and plastics", "02 engineering and technology", "0210 nano-technology", "Article"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/9/9/415/pdf"}, {"href": "https://air.unimi.it/bitstream/2434/557567/2/polymers_09_00415.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/polym9090415"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/polym9090415", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/polym9090415", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/polym9090415"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-09-05T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1038/s41565-018-0131-1", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:18:42Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2018-05-04", "title": "A critical evaluation of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers against their conventional analogues", "description": "Among a wide range of possible applications of nanotechnology in agriculture, there has been a particular interest in developing novel nanoagrochemicals. While some concerns have been expressed regarding altered risk profile of the new products, many foresee a great potential to support the necessary increase in global food production in a sustainable way. A critical evaluation of nanoagrochemicals against conventional analogues is essential to assess the associated benefits and risks. In this assessment, recent literature was critically analysed to determine the extent to which nanoagrochemicals differ from conventional products. Our analysis was based on 78 published papers and shows that median gain in efficacy relative to conventional products is about 20-30%. Environmental fate of agrochemicals can be altered by nanoformulations, but changes may not necessarily translate in a reduction of the environmental impact. Many studies lacked nano-specific quality assurance and adequate controls. Currently, there is no comprehensive study in the literature that evaluates efficacy and environmental impact of nanoagrochemicals under field conditions. This is a crucial knowledge gap and more work will thus be necessary for a sound evaluation of the benefits and new risks that nanoagrochemicals represent relative to existing products.", "keywords": ["0301 basic medicine", "105904 Environmental research", "210006 Nanotechnology", "ZINC-OXIDE NANOPARTICLES", "PHOSPHORUS-FERTILIZER", "02 engineering and technology", "BETA-CYFLUTHRIN", "01 natural sciences", "333", "12. Responsible consumption", "03 medical and health sciences", "PESTICIDE", "SDG 2 \u2013 Kein Hunger", "SDG 2 - Zero Hunger", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "AMPHIPHILIC POLYMERS", "CONTROLLED-RELEASE FORMULATIONS", "Nanobiotechnology", "IN-VITRO", "SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES", "SOIL", "210006 Nanotechnologie", "13. Climate action", "BIOEFFICACY EVALUATION", "technology", "105904 Umweltforschung", "0210 nano-technology"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-018-0131-1.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-018-0131-1"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Nature%20Nanotechnology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1038/s41565-018-0131-1", "name": "item", "description": "10.1038/s41565-018-0131-1", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1038/s41565-018-0131-1"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-05-07T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1038/s41598-023-35010-0", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:18:45Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-05-12", "title": "Studying the concentration of polymers in blended microplastics using 2D and 3D Raman mapping", "description": "Abstract

The combination of different polymers in the form of blended plastics has been used in the plastic industry for a long time. Nevertheless, analyses of microplastics (MPs) have been mainly limited to the study of particles made of single-type polymers. Accordingly, two members of the Polyolefins (POs) family, i.e., Polypropylene (PP) and Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) are blended and extensively studied in this work due to their applications in industry as well as abundance in the environment. It is shown that 2-D Raman mapping only provides information about the surface of blended MPs (B-MPs). While complimentary 3-D volume analysis is needed to fully understand the presence of various polymers in such complex samples. Therefore, 3-D Raman mapping is applied to visualize the morphology of the distribution of polymers within the B-MPs together with the quantitative estimation of their concentrations. A parameter defined as the concentration estimate error (CEE) evaluates the precision of the quantitative analysis. Furthermore, the impact of four excitation wavelengths 405, 532, 633, and 785\uffc2\uffa0nm is investigated on the obtained results. Finally, the application of a line-shaped laser beam profile (line-focus) is introduced for reducing the measurement time from 56 to 2\uffc2\uffa0h.RAFT polymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl \u03b1-fluoroacrylate (FATRIFE) was studied under thermal conditions and light irradiation in the presence of four chain transfer agents. Polymers with narrow dispersities were obtained in the presence of trithiocarbonate CTA2, and this further led to fluorinated block copolymers.

", "keywords": ["[CHIM.POLY] Chemical Sciences/Polymers", "[CHIM.POLY]Chemical Sciences/Polymers", "13. Climate action", "01 natural sciences", "7. Clean energy", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2018/PY/C8PY00571K"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1039/C8PY00571K"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymer%20Chemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1039/C8PY00571K", "name": "item", "description": "10.1039/C8PY00571K", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1039/C8PY00571K"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1039/C7PY00209B", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:18:48Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-03-07", "title": "Poly(fluoroacrylate)s with tunable surface hydrophobicity via radical copolymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl \u03b1-fluoroacrylate and 2-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid", "description": "

Fluorinated polyacrylates with tunable surface hydrophobicity are preparedviaradical copolymerization of an \u03b1-fluoroacrylate and 2-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid.

", "keywords": ["Poly(fluoroacrylate)", "[CHIM.POLY]Chemical Sciences/Polymers", "surface properties", "radical copolymerization", "fluoropolymers", "540", "01 natural sciences", "NMR", "620", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2017/PY/C7PY00209B"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1039/C7PY00209B"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymer%20Chemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1039/C7PY00209B", "name": "item", "description": "10.1039/C7PY00209B", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1039/C7PY00209B"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1039/c7py00209b", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:18:48Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-03-07", "title": "Poly(fluoroacrylate)s with tunable surface hydrophobicity via radical copolymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl \u03b1-fluoroacrylate and 2-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid", "description": "

Fluorinated polyacrylates with tunable surface hydrophobicity are preparedviaradical copolymerization of an \u03b1-fluoroacrylate and 2-(trifluoromethyl)acrylic acid.

", "keywords": ["[CHIM.POLY] Chemical Sciences/Polymers", "Poly(fluoroacrylate)", "surface properties", "fluoropolymers", "radical copolymerization", "540", "01 natural sciences", "NMR", "620", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2017/PY/C7PY00209B"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1039/c7py00209b"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymer%20Chemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1039/c7py00209b", "name": "item", "description": "10.1039/c7py00209b", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1039/c7py00209b"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1039/c8py00571k", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:18:49Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2018-05-30", "title": "Thermal and photo-RAFT polymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl \u03b1-fluoroacrylate", "description": "

RAFT polymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl \u03b1-fluoroacrylate (FATRIFE) was studied under thermal conditions and light irradiation in the presence of four chain transfer agents. Polymers with narrow dispersities were obtained in the presence of trithiocarbonate CTA2, and this further led to fluorinated block copolymers.

", "keywords": ["[CHIM.POLY] Chemical Sciences/Polymers", "13. Climate action", "7. Clean energy", "01 natural sciences", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2018/PY/C8PY00571K"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1039/c8py00571k"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymer%20Chemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1039/c8py00571k", "name": "item", "description": "10.1039/c8py00571k", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1039/c8py00571k"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1101/2023.10.03.560709", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:19:41Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-10-04", "title": "Bacteria face trade-offs in the decomposition of complex biopolymers", "description": "Abstract

Although depolymerization of complex carbohydrates is a growth-limiting bottleneck for microbial decomposers, we still lack understanding about how the production of different types of extracellular enzymes affect individual microbes and in turn the performance of whole decomposer communities. In this work we use a theoretical model to evaluate the potential trade-offs faced by microorganisms in biopolymer decomposition which arise due to the varied biochemistry of different depolymerizing enzyme classes. We specifically consider two broad classes of depolymerizing extracellular enzymes, which are widespread across microbial taxa: exo-enzymes that cleave small units from the ends of polymer chains and endo-enzymes that act at random positions generating degradation products of varied sizes. Our results demonstrate a fundamental trade-off in the production of these enzymes, which is independent of system\uffe2\uff80\uff99s complexity and which appears solely from the intrinsically different temporal depolymerization dynamics. As a consequence, specialists that produce either exo- or only endo-enzymes limit their growth to high or low substrate conditions, respectively. Conversely, generalists that produce both enzymes in an optimal ratio expand their niche and benefit from the synergy between the two enzymes. Finally, our results show that, in spatially-explicit environments, consortia composed of endo- and exo-specialists can only exist under oligotrophic conditions. In summary, our analysis demonstrates that the (evolutionary or ecological) selection of a depolymerization pathway will affect microbial fitness under low- or high substrate conditions, with impacts on the ecological dynamics of microbial communities. It provides a possible explanation why many polysaccharide degraders in nature show the genetic potential to produce both of these enzyme classes.

Author summary

The decomposition of polysaccharides by microbes is a key process in the global carbon cycle. It requires the joint action of a variety of microbially-produced extracellular enzymes. They can be broadly classified into endo-enzymes, that act in the middle of polymers, and exo-enzymes, that cleave units from polymer ends. Little is known about the benefits for microbes producing a certain enzyme type and the interplay between enzyme producing strategies in mixed communities. This hampers our comprehensive understanding of decomposition in terrestrial and marine ecosystems and thus limits the prediction of decomposition processes, for example in a changing climate.

Based on theoretical modelling, we revealed a fundamental trade-off in the action of these enzymes. While exo-enzymes are more efficient at high substrate conditions, endo-enzymes perform better when substrate is low. Generalists producing both enzymes expand their ecological niche of substrate availability compared to specialists only producing one of the two types. Complementary specialists only co-exist in oligotrophic conditions. We conclude that producing enzymes for specific steps within polymer degradation represents relevant ecological strategies for microbes in decomposer communities.The food industry faces numerous challenges to assure provision of tasty and convenient food that possesses extended shelf life and shows long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term high\uffe2\uff80\uff90quality preservation. Research and development of antimicrobial materials for food applications have provided active antibacterial packaging technologies that are able to meet these challenges. Furthermore, consumers expect and demand sustainable packaging materials that would reduce environmental problems associated with plastic waste. In this review, we discuss antimicrobial composite materials for active food packaging applications that combine highly efficient antibacterial nanoparticles (i.e., metal, metal oxide, mesoporous silica and graphene\uffe2\uff80\uff90based nanomaterials) with biodegradable and environmentally friendly green polymers (i.e., gelatin, alginate, cellulose, and chitosan) obtained from plants, bacteria, and animals. In addition, innovative syntheses and processing techniques used to obtain active and safe packaging are showcased. Implementation of such green active packaging can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne pathogen outbreaks, improve food safety and quality, and minimize product losses, while reducing waste and maintaining sustainability.

Stable isotope labeling of agricultural polyesters enables demonstration of their microbial utilization in soils.

", "keywords": ["0301 basic medicine", "Polymers", "Polyesters", "Spectrometry", " Mass", " Secondary Ion", "ENZYMATIC-HYDROLYSIS", "CATERPILLARS", "ECOLOGY", "7. Clean energy", "03 medical and health sciences", "Biomass", "SDG 2 \u2013 Kein Hunger", "SDG 2 - Zero Hunger", "POLYESTERS", "Research Articles", "Soil Microbiology", "2. Zero hunger", "106022 Mikrobiologie", "Carbon Isotopes", "0303 health sciences", "Fungi", "Agriculture", "Lipase", "Carbon Dioxide", "Carbon", "COPOLYESTERS", "Biodegradation", " Environmental", "13. Climate action", "106022 Microbiology", "POLYETHYLENE BIO-DEGRADATION"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aas9024"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Science%20Advances", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1126/sciadv.aas9024", "name": "item", "description": "10.1126/sciadv.aas9024", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1126/sciadv.aas9024"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-07-06T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1117/12.2541767", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:20:28Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-08-28", "title": "Utilising thermal annealing for multiplexing and sensitivity enhancement of polymer optical fibre sensors", "description": "Thermal annealing was initially introduced for multiplexing purposes, since it can induce a permanent negative Bragg wavelength shift for polymer fibre grating sensors. At a later stage, it is shown that annealing can also provide additional benefits, such as strain and humidity sensitivity enhancement and augmented temperature operational range. In this paper, we report additional usage of thermal annealing on PMMA fibre Bragg grating sensors. We show the possibility to tune Bragg wavelengths to longer wavelengths permanently by stretching the polymer optical fibre during the thermal annealing process. An array of sensors fabricated with only one phase-mask, demonstrates the concept by having Bragg wavelengths below and above the original inscribed spectral position. In addition, we report that thermal annealing can be also used to enhance the performance of sensors when used for stress and force monitoring.", "keywords": ["Fibers", "Plastic optical fibers", "Fiber optic sensors", "Polymers", "0103 physical sciences", "Engineering and Technology", "Electrical Engineering - Electronic Engineering - Information Engineering", "01 natural sciences", "Annealing"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://publications.aston.ac.uk/id/eprint/40228/1/enhancement_of_polymer_optical_fibre.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2541767"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Seventh%20European%20Workshop%20on%20Optical%20Fibre%20Sensors", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1117/12.2541767", "name": "item", "description": "10.1117/12.2541767", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1117/12.2541767"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-08-28T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1186/s43591-025-00112-1", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:20:43Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2025-03-02", "title": "Tracks of travel: unveiling tire particle concentrations in Swiss cantonal road soils", "description": "Abstract

Tire wear particles (TWP) originating from tire abrasion on roads are a major source of microplastics to the environment. Together with associated pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and trace metals, TWP are emitted to roadside soils in the immediate vicinity of road networks. Our study aimed at quantifying TWP number and mass concentrations and investigating particle features in low-traffic roadside soils using a novel particle-based analytical approach. On the example of fifteen Swiss cantonal roadside soils, with average daily traffic volumes of 2,290 vehicles per day\uffe2\uff88\uff92\uffe2\uff80\uff891, we sampled composite samples from distances of 1, 2, 5 and 10\uffc2\uffa0m to the roadside. TWP were extracted via density separation and wet-chemical sample purification. TWP analysis was performed using microscope images and trainable Weka segmentation image analysis. Furthermore, associated road pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzop[a]pyrene and trace metals were analysed using TQ GC-MS/MS and ICP-MS. We found average concentrations of 111,000 TWP per kg soil dry weight (TWP kg\uffe2\uff88\uff92\uffe2\uff80\uff891) highest values reaching 615,000 TWP kg\uffe2\uff88\uff92\uffe2\uff80\uff891 and mean TWP masses of 52.7\uffe2\uff80\uff89\uffc2\uffb1\uffe2\uff80\uff8983.2\uffc2\uffa0mg TWP kg\uffe2\uff88\uff92\uffe2\uff80\uff891. TWP had a minimal Feret diameter of 62.8\uffe2\uff80\uff89\uffc2\uffb1\uffe2\uff80\uff8945.6\uffc2\uffa0\uffce\uffbcm on average and showed mean circularity values of 0.7\uffe2\uff80\uff89\uffc2\uffb1\uffe2\uff80\uff890.2, resulting in elliptic particle morphology. TWP concentrations and sizes decreased with increasing distance from the road. Positive relationships were found between TWP numbers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzop[a]pyrene and zinc concentrations in roadside soils. However, a moderate relationship to speed limits was identified. We were able to demonstrate that even in low-traffic areas, roadside soils act as an environmental sink for high concentrations of TWPs and associated pollutants and that spatial distribution and the spread of TWP to soils strongly dependent on the distance to the road.Abstract

While tire wear particles (TWP) have been estimated to represent more than 90% of the total microplastic (MP) emitted in European countries and may have environmental health effects, only few data about TWP concentrations and characteristics are available today. The lack of data stems from the fact that no standardized, cost efficient or accessible extraction and identification method is available yet. We present a method allowing the extraction of TWP from soil, performing analysis with a conventional optical microscope and a machine learning approach to identify TWP in soil based on their colour. The lowest size of TWP which could be measured reliably with an acceptable recovery using our experimental set-up was 35 \u00b5m. Further improvements would be possible given more advanced technical infrastructure (higher optical magnification and image quality). Our method showed a mean recovery of 85% in the 35-2000 \u00b5m particle size range and no blank contamination. We tested for possible interference from charcoal (as another black soil component with similar properties) in the soils and found a reduction of the interference from charcoal by 92% during extraction. We applied our method to a highway adjacent soil at 1 m, 2 m, 5 m, and 10 m and detected TWP in all samples with a tendency to higher concentrations at 1 m and 2 m from the road compared to 10 m from the road. The observed TWP concentrations were in the same order of magnitude as what was previously reported in literature in highway adjacent soils. These results demonstrate the potential of the method to provide quantitative data on the occurrence and characteristics of TWP in the environment. The method can be easily implemented in many labs, and help to address our knowledge gap regarding TWP concentrations in soils.

", "keywords": ["TP1080-1185", "Segmentation", "TD172-193.5", "Tire wear", "Soil pollution", "Machine learning", "Microplastic", "Methodology", "Polymers and polymer manufacture", "Optical microscopy", "Environmental pollution"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4951965/v1"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Microplastics%20and%20Nanoplastics", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.21203/rs.3.rs-4951965/v1", "name": "item", "description": "10.21203/rs.3.rs-4951965/v1", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4951965/v1"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-10-15T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.2139/ssrn.4646130", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:21:57Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-11-28", "title": "Microplastic Analysis in Soils: A Comparative Assessment", "description": "Open AccessISSN:0147-6513", "keywords": ["ddc:550", "Soil pollution", "Spectroscopy; Soil pollution; Conventional synthetic and biodegradable; polymers", "Conventional synthetic and biodegradable", "Environmental pollution", "543", "Environmental sciences", "TD172-193.5", "628", "Life Science", "GE1-350", "Conventional synthetic and biodegradable polymers", "Spectroscopy", "polymers"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4646130"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Ecotoxicology%20and%20Environmental%20Safety", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.2139/ssrn.4646130", "name": "item", "description": "10.2139/ssrn.4646130", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.2139/ssrn.4646130"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3390/bioengineering4020055", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:22:28Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-06-12", "title": "Recent Advances and Challenges towards Sustainable Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Production", "description": "

Sustainable biofuels, biomaterials, and fine chemicals production is a critical matter that research teams around the globe are focusing on nowadays. Polyhydroxyalkanoates represent one of the biomaterials of the future due to their physicochemical properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Designing efficient and economic bioprocesses, combined with the respective social and environmental benefits, has brought together scientists from different backgrounds highlighting the multidisciplinary character of such a venture. In the current review, challenges and opportunities regarding polyhydroxyalkanoate production are presented and discussed, covering key steps of their overall production process by applying pure and mixed culture biotechnology, from raw bioprocess development to downstream processing.

", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "0301 basic medicine", "Technology", "Renewable feedstock", "QH301-705.5", "biopolymers", "Review", "7. Clean energy", "01 natural sciences", "12. Responsible consumption", "mixed microbial consortia", "03 medical and health sciences", "Biopolymers", "/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/affordable_and_clean_energy; name=SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy", "renewable feedstock", "Pure cultures", "pure cultures", "enrichment strategy", "Biology (General)", "Synthetic biology", "Polyhydroxyalkanoates", "T", "polyhydroxyalkanoates", "Mixed microbial consortia", "downstream processing", "Downstream processing", "13. Climate action", "Enrichment strategy", "synthetic biology"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/4/2/55/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering4020055"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Bioengineering", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/bioengineering4020055", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/bioengineering4020055", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/bioengineering4020055"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-06-11T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3390/polym13071048", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:22:39Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2021-03-29", "title": "Integrated Efforts for the Valorization of Sweet Potato By-Products within a Circular Economy Concept: Biocomposites for Packaging Applications Close the Loop", "description": "

With the aim to fully exploit the by-products obtained after the industrial extraction of starch from sweet potatoes, a cascading approach was developed to extract high-value molecules, such as proteins and pectins, and to valorize the solid fraction, rich in starch and fibrous components. This fraction was used to prepare new biocomposites designed for food packaging applications. The sweet potato residue was added to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in various amounts up to 40 wt % by melt mixing, without any previous treatment. The composites are semicrystalline materials, characterized by thermal stability up to 260 \uffc2\uffb0C. For the composites containing up to 10 wt % of residue, the tensile strength remains over 30 MPa and the strain stays over 3.2%. A homogeneous dispersion of the sweet potato waste into the bio-polymeric matrix was achieved but, despite the presence of hydrogen bond interactions between the components, a poor interfacial adhesion was detected. Considering the significant percentage of sweet potato waste used, the biocomposites obtained show a low economic and environmental impact, resulting in an interesting bio-alternative to the materials commonly used in the packaging industry. Thus, according to the principles of a circular economy, the preparation of the biocomposites closes the loop of the complete valorization of sweet potato products and by-products.

", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "bio-based polymers", "biocomposites", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "02 engineering and technology", "sustainability", "natural fillers", "Article", "12. Responsible consumption", "0404 agricultural biotechnology", "8. Economic growth", "sweet potato residues", "Bio-based polymers; Biocomposites; Natural fillers; Sustainability; Sweet potato residues", "0210 nano-technology"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/7/1048/pdf"}, {"href": "https://cris.unibo.it/bitstream/11585/827746/1/Polymers-potato_2021.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/7/1048/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13071048"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/polym13071048", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/polym13071048", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/polym13071048"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-03-27T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3390/polym16070922", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-04-03T16:22:40Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-03-27", "title": "Understanding the Effects of Adding Metal Oxides to Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid Blends on Mechanical and Rheological Behaviour, Wettability, and Photo-Oxidation Resistance", "description": "

Biopolymers are of growing interest, but to improve some of their poor properties and performance, the formulation of bio-based blends and/or adding of nanoparticles is required. For this purpose, in this work, two different metal oxides, namely zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), at different concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2%wt.) were added in polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/polyamide 11 (PLA/PA11) blends to establish their effects on solid-state properties, morphology, melt behaviour, and photo-oxidation resistance. It seems that the addition of ZnO in PLA leads to a significant reduction in its rigidity, probably due to an inefficient dispersion in the melt state, while the addition of TiO2 does not penalize PLA rigidity. Interestingly, the addition of both ZnO and TiO2 in the PLA/PA11 blend has a positive effect on the rigidity because of blend morphology refinement and leads to a slight increase in film hydrophobicity. The photo-oxidation resistance of the neat PLA and PLA/PA11 blend is significantly reduced due to the presence of both metal oxides, and this must be considered when designing potential applications. The last results suggest that both metal oxides could be considered photo-sensitive degradant agents for biopolymer and biopolymer blends.

", "keywords": ["biopolymer blends; biopolymers; metal oxides; morphology refinement; photo-sensitive degradant agents", "metal oxides", "biopolymers", "photo-sensitive degradant agents", "02 engineering and technology", "0210 nano-technology", "biopolymer blends", "01 natural sciences", "morphology refinement", "Article", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.cnr.it/bitstream/20.500.14243/475462/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unina.it/bitstream/11588/971023/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unict.it/bitstream/20.500.11769/603692/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070922"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3390/polym16070922", "name": "item", "description": "10.3390/polym16070922", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3390/polym16070922"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-03-27T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "11353/10.2115948", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:27:10Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-10-04", "title": "Bacteria face trade-offs in the decomposition of complex biopolymers", "description": "Abstract

Although depolymerization of complex carbohydrates is a growth-limiting bottleneck for microbial decomposers, we still lack understanding about how the production of different types of extracellular enzymes affect individual microbes and in turn the performance of whole decomposer communities. In this work we use a theoretical model to evaluate the potential trade-offs faced by microorganisms in biopolymer decomposition which arise due to the varied biochemistry of different depolymerizing enzyme classes. We specifically consider two broad classes of depolymerizing extracellular enzymes, which are widespread across microbial taxa: exo-enzymes that cleave small units from the ends of polymer chains and endo-enzymes that act at random positions generating degradation products of varied sizes. Our results demonstrate a fundamental trade-off in the production of these enzymes, which is independent of system\uffe2\uff80\uff99s complexity and which appears solely from the intrinsically different temporal depolymerization dynamics. As a consequence, specialists that produce either exo- or only endo-enzymes limit their growth to high or low substrate conditions, respectively. Conversely, generalists that produce both enzymes in an optimal ratio expand their niche and benefit from the synergy between the two enzymes. Finally, our results show that, in spatially-explicit environments, consortia composed of endo- and exo-specialists can only exist under oligotrophic conditions. In summary, our analysis demonstrates that the (evolutionary or ecological) selection of a depolymerization pathway will affect microbial fitness under low- or high substrate conditions, with impacts on the ecological dynamics of microbial communities. It provides a possible explanation why many polysaccharide degraders in nature show the genetic potential to produce both of these enzyme classes.

Author summary

The decomposition of polysaccharides by microbes is a key process in the global carbon cycle. It requires the joint action of a variety of microbially-produced extracellular enzymes. They can be broadly classified into endo-enzymes, that act in the middle of polymers, and exo-enzymes, that cleave units from polymer ends. Little is known about the benefits for microbes producing a certain enzyme type and the interplay between enzyme producing strategies in mixed communities. This hampers our comprehensive understanding of decomposition in terrestrial and marine ecosystems and thus limits the prediction of decomposition processes, for example in a changing climate.

Based on theoretical modelling, we revealed a fundamental trade-off in the action of these enzymes. While exo-enzymes are more efficient at high substrate conditions, endo-enzymes perform better when substrate is low. Generalists producing both enzymes expand their ecological niche of substrate availability compared to specialists only producing one of the two types. Complementary specialists only co-exist in oligotrophic conditions. We conclude that producing enzymes for specific steps within polymer degradation represents relevant ecological strategies for microbes in decomposer communities.

In this paper, the possibility of detecting polymers in plastic mixtures and extruded blends has been investigated. Pyrolysis\u2013gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS) allows researchers to identify multicomponent mixtures and low amounts of polymers without high spatial resolution, background noise and constituents mix interfering, as with molecular spectrometry techniques normally used for this purpose, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In total, 15 solid mixtures of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyamide (PA) and polycarbonate (PC) in various combinations have been qualitatively analyzed after choosing their characteristic pyrolysis products and each polymer has been detected in every mix; thus, in extruded blends of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), PP and PS had varying weight percentages of the individual constituents ranging from 10 up to 90. Moreover, quantitative analysis of these polymers has been achieved in every blend with a trend that can be considered linear with coefficients of determination higher than 0.9, even though the limits of quantification are lower with respect to the ones reported in the literature, probably due to the extrusion process.

", "keywords": ["blends; calibration curves; polymers; py-GC/MS", "01 natural sciences", "Article", "0104 chemical sciences", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.polito.it/bitstream/11583/2984964/1/Identification_of_Plastics_in_Mixtures_and_Blends_.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/11583/2984964"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "11583/2984964", "name": "item", "description": "11583/2984964", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/11583/2984964"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-12-26T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "20.500.11850/280881", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:27:41Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2018-07-25", "title": "Biodegradation of synthetic polymers in soils: Tracking carbon into CO 2 and microbial biomass", "description": "

Stable isotope labeling of agricultural polyesters enables demonstration of their microbial utilization in soils.

", "keywords": ["0301 basic medicine", "Polymers", "Polyesters", "Spectrometry", " Mass", " Secondary Ion", "ENZYMATIC-HYDROLYSIS", "CATERPILLARS", "ECOLOGY", "7. Clean energy", "03 medical and health sciences", "Biomass", "SDG 2 \u2013 Kein Hunger", "SDG 2 - Zero Hunger", "POLYESTERS", "Research Articles", "Soil Microbiology", "2. Zero hunger", "106022 Mikrobiologie", "Carbon Isotopes", "0303 health sciences", "Fungi", "Agriculture", "Lipase", "Carbon Dioxide", "Carbon", "COPOLYESTERS", "Biodegradation", " Environmental", "13. Climate action", "106022 Microbiology", "POLYETHYLENE BIO-DEGRADATION"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/20.500.11850/280881"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Science%20Advances", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "20.500.11850/280881", "name": "item", "description": "20.500.11850/280881", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/20.500.11850/280881"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-07-06T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "20.500.11769/603692", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:27:40Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2024-03-27", "title": "Understanding the Effects of Adding Metal Oxides to Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid Blends on Mechanical and Rheological Behaviour, Wettability, and Photo-Oxidation Resistance", "description": "

Biopolymers are of growing interest, but to improve some of their poor properties and performance, the formulation of bio-based blends and/or adding of nanoparticles is required. For this purpose, in this work, two different metal oxides, namely zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), at different concentrations (0.5, 1, and 2%wt.) were added in polylactic acid (PLA) and polylactic acid/polyamide 11 (PLA/PA11) blends to establish their effects on solid-state properties, morphology, melt behaviour, and photo-oxidation resistance. It seems that the addition of ZnO in PLA leads to a significant reduction in its rigidity, probably due to an inefficient dispersion in the melt state, while the addition of TiO2 does not penalize PLA rigidity. Interestingly, the addition of both ZnO and TiO2 in the PLA/PA11 blend has a positive effect on the rigidity because of blend morphology refinement and leads to a slight increase in film hydrophobicity. The photo-oxidation resistance of the neat PLA and PLA/PA11 blend is significantly reduced due to the presence of both metal oxides, and this must be considered when designing potential applications. The last results suggest that both metal oxides could be considered photo-sensitive degradant agents for biopolymer and biopolymer blends.

", "keywords": ["biopolymer blends; biopolymers; metal oxides; morphology refinement; photo-sensitive degradant agents", "metal oxides", "biopolymers", "photo-sensitive degradant agents", "02 engineering and technology", "0210 nano-technology", "biopolymer blends", "01 natural sciences", "morphology refinement", "Article", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://iris.cnr.it/bitstream/20.500.14243/475462/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unina.it/bitstream/11588/971023/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.iris.unict.it/bitstream/20.500.11769/603692/1/polymers-16-00922-v2.pdf"}, {"href": "https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/7/922/pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/20.500.11769/603692"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymers", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "20.500.11769/603692", "name": "item", "description": "20.500.11769/603692", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/20.500.11769/603692"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-03-27T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "20.500.14017/76e2c30e-48e4-44f9-a3c4-26566193fa64", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:27:46Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-05-12", "title": "Studying the concentration of polymers in blended microplastics using 2D and 3D Raman mapping", "description": "Abstract

The combination of different polymers in the form of blended plastics has been used in the plastic industry for a long time. Nevertheless, analyses of microplastics (MPs) have been mainly limited to the study of particles made of single-type polymers. Accordingly, two members of the Polyolefins (POs) family, i.e., Polypropylene (PP) and Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) are blended and extensively studied in this work due to their applications in industry as well as abundance in the environment. It is shown that 2-D Raman mapping only provides information about the surface of blended MPs (B-MPs). While complimentary 3-D volume analysis is needed to fully understand the presence of various polymers in such complex samples. Therefore, 3-D Raman mapping is applied to visualize the morphology of the distribution of polymers within the B-MPs together with the quantitative estimation of their concentrations. A parameter defined as the concentration estimate error (CEE) evaluates the precision of the quantitative analysis. Furthermore, the impact of four excitation wavelengths 405, 532, 633, and 785\uffc2\uffa0nm is investigated on the obtained results. Finally, the application of a line-shaped laser beam profile (line-focus) is introduced for reducing the measurement time from 56 to 2\uffc2\uffa0h.RAFT polymerization of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl \u03b1-fluoroacrylate (FATRIFE) was studied under thermal conditions and light irradiation in the presence of four chain transfer agents. Polymers with narrow dispersities were obtained in the presence of trithiocarbonate CTA2, and this further led to fluorinated block copolymers.

", "keywords": ["[CHIM.POLY] Chemical Sciences/Polymers", "13. Climate action", "01 natural sciences", "7. Clean energy", "0104 chemical sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2018/PY/C8PY00571K"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/2805609965"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Polymer%20Chemistry", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "2805609965", "name": "item", "description": "2805609965", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/2805609965"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "2967290284", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:28:19Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-08-13", "title": "PhotoRAFT Polymerization of Vinylidene Fluoride Using a Household White LED as Light Source at Room Temperature", "description": "Abstract

The photoRAFT (RAFT=reversible addition\uffe2\uff80\uff90fragmentation radical transfer) polymerization of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) mediated by O\uffe2\uff80\uff90ethyl\uffe2\uff80\uff90S\uffe2\uff80\uff90(1\uffe2\uff80\uff90methoxycarbonyl)ethyl dithiocarbonate using a household white LED as light source at room temperature is presented. PVDFs with molar masses up to ca. 8000\uffe2\uff80\uff85g\uffe2\uff80\uff89mol\uffe2\uff88\uff921 and low dispersities (1.11\uffe2\uff80\uff931.49) were obtained. Kinetic experiments revealed that the use of Ir(ppy)3 as photoredox catalyst lead to faster polymerization. A slowdown of the chain equilibration process was observed during the polymerization, attributed to the accumulation of the less reactivatable CF2\uffe2\uff88\uff92CH2\uffe2\uff88\uff92Xa terminated chains.This article aims at showing the usefulness of fluoropolymers (FPs), supplying an overview of their synthesis, applications, and recycling. FPs are currently prepared by conventional radical polymerization of fluoromonomers. These specialty polymers, produced in low tonnage compared to that of commodity ones, display outstanding properties, such as chemical, oxidative, and thermal resistances, low refractive index, dissipation factor, permittivity, and water absorptivity, and excellent weatherability and durability. More recent routes for their preparations are suggested, controlled or not, leading to random, alternated, block, graft, dendrimers, or multiarm copolymers, as well as their applications ranging from coatings to high performance (thermoplastic) elastomers, energy related\uffe2\uff80\uff90materials (e.g., fuel cell membranes, components for lithium\uffe2\uff80\uff90ion batteries, electroactive devices, and photovoltaics) to original and surfactants, optical devices, organic electronics, composites, and shape memory polymers.The food industry faces numerous challenges to assure provision of tasty and convenient food that possesses extended shelf life and shows long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term high\uffe2\uff80\uff90quality preservation. Research and development of antimicrobial materials for food applications have provided active antibacterial packaging technologies that are able to meet these challenges. Furthermore, consumers expect and demand sustainable packaging materials that would reduce environmental problems associated with plastic waste. In this review, we discuss antimicrobial composite materials for active food packaging applications that combine highly efficient antibacterial nanoparticles (i.e., metal, metal oxide, mesoporous silica and graphene\uffe2\uff80\uff90based nanomaterials) with biodegradable and environmentally friendly green polymers (i.e., gelatin, alginate, cellulose, and chitosan) obtained from plants, bacteria, and animals. In addition, innovative syntheses and processing techniques used to obtain active and safe packaging are showcased. Implementation of such green active packaging can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne pathogen outbreaks, improve food safety and quality, and minimize product losses, while reducing waste and maintaining sustainability.The radical polymerization of styrene (St) initiated by a trifluoromethyl radical generated from a perfluorinated highly branched persistent radical (PPFR) is presented with an isolated yield above 70\uffe2\uff80\uff89%. The release of .CF3 radical occurred from a temperature above 85\uffe2\uff80\uff89\uffc2\uffb0C. Deeper 1H and 19F\uffe2\uff80\uff85NMR spectroscopies of the resulting fluorinated polystyrenes (CF3\uffe2\uff80\uff90PSts) evidenced the presence of both CF3 end\uffe2\uff80\uff90group of the PSt chain and the trifluoromethylation of the phenyl ring (in meta\uffe2\uff80\uff90position mainly). [PPFR]0/[St]0 initial molar ratios of 3:1, 3:10 and 3:100 led to various molar masses ranging from 1750 to 5400\uffe2\uff80\uff85g\uffe2\uff80\uff89mol\uffe2\uff88\uff921 in 70\uffe2\uff80\uff9386\uffe2\uff80\uff89% yields. MALDI\uffe2\uff80\uff90TOF spectrometry of such CF3\uffe2\uff80\uff90PSts highlighted polymeric distributions which evidenced differences between m/z fragments of 104 and 172 corresponding to styrene and trifluoromethyl styrene units, respectively. Such CF3\uffe2\uff80\uff90PSt polymers were also compared to conventional PSts produced from the radical polymerization of St initiated by a peroxydicarbonate initiator. A mechanism of the polymerization is presented showing the formation of a trifluoromethyl styrene first, followed by its radical (co)polymerization with styrene. The thermal properties (thermal stability and glass transition temperature, Tg) of these polymers were also compared and revealed a much better thermal stability of the CF3\uffe2\uff80\uff90PSt (10\uffe2\uff80\uff89% weight loss at 356\uffe2\uff80\uff93376\uffe2\uff80\uff89\uffc2\uffb0C) and a Tg of around 70\uffe2\uff80\uff89\uffc2\uffb0C.The food industry faces numerous challenges to assure provision of tasty and convenient food that possesses extended shelf life and shows long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term high\uffe2\uff80\uff90quality preservation. Research and development of antimicrobial materials for food applications have provided active antibacterial packaging technologies that are able to meet these challenges. Furthermore, consumers expect and demand sustainable packaging materials that would reduce environmental problems associated with plastic waste. In this review, we discuss antimicrobial composite materials for active food packaging applications that combine highly efficient antibacterial nanoparticles (i.e., metal, metal oxide, mesoporous silica and graphene\uffe2\uff80\uff90based nanomaterials) with biodegradable and environmentally friendly green polymers (i.e., gelatin, alginate, cellulose, and chitosan) obtained from plants, bacteria, and animals. In addition, innovative syntheses and processing techniques used to obtain active and safe packaging are showcased. Implementation of such green active packaging can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne pathogen outbreaks, improve food safety and quality, and minimize product losses, while reducing waste and maintaining sustainability.Although migrations are essential for soil microorganisms to exploit scarce and heterogeneously distributed resources, bacterial mobility in soil remains poorly studied due to experimental limitations. In this study, time-lapse images collected using live microscopy techniques captured collective and coordinated groups of B. subtilis cells exhibiting \uffe2\uff80\uff9ccrowd movement\uffe2\uff80\uff9d. Groups of B. subtilis cells moved through transparent soil (nafion polymer with particle size resembling sand) toward plant roots and re-arranged dynamically around root tips in the form of elongating and retracting \uffe2\uff80\uff9cflocks\uffe2\uff80\uff9d resembling collective behaviour usually associated with higher organisms (e.g., bird flocks or fish schools). Genetic analysis reveals B. subtilis flocks are likely driven by the diffusion of extracellular signalling molecules (e.g., chemotaxis, quorum sensing) and may be impacted by the physical obstacles and hydrodynamics encountered in the soil like environment. Our findings advance understanding of bacterial migration through soil matrices and expand known behaviours for coordinated bacterial movement.The rhizobiota, particularly nitrogen-fixing bacteria, play a crucial role in plant functioning by providing essential nutrients and defense against pathogens. This study investigated the diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in a relatively understudied habitat: technosoils developed from industrial soda production. To analyze the bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere soils of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and aster (Tripolium pannonicum Jacq.), regions of the nifH gene were amplified and sequenced from the resident bacterial communities. A polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was employed for metagenomic DNA extraction, enhancing the detection of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Prior to standard DNA extraction, an enrichment step was conducted in nitrogen-free JMV medium at 26\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb0C for 24\uffc2\uffa0h, with a modification that replaced soil with the PVDF membrane. This approach enabled a more comprehensive analysis of the rhizosphere bacterial community, revealing that unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in aster and wheat membrane samples accounted for a notable proportion of all ASVs in the dataset (8.5% and 23%, respectively) that were not captured using the standard method. Additionally, our findings demonstrated higher alpha diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the wheat rhizosphere compared to the aster rhizosphere. In wheat, the dominant genus was Insolitispirillum (38.80%), followed by unclassified genera within Gammaproteobacteria (9.76%) and Rhodospirillaceae (4.74%). In contrast, the aster rhizosphere was predominantly occupied by Azotobacter (95.69%).The combination of different polymers in the form of blended plastics has been used in the plastic industry for a long time. Nevertheless, analyses of microplastics (MPs) have been mainly limited to the study of particles made of single-type polymers. Accordingly, two members of the Polyolefins (POs) family, i.e., Polypropylene (PP) and Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE) are blended and extensively studied in this work due to their applications in industry as well as abundance in the environment. It is shown that 2-D Raman mapping only provides information about the surface of blended MPs (B-MPs). While complimentary 3-D volume analysis is needed to fully understand the presence of various polymers in such complex samples. Therefore, 3-D Raman mapping is applied to visualize the morphology of the distribution of polymers within the B-MPs together with the quantitative estimation of their concentrations. A parameter defined as the concentration estimate error (CEE) evaluates the precision of the quantitative analysis. Furthermore, the impact of four excitation wavelengths 405, 532, 633, and 785\uffc2\uffa0nm is investigated on the obtained results. Finally, the application of a line-shaped laser beam profile (line-focus) is introduced for reducing the measurement time from 56 to 2\uffc2\uffa0h.Abstract

While tire wear particles (TWP) have been estimated to represent more than 90% of the total microplastic (MP) emitted in European countries and may have environmental health effects, only few data about TWP concentrations and characteristics are available today. The lack of data stems from the fact that no standardized, cost efficient or accessible extraction and identification method is available yet. We present a method allowing the extraction of TWP from soil, performing analysis with a conventional optical microscope and a machine learning approach to identify TWP in soil based on their colour. The lowest size of TWP which could be measured reliably with an acceptable recovery using our experimental set-up was 35 \u00b5m. Further improvements would be possible given more advanced technical infrastructure (higher optical magnification and image quality). Our method showed a mean recovery of 85% in the 35-2000 \u00b5m particle size range and no blank contamination. We tested for possible interference from charcoal (as another black soil component with similar properties) in the soils and found a reduction of the interference from charcoal by 92% during extraction. We applied our method to a highway adjacent soil at 1 m, 2 m, 5 m, and 10 m and detected TWP in all samples with a tendency to higher concentrations at 1 m and 2 m from the road compared to 10 m from the road. The observed TWP concentrations were in the same order of magnitude as what was previously reported in literature in highway adjacent soils. These results demonstrate the potential of the method to provide quantitative data on the occurrence and characteristics of TWP in the environment. The method can be easily implemented in many labs, and help to address our knowledge gap regarding TWP concentrations in soils.

", "keywords": ["TP1080-1185", "Segmentation", "TD172-193.5", "Tire wear", "Soil pollution", "Machine learning", "Microplastic", "Methodology", "Polymers and polymer manufacture", "Optical microscopy", "Environmental pollution"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/PMC11525289"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Microplastics%20and%20Nanoplastics", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "PMC11525289", "name": "item", "description": "PMC11525289", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/PMC11525289"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2024-10-15T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "PMC12062204", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-04-03T16:31:02Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2025-05-08", "title": "Enhanced understanding of nitrogen fixing bacteria through DNA extraction with polyvinylidene fluoride membrane", "description": "Abstract

The rhizobiota, particularly nitrogen-fixing bacteria, play a crucial role in plant functioning by providing essential nutrients and defense against pathogens. This study investigated the diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in a relatively understudied habitat: technosoils developed from industrial soda production. To analyze the bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere soils of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and aster (Tripolium pannonicum Jacq.), regions of the nifH gene were amplified and sequenced from the resident bacterial communities. A polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane was employed for metagenomic DNA extraction, enhancing the detection of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Prior to standard DNA extraction, an enrichment step was conducted in nitrogen-free JMV medium at 26\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb0C for 24\uffc2\uffa0h, with a modification that replaced soil with the PVDF membrane. This approach enabled a more comprehensive analysis of the rhizosphere bacterial community, revealing that unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in aster and wheat membrane samples accounted for a notable proportion of all ASVs in the dataset (8.5% and 23%, respectively) that were not captured using the standard method. Additionally, our findings demonstrated higher alpha diversity of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the wheat rhizosphere compared to the aster rhizosphere. In wheat, the dominant genus was Insolitispirillum (38.80%), followed by unclassified genera within Gammaproteobacteria (9.76%) and Rhodospirillaceae (4.74%). In contrast, the aster rhizosphere was predominantly occupied by Azotobacter (95.69%).