New Publication in Polymer Degradation and Stability Explores Biodegradation of PEG by Wastewater Microbes
Water-soluble polymers (WSPs) like polyethylene glycol (PEG) are common in personal care and household products, but they often enter wastewater systems after use. This new study by EDGE researchers in collaboration with colleagues from BASF combined respirometry-based biodegradation testing with HPLC-HRMS to investigate how PEG and its derivative PEG-dimethyl ether (dmPEG) are broken down by wastewater microbes.
Both polymers showed over 80% mineralization within 28 days, and dmPEG was proven biodegradable for the first time, overturning previous assumptions. Analysis revealed that some biodegradation steps occur outside microbial cells and that early delays in breakdown are due to microbial adaptation rather than polymer resistance. These findings highlight the potential of advanced analytical methods to guide the design of environmentally safe, biodegradable polymers.
