Algal deterioration of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottle in combination with physical and chemical pretreatments: A macrocosm study

Highlights

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• Bio-deterioration and biodegradation is mandatory to tackle increasing global plastic waste burden.
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• Physicochemical pretreatments disintegrate PET samples' ultrastructure and tensile strength.
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• Algal growth also deteriorates the PET structure and tensile strength.
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• Biological and photo deterioration is evident and comparable with treatment controls.
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• Acid pre-treatment and sunlight changes PET samples' functional groups.