Towards Entomoremediation: Plastic Consumption Rates and FTIR-ATR Analysis of Plastic, Frass and Exuviae from Tenebrio Molitor Fed with EPS and Maize
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/je.3397Keywords:
Entomoremedition, Expanded Polystyrene, FTIR-ATR, Tenebrio MolitorAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to (1) evaluate the behavior of Tenebrio molitor larvae when consuming EPS in the presence of maize grains to identify consumption patterns, and (2) assess the possibility of using FTIR-ATR analysis of untreated samples of plastic, frass and exuviae to determine discernable changes after the bingeing phase of EPS consumption versus the control group.
Methodology: T. molitor larvae were obtained from Tuxtla Gutierrez Chiapas, México and the maize grains from Tlaxcala, México. The EPS consumption assays were done once a week and were expressed as the remaining percentage of EPS. FTIR-ATR analysis was performed on samples of plastic, frass and exuvia obtained from the EPS-maize treatments.
Findings: Three distinct phases were identified in EPS consumption: an initial lag phase, a significant bingeing phase, and a stabilization phase with declining consumption. Maize addition triggered a new bingeing phase. FTIR-ATR revealed consistent spectral differences between control and EPS-exposed samples in plastic and frass, indicating that T.molitor larvae induce chemical modifications in EPS. EPS-derived compounds were detected in frass but not in exuviae, suggesting excretion of degradation byproducts but not accumulation in the cuticle.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Direct FTIR-ATR measurements of untreated samples were sufficiently sensitive to distinguish differences among them, highlighting its utility as a rapid, non-destructive tool for preliminary biodegradation assessment. These results aim to improve entomoremediation strategies and enable more efficient evaluation of larval-mediated plastic degradation.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Gabriel Salazar-Robles, José María Cunill-Flores, Arianna Bravo-Nieves, Guadalupe Velázquez-Vázquez, Carmen Stefany López-Valencia, Luisa María González-Castillo, Diana del Rocio Olmos-Barrera
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