Fate of Biodegradable Plastics in Anaerobic Digestion: Potential Resources vs. Hidden Risks

Dr. Chang Chen is a Professor at College of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China. With over 15 years of dedicated research in anaerobic digestion, Dr. Chen has led more than 30 research projects and published 150+ papers in peer-reviewed academic journals. His work mainly focuses on three interconnected themes: 1. Microbial transformation mechanisms of biodegradable plastics (BPs): Unveiling specific microbial pathways and transformation processes of BPs under anaerobic conditions; 2. Process optimization: Developing pretreatment strategies (e.g., chemical/biological activation) and system-level engineering to enhance anaerobic degradation efficiency; 3. Environmental risk assessment: Evaluating the generation, persistence, and ecological impact of biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) in anaerobic environment.

Beyond BPs, Dr. Chen integrates microbial community engineering, metabolic engineering, and machine learning to improve methane production and resource recovery from organic wastes (e.g., agricultural residues, kitchen waste). His research bridges fundamental microbial ecology with applied bioprocess engineering, aiming to balance resource valorization and environmental sustainability.