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Degradation of Polypropylene Using Fungal Enzyme As A Sustainable Approach To Management Plastic Waste
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Researchers isolated 17 fungal species from a Malaysian landfill and identified Penicillium levitum and Talaromyces louisianensis as the most promising candidates for breaking down polypropylene plastic, demonstrating sustained activity of the degrading enzymes laccase and manganese peroxidase when the fungi were grown with polypropylene as their sole carbon source.
Polypropylene (PP) is a major environmental problem in Malaysia because it has been ranked the 28th highest plastic polluter in the world (at 56kg per capita per year) in 2021. Landfilling is one of the most common ways of dealing with plastic because leachate may cause increased probability of cancer and neurological impairment in humans. The use of fungi in mycoremediation makes the process eco-friendly. In addition, fungi have a vast hyphal network and broader metabolic competence. The objective of this study was to investigate fungi remediation of PP via the detection of manganese peroxidase and laccase activity in Bushnell Haas Broth (BHB). PP degradation activity was measured via the activity of laccase and manganese peroxidase at a wavelength of 450nm and 610nm, respectively. Of the 17 species of fungi isolated from the Jeram landfill, 12 species of fungi showed growth in BHB with PP as the sole carbon source. Penicillium sp. 1, Aspergillus sp., Penicillium levitum, Talaromyces louisianensis, Aspergillus tamarii, Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Penicillium sp. 2 and Aspergillus niger demonstrated high and longer laccase activity, and these fungi could be considered as potential fungi. P. levitum, P. janthinellum, Penicillium sp, and T. louisianensis have high and longer MnP activity. In summary, P. levitum and T. louisianensis have a high and long duration of MnP and laccase activity in degrading PP, which can be developed and integrated into plastic waste management.
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Fungal Bioremediation: A Sustainable Approach For Tackling Plastic Waste And Environmental Pollution
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This review examines fungal bioremediation as a promising strategy for degrading synthetic plastics including polyethylene, PET, and polystyrene, focusing on fungal genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Phanerochaete chrysosporium and their extracellular enzyme systems. The authors highlight recent advances in genetic engineering and nanotechnology to enhance fungal plastic degradation while acknowledging challenges in degradation rates and scalability.
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Researchers reviewed the growing body of evidence showing that fungi can break down common plastics — including polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene — by secreting specialized enzymes that attack and mineralize plastic polymers, with many effective species coming from the Aspergillus and Penicillium families. The review calls for metagenomic approaches to discover more plastic-degrading fungi and develop them into practical bioremediation tools.
Fungal Enzymes Involved in Plastics Biodegradation
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Researchers reviewed the current literature on fungal enzymes capable of degrading various types of plastic polymers. The study cataloged different enzyme classes including laccases, peroxidases, and cutinases, describing their characteristics and efficacy against specific plastics. Evidence indicates that fungi offer a promising biological approach to plastic biodegradation due to their diverse array of enzymes specialized in breaking down recalcitrant substances.
Identification and Characterization of a Polyethylene-Degrading Fungus Aspergillus sydowii Isolated from Soils of Waste Disposal Sites
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Researchers isolated a new fungal strain, Aspergillus sydowii W144, from landfill soil and found it degrades untreated low-density polyethylene under solid-state conditions—achieving 6.4% weight loss and a 51% reduction in molecular weight in 30 days—then identified laccase as the key initiating enzyme through genomic analysis and heterologous expression.
Screening of Native Fungi For Biodegradation of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Plastic in Mangroves Ecosystem
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Researchers screened native fungi from Malaysian mangrove sediments for their ability to degrade high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, identifying eight species capable of using HDPE as a sole carbon source. Leptobacillium sp. demonstrated the greatest weight loss of HDPE, making it the most promising candidate for integrated plastic waste management in mangrove ecosystems.
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