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Microbial plastic and microplastic bioremediation and innovations
Summary
Scientists are studying certain bacteria and fungi that can naturally "eat" plastic, breaking it down using special enzymes instead of letting it pile up in landfills and oceans. This review paper rounds up what researchers have learned so far, including new tech that could speed up this microbial cleanup process, but notes there are still real challenges before it can be used on a large scale. This matters because as plastic waste breaks down into microplastics that contaminate our water, food, and even our bodies, finding safer ways to eliminate plastic pollution could reduce our long-term exposure to these particles.
Plastics have become an indispensable part of our daily lives and, despite their negative effects on the environment, they are unavoidable. A continual accumulation of plastic waste has led to plastic pollution and this environmental problem has increased pressure on scientists to develop alternatives for plastic biodegradation and bioremediation. This chapter will examine the methods of action of microorganisms and their enzymatic pathways in the biodegradation of plastic polymers, which will also highlight recent findings of multiple microbial species that may biodegrade plastic and the distinct enzymes they produce throughout the bioremediation process. Also highlighted are new methods in engineering, biotechnology and nanotechnology that may increase the pace of microbial plastic biodegradation by maximising microbial efficacies. This chapter will also discuss the limitations, obstacles and difficulties encountered in the implementation of plastic biodegradation, as well as the ecological effects of engineering solutions and the efficient promotion of natural plastic biodegradation. Finally, the significance of interdisciplinary research in promoting sustainable plastic biodegradation within waste management, addressing the constraints of plastic bioremediation and providing avenues for future research while enhancing the potential for large-scale industrial plastic biodegradation, is highlighted.