We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Haloalkalitolerant Nitrile-Utilizing Rhodococcus Strains Promote the Biodegradation of Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber.
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found bacteria that can actually start breaking down nitrile rubber—the material used in disposable medical gloves that has piled up as pollution since COVID-19. These microbes grow on the rubber and use enzymes to chemically alter it, kicking off the early stages of degradation, which is a promising first step toward tackling the mountains of glove waste littering our environment. While this doesn't mean the gloves will fully disappear anytime soon, it points toward future ways to reduce plastic and microplastic pollution that can otherwise end up in our water, soil, and even our bodies.
Environmental pollution from polymers is reaching alarming levels. Nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), widely used in medical glove manufacturing, contributes significantly to plastic and microplastic pollution. Nitrile gloves have become a major component of COVID-19 pandemic-related waste. In this study, we demonstrated the ability of haloalkalitolerant, nitrile-utilizing IEGM 1416 and IEGM 1417 to grow on a mineral medium containing NBR as the sole nitrogen source. Scanning electron microscopy and colony-forming unit (CFU) counting confirmed the development of biofilms on this material, representing the first step in polymer biodegradation. After UV and freeze-thaw pretreatment of NBR, biofilm biomass for IEGM 1416 and IEGM 1417 reached (7.28 ± 0.48) × 10 and (6.27 ± 0.72) × 10 CFU/cm, respectively. Using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, we identified structural changes in NBR following UV/freeze-thaw treatment and subsequent 1-month cultivation. The appearance of amide groups in the polymer structure resulted from the transformation of nitrile groups by bacterial nitrile hydratases. Oxidative aging of the material was observed after both UV irradiation and bacterial growth; notably, the effect varied between the different sides of the NBR due to structural heterogeneity. Enzymes from haloalkalitolerant nitrile-utilizing rhodococci induce chemical changes in NBR, corresponding to the initial stages of backbone oxidation and nitrile group transformation.
More Papers Like This
Microbial strategies for degradation of microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed microbial strategies for degrading microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste such as masks, gloves, and personal protective equipment. The study discusses how improper disposal of pandemic-related plastic waste creates microplastic pollution and explores the potential of microorganisms to break down these polymeric materials as a bioremediation approach.
The global potential of freshwater microbes for plastic degradation.
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists scanned nearly 1,000 water samples from lakes and rivers worldwide and discovered thousands of naturally occurring microbes that carry genes capable of breaking down plastic, including 11 microbes with a complete toolkit for degrading polystyrene (the material in Styrofoam). This matters because plastic pollution, including the microplastics increasingly found in our food, water, and even bloodstream, is a growing health concern, and these findings could help scientists develop eco-friendly, bacteria-based methods to clean up plastic waste before it accumulates in our environment and bodies.
Assessing biodegradation of roadway particles via complementary mass spectrometry and NMR analyses
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny bits of tire and road debris wash off streets carrying hundreds of chemicals, but this study found that certain bacteria can actually break down some of these pollutants, including partially degrading the rubber itself. This matters because it suggests nature may have some built-in ways to clean up roadway pollution before it accumulates in soil, waterways, and potentially our food and water supply, though more research is needed to know how much this happens in the real world.
Degradation behavior and microplastic release from disposable gloves in a model environmental system
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested latex and nitrile disposable gloves under simulated environmental conditions, finding both types release micro- and nanoplastics as they degrade, with latex breaking down faster while nitrile persists longer — highlighting PPE waste as an underappreciated source of plastic pollution.
Scientists may be overestimating the amount of microplastics in the environment – and the culprit is lab gloves
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that particles shed from certain laboratory gloves closely resemble microplastics under analysis and can contaminate environmental samples, suggesting that published estimates of microplastic concentrations in nature may be inflated by this widespread lab artifact.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.