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Biological Approaches for the Degradation of Plastics
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This review summarizes existing research on using living organisms, such as fungi, bacteria, algae, and microbial enzymes, to break down plastic. It describes which methods have been studied, factors affecting how well they work, and notes that greater awareness could support larger-scale use of these approaches.
Plastic is an organic polymer with a high molecular weight, made from several hydrocarbons and petroleum derivatives. Excessive consumption of plastics poses a significant threat to the environment and human health. In the present time, plastic pollution is a serious global concern, making its proper management, handling, processing, and treatment an essential task. Among the various physical, chemical, and biological methods of plastic degradation, biological techniques are well known for their high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and the easy availability of biological sources. Biodegradation of plastic polymers has been studied through various biological approaches using fungi, bacteria, algae, microbial enzymes, and combined technologies (integration of biological methods with chemical, physical, and/or other methods). Among these, fungi, bacteria, and microbial enzyme–based biodegradation methods are dominant over other biological approaches. Microorganisms play a major role in the degradation of plastic. This review discusses the efficiency of various biological sources and methods in degrading plastic polymers, the factors influencing the rate of biodegradation, and future prospects. In addition to a critical assessment of the biological efficiency of plastic degradation, there is also a need to raise awareness and foster greater interest in the use of these methods for large-scale plastic degradation.
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Research Progress in Microbial Degradation of Microplastics
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This review summarizes recent progress in using microorganisms to degrade microplastics, covering bacteria, fungi, and algae capable of breaking down various plastic types. The study suggests that microbial degradation is an economically feasible and environmentally friendly approach compared to physical and chemical methods, though challenges remain in scaling up these processes.
Microbial Degradation of Micro‐Plastics
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This review examines the role of naturally occurring microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and algae in degrading microplastics, discussing the enzymatic mechanisms involved, the species identified as effective plastic degraders, and the prospects for applying microbial degradation pathways in bioremediation strategies.
Microbial degradation of microplastics: Effectiveness, challenges, and sustainable solutions
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This review summarizes current knowledge on microbial degradation of microplastics, examining the effectiveness of bacteria, fungi, and algae in breaking down various plastic polymers. Researchers found that while certain microorganisms show promising degradation capabilities, the process remains slow and faces challenges in real-world conditions. The study identifies key research gaps and potential strategies for developing more effective biological microplastic remediation approaches.
Recent advances in biodegradation of emerging contaminants - microplastics (MPs): Feasibility, mechanism, and future prospects
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This review explores biological approaches to breaking down microplastics, including using bacteria, fungi, and enzymes. While some organisms can partially degrade certain plastic types, the process is slow and incomplete compared to the scale of pollution. The research is promising for future cleanup efforts but shows that biodegradation alone cannot yet solve the microplastic contamination problem.
Microorganism-mediated biodegradation for effective management and/or removal of micro-plastics from the environment: a comprehensive review
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This review summarizes research on using microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae to break down microplastics in the environment. While some organisms can partially degrade certain plastic types through fragmentation and chemical breakdown, no single microbe can fully eliminate microplastics. The review highlights that biological degradation is a promising but still limited approach to addressing microplastic pollution, and more research is needed to develop effective microbial cleanup strategies.
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