Microbial Degradation of Plastic Polymers

Plastics are used in almost every aspect of modern life. Large quantities of plastic trash are dumped into the environment on purpose or by accident due to insufficient recycling efforts. Common synthetic plastics include polyethylenes, nylons, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, and polyethylene terephthalate. Through various mechanical or biological degradation processes, plastics break down into the shape of fragments, fibres, pellets, films, beads, or foam having a size < 5 mm, known as microplastics, and their presence is ubiquitous in the aquatic and terrestrial environment. Toxic metals, persistent organic pollutants, and pharmaceutical drugs can all be accumulated and transported by microplastic, making them a severe ecotoxicological concern and a public safety issue. Plastic debris can be safely removed from the environment by combining cutting-edge bioremediation and the natural biodegradation process. Hence, this chapter examines the current scholarly literature on microorganisms, encompassing bacteria, fungi, algae, and invertebrates, alongside natural and synthetic enzymes, regarding their capacity to alter and decompose diverse plastic polymers. Furthermore, the chapter delves into the elaborate mechanism associated with the biodegradation of plastic polymers. Furthermore, the exposition included a range of factors that affect biodegradation processes and the limitations linked to the biodegradability of plastic polymers.