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Role of Various Microbes and Their Enzymatic Mechanisms for Biodegradation of Microplastics
Summary
This review examines the microbial enzymes and degradation mechanisms responsible for biodegrading microplastic polymers, covering bacterial, fungal, and algal systems that have evolved plastic-degrading capabilities over the past 150 years of plastic production. The authors survey the most promising enzymatic pathways and organisms for biotechnological application in microplastic remediation.
Throughout the past 150 years, numerous plastic polymers with unique qualities have been developed to substitute materials like wood, glass, and metal in a variety of applications. However, the unique qualities that make plastic suitable for daily usage also endanger the sustainability of our planet. As plastics are resilient, non-reactive, and non-biodegradable, the amount of plastic waste generated has increased exponentially. The current techniques of plastic waste degradation are highly expensive and unsustainable in nature. Consequently, the potential of biological systems to break down synthetic plastics has received increased attention recently. This chapter summarizes the microplastic formation route; harmful effects of microplastics on human, soil, and plant health; factors affecting microbial degradation of microplastics; mechanisms of microbe-mediated microplastic degradation; and current knowledge on how actinomycetes, algae, bacteria, fungi, and their enzymes contribute to the breakdown of synthetic plastics.