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Emerging Frontiers in Environmental Biotechnology
Summary
This chapter examines how biotechnology can address microplastic pollution generated by industrialization, reviewing bio-based degradation pathways, nanobiotechnology applications, and the role of engineered organisms in reducing plastic use and waste. The authors assess the future potential of environmental biotechnology as a sustainable tool for managing hazardous microplastic contamination across industries.
Rising global demand for food, energy, fuels, textile and other specialty products has imposed substantial challenges for industrialization and modernization. As a result, the waste generated from industries, especially microplastics (MPs), leads to environmental degradation and air, water, land, and soil pollution. To protect public health and the environment, various scientists and engineers have investigated optimizing the commercial treatment of waste, but current commercial treatments possess limitations. In response, biotechnology looks like a promising tool for managing hazardous waste products from fields like health care, textiles, drinking water production, and environment preservation. The authors of this chapter explore how promotes the degradation of MPs, including the evolution of bio-based industries and biotechnology’s scope in emerging markets. The consolidation of biotechnology with other disciplines leads to the emergence of nanobiotechnology and bioelectronics. Biotechnology has greatly influenced agriculture, horticulture, and genetic engineering; plants and animals are being deployed to yield useful products and in the process reduce the plastic usage in our daily life. The perceptible role of environmental biotechnology in the future is also highlighted; the authors appraise the sustainable methods and promising directions for remediating MP pollution.
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