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Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Polyester-Degrading Bacterial Strains from Municipal Wastewater and Their Application in Microplastic Degradation in Contaminated Wastewater
Summary
Scientists found three types of bacteria in wastewater that can naturally break down polyester microplastics, the tiny plastic fibers that shed from clothes and pollute our water, eventually working their way into the food we eat. In lab tests, these bacteria broke down 8-13% of the plastic over six weeks, which isn't a huge amount, but it's a promising first step toward using natural microbes to help clean up microplastic pollution in wastewater before it spreads further into the environment and our bodies.
Diverse synthetic polymers find their regular application in routine life and are disposed of directly into the environment through various sources. The released microplastic and microfibres from the sources creates contamination in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. When these micropollutants enter the food chain, they have adverse effects on the environment and human health. This study focuses on the application of native bacterial strains isolated for the effective degradation of polyester microfibers. The isolated bacterial strains, namely MFB 6, MFB 8, and MFB 11, tolerant to polyethylene glycol (PEG), were identified as Bacillus sp., Paenibacillus sp., and Aeromonas veronii, respectively, with NCBI gene bank accession numbers ON318306, ON318390, and PP237260. Polyester biodegradation efficiency of 10.5%, 12.6% and 8.4% was achieved by MFB 6, MFB 8 and MFB 11, respectively, after 42 days of investigation in minimal salt medium under shake flask condition. In future the application of these microorganisms will help in sustainable management of synthetic microfiber pollutants and find their suitable application in micro plastic degradation in contaminated wastewater.