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One-Pot Biosynthesis of Acetone from Waste Poly(hydroxybutyrate)
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This paper is not primarily about microplastic health effects. It describes a method for recycling the biodegradable bioplastic PHB into acetone using engineered bacteria, demonstrating a biological approach to converting plastic waste into useful chemicals. While the study mentions that PHB degradation into microplastics could affect soil microbiomes, its focus is on developing circular bioeconomy recycling technology rather than studying microplastic contamination or exposure.
The plastic waste crisis is catalyzing change across the plastics life cycle. Central to this is increased production and application of bioplastics and biodegradable plastics. In particular, poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable bioplastic that can be produced from various renewable and waste feedstocks and is a promising alternative to some petrochemical-derived and non-biodegradable plastics. Despite its advantages, PHB biodegradation depends on environmental conditions, and the effects of degradation into microplastics, oligomers, and the 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB) monomer on soil microbiomes are unknown. We hypothesized that the ease of PHB biodegradation renders this next-generation plastic an ideal feedstock for microbial recycling into platform chemicals currently produced from fossil fuels. To demonstrate this, we report the one-pot degradation and recycling of PHB into acetone using a single strain of engineered Escherichia coli. Following strain development and initial bioprocess optimization, we report maximum titers of 123 mM acetone (7 g/L) from commercial PHB granules after 24 h fermentation at 30 °C. We further report biorecycling of an authentic sample of post-consumer PHB waste at a preparative scale. This is the first demonstration of biological recycling of PHB into a second-generation chemical, and it demonstrates next-generation plastic waste as a novel feedstock for the circular bioeconomy.
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An Overview of Biorefinery Waste for Microbial Production of Green Plastic in a Circular Economy
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This review examines how waste streams from biorefineries — such as agricultural residues and food processing byproducts — can be used as feedstocks for microbial production of bioplastics like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The authors assess current production methods, cost challenges, and the potential for a circular bioeconomy where plastic alternatives are made from waste rather than fossil fuels. While not about microplastic contamination directly, reducing reliance on conventional plastics through bio-based alternatives is a key long-term strategy for limiting microplastic generation.
PHB - Bio Based and Biodegradable Replacement for PP
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This review examined polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) as a biodegradable, bio-based replacement for polypropylene in food packaging, noting that PHB is produced naturally by bacteria and degrades in marine environments unlike conventional plastics. The paper highlights PHB's potential to reduce plastic waste and microplastic pollution from short-lived packaging.
3D-bioprinted marine bacteria for the degradation of bioplastics
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Despite its title referencing bioplastics, this paper studies the engineering of 3D-printed living materials containing bacteria that can break down biodegradable plastic (PHB) in marine environments — not microplastic pollution from conventional plastics. It examines how bacteria-embedded gel stickers degrade bioplastics in cold saltwater conditions and is not directly relevant to microplastic contamination or human health impacts.
Exploring Microorganisms from Plastic-Polluted Sites: Unveiling Plastic Degradation and PHA Production Potential
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Researchers screened microorganisms from plastic-polluted sites for their ability to break down conventional plastics and produce a biodegradable alternative called PHA. They identified several bacterial strains capable of degrading synthetic polymers and simultaneously producing this bio-based plastic from waste materials. The study highlights the potential for using naturally adapted microbes from contaminated environments as tools for both plastic cleanup and sustainable material production.
PHBV cycle of life using waste as a starting point: from production to recyclability
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This review examines PHBV, a biodegradable plastic made by bacteria from food waste, as a potential replacement for conventional petroleum-based plastics. Unlike traditional plastics that break down into persistent microplastics, PHBV can fully decompose in natural environments and be recycled in a circular economy. Switching to biodegradable alternatives like PHBV could help reduce the ongoing buildup of microplastic pollution that threatens human health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.