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Mycelium: The Sustainable Revolution in Eco-friendly Materials
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This review explores mycelium-based materials as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, which shed harmful microplastics and microfibers into ecosystems. Fungal materials could help reduce plastic production at the source, potentially curbing the growing burden of microplastic pollution on human and environmental health.
In today’s rapidly advancing world, plastic pollution is increasing at an alarming rate. Plastic materials and their various forms, such as microplastics and microfibers, pose significant issues, leading to the degradation of ecosystems and life on Earth. This...
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Microplastic Pollution: Sources, Environmental Hazards, and Mycoremediation as a Sustainable Solution
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Researchers reviewed the sources and environmental hazards of microplastic pollution and evaluated mycoremediation — the use of fungi — as a sustainable biological strategy for plastic degradation. Fungi capable of enzymatically breaking down synthetic polymers offer a low-cost, scalable remediation option that could address the global accumulation of microplastics in soils and aquatic environments.
Utilizing Fungal Mycelium in Bio-nanocomposites as a Replacement for Chemically Synthesized Lightweight Polymers
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Researchers reviewed the use of fungal mycelium — the root-like network of fungi — as a biodegradable material to replace lightweight synthetic polymers in bio-nanocomposites. Replacing petroleum-based plastics with mycelium-based materials could substantially reduce the production of microplastics that persist in ecosystems and accumulate in human tissue.
Mycoremediation of Micro-/Nanoplastics-Contaminated Soils
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This study reviewed mycoremediation — using fungi and their enzymes — as a strategy for remediating soils contaminated with micro- and nanoplastics, with plastic pollution having increased nearly 200-fold over 50 years. Fungal bioremediation presents a cost-effective and environmentally compatible approach for restoring contaminated agricultural and natural soils, reducing the long-term human dietary exposure to microplastics from food grown in polluted land.
Microplastics Removal from Water and Wastewater Using Fungal System
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Researchers examined the use of fungi as a biological tool for removing microplastics and nanoplastics from water, exploring how fungal systems can capture plastic particles as a potentially cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional filtration methods.
Cellulose, chitin and silk: the cornerstones of green composites
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Biopolymer composites made from cellulose, chitin/chitosan, and silk fibroin offer renewable, biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, with applications spanning textiles, medicine, food packaging, and fluid decontamination. As concern grows over microplastic contamination from conventional polymer degradation, these green composites represent a promising class of materials that could reduce future plastic pollution at the source.
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