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Removal of microplastic for a sustainable strategy by microbial biodegradation
Summary
Researchers reviewed which microorganisms — including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and several fungi and algae species — show the greatest ability to break down microplastics, and highlighted how genetic engineering and combining multiple degradation methods could make biological plastic cleanup viable at larger scales.
Predictions indicate a concerning surge in plastic waste, expected to reach 380 million tonnes by 2040 from 188 million tonnes in 2016. Strategies to combat this could reduce yearly waste to 140 million tonnes, but this may not fully address existing pollution levels. Urgent action is needed to devise safe and effective methods for degrading microplastics. Use of microorganisms ranging from bacteria to algae to help in the biodegradation of these particles has been employed and researched upon extensively. Microorganisms belonging to the following genus: Bacillus, Actinobacteria, Pseudomonas, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cyanobacteria and various species of microalgae have shown remarkable capabilities to degrade microplastic present in the environment. The main focus of this review is to highlight the potential microorganisms and organisms that can help with biodegradation of microplastics. The review also touches upon new biotechnological advancements like the use of genetically modified organisms to aid in the biodegradation of microplastics. It also highlights the gaps in research regarding the use of microorganisms and genetically modified organisms in a large scale and in combination with other degradation techniques in order to efficiently and safely degrade microplastics.