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Biodegradation of Typical Plastics: From Microbial Diversity to Metabolic Mechanisms
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This review examines how marine microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, can naturally break down common plastics like PET, polystyrene, and polyethylene. Marine microbes may be better adapted than land-based organisms for this task because they already thrive in harsh conditions, offering a potential environmentally friendly approach to addressing ocean plastic pollution.
Plastic production has increased dramatically, leading to accumulated plastic waste in the ocean. Marine plastics can be broken down into microplastics (<5 mm) by sunlight, machinery, and pressure. The accumulation of microplastics in organisms and the release of plastic additives can adversely affect the health of marine organisms. Biodegradation is one way to address plastic pollution in an environmentally friendly manner. Marine microorganisms can be more adapted to fluctuating environmental conditions such as salinity, temperature, pH, and pressure compared with terrestrial microorganisms, providing new opportunities to address plastic pollution. Pseudomonadota (Proteobacteria), Bacteroidota (Bacteroidetes), Bacillota (Firmicutes), and Cyanobacteria were frequently found on plastic biofilms and may degrade plastics. Currently, diverse plastic-degrading bacteria are being isolated from marine environments such as offshore and deep oceanic waters, especially Pseudomonas spp. Bacillus spp. Alcanivoras spp. and Actinomycetes. Some marine fungi and algae have also been revealed as plastic degraders. In this review, we focused on the advances in plastic biodegradation by marine microorganisms and their enzymes (esterase, cutinase, laccase, etc.) involved in the process of biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP) and highlighted the need to study plastic biodegradation in the deep sea.
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Microbial Degradation of Plastics and Approaches to Make it More Efficient
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This review examines microbial degradation of plastics by bacteria and fungi, focusing on polyethylene, polystyrene, and PET, and discusses methods to make biodegradation more efficient as a potential solution to plastic pollution.
Microbes in Plastic Degradation
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This review examines how microorganisms can break down common plastics like polyethylene and PET through enzymatic processes. Researchers summarized the key bacterial and fungal species capable of degrading plastics and the conditions that affect degradation rates. The study highlights that while microbial plastic degradation is promising, natural breakdown is slow and more research is needed to make biological solutions practical at scale.
Analysis of the application of microorganisms for the degradation of plastics
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This review examines the use of microorganisms to degrade plastic waste, covering the types of bacteria and fungi known to break down common polymers such as polyethylene, polystyrene, and PET. It discusses the enzymatic mechanisms involved and the potential for scaling up microbial plastic degradation as a waste management strategy.
Plastics: Environmental and Biotechnological Perspectives on Microbial Degradation
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This review explores the environmental challenges of plastic accumulation and the potential for microorganisms to degrade various types of plastics. Researchers summarized recent discoveries of bacteria and fungi capable of breaking down common plastics like polyethylene and PET, though degradation rates remain slow. The study highlights microbial degradation as a promising but still developing biotechnological approach to addressing plastic pollution.
Microbial and Enzymatic Degradation of Synthetic Plastics
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This review examines microorganisms and enzymes that show promise for breaking down common synthetic plastics like polyethylene, PET, and polystyrene. While natural biodegradation of these materials is extremely slow, researchers have identified certain bacteria, fungi, and enzymes that can accelerate the process, pointing toward potential biological solutions for plastic pollution.
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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.