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Microbial Fuel Cells as a Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Technology for Microplastic Degradation in Wastewater: A Future Perspective
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Researchers reviewed microbial fuel cells as a dual-purpose platform for microplastic degradation and bioelectricity generation, finding that plastic-degrading bacteria coupled with electro-Fenton oxidation can break down polyethylene, PET, polystyrene, and other common plastics while offering lower operational costs than conventional treatment technologies.
Microplastics (MPs) are persistent emerging pollutants that threaten aquatic ecosystems, terrestrial environments, and human health. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have recently gained attention as a sustainable and eco-friendly platform for MP degradation due to their ability to couple microbial metabolism with bioelectricity generation. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the role of plastic-degrading and electrogenic microorganisms, such as Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Citrobacter sp., Brevibacillus sp., and Klebsiella sp., that secrete key enzymes including lipases, esterases, depolymerases, and cutinases. These enzymes facilitate the breakdown of major MPs such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyurethane into metabolizable monomers and oligomers. Two principal mechanisms underpin MP degradation within MFCs, wherein anaerobic enzymatic depolymerization in the anodic biofilm enables the uptake and mineralization of MP-derived intermediates, while simultaneously, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in the cathodic chamber through electro-Fenton reactions promote oxidative scission of polymer chains, thereby accelerating the overall degradation process. Reported studies demonstrate measurable degradation efficiencies and simultaneous electricity generation, indicating a synergistic relationship between biodegradation and electrogenic activity. A techno-economic assessment reveals that MFCs offer lower operational costs than conventional treatment technologies due to reduced energy demand and the added benefit of electricity production. However, limitations persist, including MP heterogeneity, slow degradation rates, electrode fouling, and challenges in scaling up reactor configurations. Overall, MFCs represent a multifunctional and promising technology for mitigating MP pollution, with future opportunities in microbial engineering, system optimization, and integration into existing wastewater treatment infrastructures.
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Microbial Technologies for Degradation of Microplastics in Wastewater
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Researchers reviewed microbial technologies — including bacterial degradation, fungal breakdown, and enzymatic pathways — capable of fragmenting and mineralizing microplastic polymers in wastewater treatment systems. These biological approaches offer a sustainable, low-cost route to eliminating microplastics before they accumulate in aquatic ecosystems and enter the food chain.
Bioremediation of Microplastic Pollution Using Microorganisms: Opportunities and Challenges
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Researchers reviewed how microorganisms like bacteria and fungi can break down plastics through biological processes, offering a potentially eco-friendly alternative to landfilling or burning plastic waste. While promising, these bioremediation approaches still face significant challenges in scale and efficiency before they can be widely deployed.
Microplastics Pollution: Occurrence, Behaviour and Microbial Remediation Technologies
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This review covers the occurrence, environmental behavior, and microbial remediation technologies for microplastic pollution, noting their diverse physical and chemical properties that make them persistent environmental hazards. Microplastics pose risks across ecosystems by carrying toxic chemicals and physically harming organisms, making microbial cleanup strategies a promising tool for reducing contamination before it reaches human bodies.
Biodegradation of the Macroplastic Waste Using Microbial Approach
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Microbial biodegradation offers a promising approach to breaking down the growing tide of macroplastic waste entering ocean environments, with certain microorganisms capable of enzymatically depolymerizing synthetic polymers. Understanding and harnessing these microbial pathways is critical for reducing the downstream fragmentation of plastics into microplastics that contaminate marine food webs.
Microbial Biodegradation of Plastics and Microplastics: Recent Development
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Researchers reviewed recent advances in microbial biodegradation of plastics and microplastics, identifying key bacterial and fungal species capable of breaking down synthetic polymers and highlighting the biological mechanisms that could underpin scalable plastic waste remediation strategies.
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