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Plastic waste impact and biotechnology: Exploring polymer degradation, microbial role, and sustainable development implications
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Researchers reviewed how microorganisms and their enzymes can break down different types of plastic waste through both aerobic (oxygen-using) and anaerobic (oxygen-free) pathways. The review highlights biotechnological tools like genetic modification that could accelerate plastic biodegradation, supporting a shift toward a circular economy.
The significant impact of plastic waste on ecosystems has raised concerns regarding its detrimental effects. This review examines the various types of synthetic and degradable plastics and explores the physiochemical properties of polymers during degradation. It delves into the management of plastic waste, considering both abiotic and biotic degradation mechanisms. Biotic degradation, including aerobic and anaerobic pathways, is also examined, with a specific focus on the role of microorganisms and their enzymes in facilitating biodegradation. The review further explores the biotechnological implications of plastic waste management, including gene manipulation, genetic modification, and the potential of anaerobic biotechnology. It emphasizes the importance of transitioning toward a circular economy and highlights the alignment of these efforts with sustainable development goals (SDGs). Overall, this review provides insights into the impact of plastic waste on the environment, explores degradation mechanisms, and discusses biotechnological approaches and sustainable practices aimed at addressing the challenges posed by plastic waste.
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Genetic Enhancement of Plastic Degrading Bacteria: The Way to a Sustainable and Healthy Environment
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Researchers review how genetic engineering of plastic-degrading bacteria could accelerate the biological breakdown of plastic waste, highlighting promising enzymes and metabolic pathways. Engineering microbes with enhanced plastic-digesting capabilities could become an important tool for reducing the global accumulation of microplastics in the environment.
Recent Advancements and Mechanism of Plastics Biodegradation Promoted by Bacteria: A Key for Sustainable Remediation for Plastic Wastes
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This review highlights recent discoveries of microbial enzymes capable of degrading various plastics, discussing bacterial biodegradation mechanisms as a sustainable remediation strategy for addressing accumulating plastic waste in landfills and water bodies.
Microbial plastic degradation: enzymes, pathways, challenges, and perspectives.
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This review synthesizes current knowledge on microbial plastic degradation, covering the enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in breaking down major synthetic polymers, the challenges limiting efficient biodegradation, and perspectives for engineering improved microbial solutions to plastic waste.
The plastic and microplastic waste menace and bacterial biodegradation for sustainable environmental clean-up a review
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This review examined bacterial biodegradation of plastic and microplastic waste, covering key microbial species, enzymatic mechanisms, and biotechnological approaches being developed for sustainable environmental cleanup of plastic pollution.
Insights into Microbial Enzymatic Biodegradation of Plastics and Microplastics: Technological Updates
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This review covers the latest advances in using microbial enzymes and biotechnology to break down plastic and microplastic waste. While some bacteria and fungi can partially degrade certain plastics, the process is slow and limited by factors like the plastic's chemical structure and crystallinity. The research points toward genetic engineering and genome editing as potential tools to speed up plastic degradation, though practical large-scale solutions are still in development.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.