We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A novel Bacillus subtilis BPM12 with high bis(2 hydroxyethyl)terephthalate hydrolytic activity efficiently interacts with virgin and mechanically recycled polyethylene terephthalate
Summary
Researchers discovered a soil bacterium, Bacillus subtilis BPM12, that can break down PET plastic building blocks at impressively high rates and across a wide range of temperatures and pH levels. The study shows that combining mechanical shredding with biological degradation by this microbe could be a practical route to recycling more PET plastic waste, a major source of environmental microplastics, back into useful chemicals.
Biotechnological treatment of plastic waste has gathered substantial attention as an efficient and generally greener approach for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) depolymerization and upcycling in comparison to mechanical and chemical processes. Nevertheless, a suitable combination of mechanical and microbial degradation may be the key to bringing forward PET upcycling. In this study, a new strain with an excellent bis(2 hydroxyethyl)terephthalate (BHET) degradation potential (1000 mg/mL in 120 h at 30 °C) and wide temperature (20-47 °C) and pH (5-10) tolerance was isolated from a pristine soil sample. It was identified as Bacillus subtilis BPM12 via phenotypical and genome analysis. A number of enzymes with potential polymer degrading activities were identified, including carboxylesterase BPM12CE that was efficiently expressed both, homologously in B. subtilis BPM12 and heterologously in B. subtilis 168 strain. Overexpression of this enzyme enabled B. subtilis 168 to degrade BHET, while the activity of BPM12 increased up to 1.8-fold, confirming its BHET-ase activity. Interaction of B. subtilis BPM12 with virgin PET films and films that were re-extruded up to 5 times mimicking mechanical recycling, revealed the ability of the strain to attach and form biofilm on each surface. Mechanical recycling resulted in PET materials that are more susceptible to chemical hydrolysis, however only slight differences were detected in biological degradation when BPM12 whole-cells or cell-free enzyme preparations were used. Mixed mechano/bio-degradation with whole-cells and crude enzyme mixes from this strain can serve to further increase the percentage of PET- based plastics that can enter circularity.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Examining and identifying bacteria-mediated polyethylene terephthalate bottle waste degradation Byprops
Researchers isolated Bacillus subtilis from PET plastic waste dump sites and demonstrated that the bacterium can degrade polyethylene terephthalate microplastics over six months, with UV-pretreated PET showing the most pronounced changes including new alkyl aryl ether and alkene groups detected by FTIR and GC-MS. The findings suggest soil bacteria could offer a biodegradable solution for eliminating PET from plastic-contaminated sites.
Biodegradation of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) by Bacillus safensis YX8
Researchers isolated a PET-degrading bacterial strain, Bacillus safensis YX8, from the surface of plastic waste and demonstrated its ability to break down PET nanoparticles. The study identified the degradation products as terephthalic acid and related compounds, suggesting this bacterium could contribute to environmentally friendly approaches for managing PET plastic waste.
Discovery and rational engineering of PET hydrolase with both mesophilic and thermophilic PET hydrolase properties
Researchers discovered a new enzyme from a soil bacterium that can break down PET plastic — the material in most plastic bottles — at both room temperature and elevated heat, then engineered an improved version that degrades PET powder almost completely within half a day at 55°C. This dual-temperature capability makes it more practical than existing enzymes for industrial-scale plastic recycling and could help address the global PET waste problem.
Degradation of PET plastic with engineered environmental bacteria
Scientists engineered a soil bacterium to break down PET plastic, one of the most common plastics in food packaging and textiles, by giving it the ability to produce and secrete a powerful plastic-degrading enzyme. This is one of the first demonstrations of a living microorganism that can directly consume PET as a food source, which could lead to more sustainable recycling approaches.
Biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics by Paenibacillus naphthalenovorans PETKKU2: Response surface optimization and genomic evidence for an alternative degradation mechanism
This study identified a soil bacterium, Paenibacillus naphthalenovorans PETKKU2, isolated from a Thai landfill, as capable of degrading PET microplastics and achieving nearly 10% weight loss over 35 days under optimized conditions — through a degradation pathway distinct from the well-known PETase enzyme route. Surface analysis confirmed progressive erosion and chemical changes in the plastic. Discovering new microbial pathways for PET degradation is important for developing biological recycling and remediation strategies for one of the world's most common plastic pollutants.