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Microorganisms: Promising approach to quench plastic pollution
Summary
This review surveys the range of bacteria and fungi — including Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and several fungal phyla — that are capable of degrading plastics including polyethylene, the world's most produced plastic. Microbial biodegradation is presented as a promising complement to physical and chemical recycling methods, with the potential to address plastic pollution already dispersed in the environment. Harnessing these organisms could eventually provide biological tools to break down plastic waste that has entered soils, waterways, and the ocean.
Plastic is a broad name given to all different kinds of polymers. Polyethylene accounts for 64% of total plastic production worldwide. Plastic pollution has great impact on environment and on human health. There are various methods for plastic degradation including thermal oxidation, thermal degradation and biological degradation. Microorganisms can degrade polymers by direct biodegradation or by biological action. Bacterial species (Pseudomonas and Bacillus) as well as fungi (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Mucormycota) have been identified to degrade this harmful waste. This review discusses various approaches and findings related to the degradation of plastic by microorganisms.
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