Recent Advancements and Mechanism of Plastics Biodegradation Promoted by Bacteria: A Key for Sustainable Remediation for Plastic Wastes

ABSTRACT: Plastic has become an indispensable part of our lives and cutting down plastic consumption entirely is difficult to achieve. The recalcitrant and non-biodegradable nature of plastic leads to accumulation of tons of plastic in landfills and water bodies which further risks marine life and human life too causing serious health issues. In recent years, several microbial enzymes have been discovered that have the ability to degrade plastic. The present review highlights the recent discovery and properties of the plastic-eating bacteria, Ideonella sakaiensis, that has potential to be used for plastic degradation and recycling. The bacteria possess unique enzymes that allow it to utilise Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, thereby degrading it to relatively safer monomeric forms that can be further degraded and purified to manufacture recycled plastics. The review focuses on the mechanism of PET hydrolysis, recent advances in the field to escalate enzymatic efficiency and development of new bacterial and enzymatic strains through genetic engineering which can enhance its catalytic competence and make the process time and cost-effective. The plastic metabolising bacteria can thus be a potential and efficient bio-alternative to degrade plastic in a biological and sustainable manner thereby helping scale the otherwise insurmountable plastic pollution crisis.