We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Biodeterioration of Microplastics: A Promising Step towards Plastics Waste Management
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers screened bacteria from a landfill site for plastic-degrading ability, finding Alcaligenes faecalis and Bacillus cereus as the most active strains, achieving up to 17% degradation of polyester and 29% degradation of polyester by Bacillus cereus. Surface changes confirmed degradation was occurring, and no pre-treatment was needed for these bacteria to utilize plastic as an energy source.
Polyethylene and Polyester materials are resistant to degradation and a significant source of microplastics pollution, which is an emerging concern. In the present study, the potential of a dumped site bacterial community was evaluated. After primary screening, it was observed that 68.5% were linear low-density polyethylene, 33.3% were high-density, and 12.9% were Polyester degraders. Five strains were chosen for secondary screening, in which they were monitored by FTIR, SEM and weight loss degradation trials. Major results were observed for Alcaligenes faecalis (MK517568) and Bacillus cereus (MK517567), as they showed the highest degradation activity. Alcaligenes faecalis (MK517568) degrades LLDPE by 3.5%, HDPE by 5.8% and Polyester by 17.3%. Bacillus cereus (MK517567) is better tolerated at 30 °C and degrades Polyester by 29%. Changes in infrared spectra indicated degradation pathways of different strains depending on the types of plastics targeted. Through SEM analysis, groves, piths and holes were observed on the surface. These findings suggest that soil bacteria develop an effective mechanism for degradation of microplastics and beads that enables them to utilize plastics as a source of energy without the need for pre-treatments, which highlights the importance of these soil bacteria for the future of effective plastic waste management in a soil environment.
More Papers Like This
Biodeterioration of Microplastics: A promising step towards Plastics Waste Management
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers screened bacteria from a dumping site for their ability to degrade polyethylene and polyester plastics, finding that 68.5% of isolates could degrade low-density polyethylene and about 13% could degrade polyester. Selected strains were confirmed as plastic degraders using FTIR spectroscopy and electron microscopy, suggesting potential for bioremediation of plastic waste.
Microbial degradation of virgin polyethylene by bacteria isolated from a landfill site
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers isolated bacteria from landfill sites that had been exposed to plastic waste for up to 17 years and tested their ability to break down high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a common plastic used in packaging. The bacterium Bacillus cereus achieved the highest degradation at only 1.78% weight loss, confirming that plastic biodegradation in landfills is an extremely slow process.
Biodegradation of micro-polyethylene particles by bacterial colonization of a mixed microbial consortium isolated from a landfill site
AI summary Read the abstract
A bacterial consortium isolated from a municipal landfill, dominated by Bacillus and Paenibacillus species, was shown to reduce the dry weight of polyethylene microplastic particles by 14.7% and particle diameter by 22.8% after 60 days of incubation. The study provides evidence that landfill-adapted bacteria can biodegrade PE microplastics under mesophilic conditions.
Isolation, Screening and Characterization of Plastic-Degrading Bacteria From Soil for PWM
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists isolated bacteria from soil near garbage sites and identified strains capable of degrading plastic materials, with scanning electron microscopy revealing physical damage — holes and cracks — to plastic surfaces after bacterial exposure within 30 days. The study contributes to the search for soil microbes that could be harnessed for biological plastic waste management. Biodegradation by indigenous soil bacteria could offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to landfilling or incineration of plastic waste.
Screening, Identification, and Degradation Mechanism of Polyester Fiber-Degrading Bacteria
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists screened soil bacteria isolated from moldy plastic bags and identified several Bacillus strains capable of degrading polyester fibers and PET plastic under normal temperatures, achieving mass losses of up to 5-6% over 30 days. The study characterizes the degradation mechanisms involved, advancing the search for biological solutions to plastic waste. Bacterial biodegradation could offer a low-energy, scalable approach to breaking down persistent plastic pollution.
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.