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8 Recent endeavors in microbial remediation of micro- and nanoplastics
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This book chapter reviews microbial strategies for breaking down micro- and nanoplastics, covering bacteria, fungi, algae, and their associated enzymes. While microbial degradation of plastics is still slow and limited, understanding these pathways is essential for developing practical bioremediation solutions.
Petrochemical plastics are frequently utilized in our daily lives for various purposes such as packaging and transportation, but their burden on the environment is considered one of the most man-made pollution crises. These pollutants are slowly fragmented in the environment into microplastics and nanoplastics by consolidated actions of abiotic and biotic factors. Microplastics and nanoplastics can easily be dispersed in the atmosphere and be harmful to all kinds of life. As a result, the remediation of micro- and nanoplastics has recently received a tremendous research impetus in the realm of an ecologically benign approach, notably microbial-based remediation. Thus, the current article looks at the formation, properties, analysis, and biological effects of micro- and nanoplastics. The content is then streamlined towards a comprehensive discussion on microbial-mediated degradation of microplastics and nanoplastics, with an emphasis on front-line bacteria and enzymes, as well as remediation mechanisms. Further, technologies for the removal of microplastics and nanoplastics from the environment are presented for possible remedial considerations. An attempt is also made to highlight the practical snags of microbial plastic degradation while aiming to alleviate the environmental burden of plastic waste.
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This review examines microbial bioremediation of microplastics, covering the bacteria, fungi, and algae known to degrade different plastic polymers and the enzymes involved. Biological degradation of microplastics offers a potentially scalable approach to reducing plastic contamination in soil and aquatic environments.
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This review examines the microbial enzymes and degradation mechanisms responsible for biodegrading microplastic polymers, covering bacterial, fungal, and algal systems that have evolved plastic-degrading capabilities over the past 150 years of plastic production. The authors survey the most promising enzymatic pathways and organisms for biotechnological application in microplastic remediation.
Recent endeavors in microbial remediation of micro- and nanoplastics
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This review examines recent advances in using microorganisms to break down micro- and nanoplastics in the environment. Researchers highlight promising microbial strains and enzymatic pathways that may offer eco-friendly solutions to 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.