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Biodegradación de espumas plásticas por larvas de insectos: ¿una estrategia sustentable?
Summary
This review examines the biodegradation of plastic foams by insect larvae, particularly mealworms and waxworms, as a potential sustainable strategy for managing plastic waste. Researchers discuss the enzymatic mechanisms involved, current limitations in scale-up, and prospects for integrating insect-based degradation into waste management systems.
En la actualidad, la mayoría de las actividades humanas dependen en gran medida del uso de los plásticos, cuya producción y consumo han aumentado considerablemente en las últimas décadas. La utilización de productos plásticos ha tenido impactos positivos para nuestro bienestar; sin embargo, los efectos negativos derivados de su disposición inapropiada son motivo de gran preocupación, especialmente durante la actual emergencia sanitaria provocada por la COVID-19, en la que el uso de plásticos por una ocasión ha aumentado drásticamente. A pesar de que algunos polímeros plásticos como el polietileno (PE) y el poliestireno (PS) pueden reciclarse, la alta demanda energética y tecnológica, el empleo de sustancias potencialmente tóxicas y la baja rentabilidad económica del proceso, vuelven a esta opción poco viable. Ante esta situación, el tratamiento biológico de plásticos a través de organismos degradadores del PE y del PS, como las larvas de la harina y de la cera, surge como una alternativa prometedora y ha llamado la atención de investigadores alrededor del mundo. El objetivo de esta revisión es sintetizar los avances más recientes en el campo de la biodegradación de plásticos por larvas de insectos y un análisis de las tendencias actuales y futuras en esta creciente área de investigación.
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