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Biodegradation of polyethylene: a brief review
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This review examines research on biodegradation of polyethylene by microorganisms, summarizing the physico-chemical changes observed and noting that while promising bacterial strains have been identified, complete biodegradation under ambient conditions has not been achieved.
Abstract Plastic waste management and recycling became a serious global issue as it affects living beings from all the ecosystems. Researchers investigated biodegradation of polyethylene (PE) by measuring changes in various physico-chemical and structural characteristics using techniques like as fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), etc. However, these evidences are not enough to prove the exact biodegradation of PE. In this review, we summarized microbial biodegradation of polyethylene and discussed recent developments for the candidate microbial enzymes and their possible roles in PE degradation. In addition, we conversed the advanced technologies correctly used for measuring PE degradation using isotope-labeled PE to figure out its metabolism into the end products like as 13 CO 2 .
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This critical review examines published claims of microbial polyethylene degradation, finding that while surface colonization and minor chemical changes have been demonstrated, complete biodegradation of polyethylene under ambient conditions remains unproven and methodological rigor is often lacking.
Recent progresses and perspectives of polyethylene biodegradation by bacteria and fungi: A review
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This review examines the current state of polyethylene biodegradation by bacteria and fungi, one of the most widely used and difficult-to-degrade plastics. Researchers found that factors such as surface hydrophobicity, physical pretreatment, and environmental conditions significantly influence microbial degradation rates, with biodegradation involving biofilm formation, fragmentation, and eventual mineralization.
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This review examines microbial biodegradation pathways for synthetic thermoplastic polymers including polyethylene, highlighting the ecological threat of non-degradable plastics and discussing the mechanisms by which microorganisms can break down both natural and synthetic polymers.
[Biodegradation of Polyethylene Microplastic: A Review].
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This Chinese-language review summarized current knowledge on the biodegradation of polyethylene microplastics, which are among the most abundant and persistent microplastic types in the environment. The review covered microbial and enzymatic mechanisms for PE breakdown and discussed limitations and future directions for research. Improving biodegradation of polyethylene is important given its dominance in global plastic waste and environmental microplastic loads.
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