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Bioplastic Production from Microbial Systems: Progress, Challenges, and Industrial Prospects
Summary
This review surveys the current state of bioplastic production using microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, highlighting recent advances in yield and material properties. It identifies key technical and economic challenges that limit commercial-scale adoption, including feedstock costs and fermentation efficiency. The authors outline promising research directions for making microbially produced bioplastics more competitive with petroleum-based alternatives.
The global dependence on petroleum-based plastics has resulted in severe environmental pollution, resource depletion, and challenges in waste management, prompting urgent demand for sustainable alternatives. Bioplastics derived from renewable resources, particularly those produced through microbial systems, have emerged as promising substitutes due to their biodegradability and lower environmental footprint. Microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and microalgae, are capable of synthesizing biodegradable polymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polylactic acid (PLA) precursors, and other biopolymers under optimized fermentation conditions. Significant progress has been achieved in strain engineering, substrate utilization, and fermentation technology to improve yield and reduce production costs. However, large-scale commercialization remains constrained by economic, technological, and infrastructural challenges. This review discusses microbial pathways involved in bioplastic synthesis, advances in production technologies, downstream processing, industrial applications, and current limitations hindering widespread adoption. Future prospects involving metabolic engineering, waste-based feedstocks, and integrated biorefineries are also explored, highlighting pathways toward sustainable and economically viable bioplastic production.