Plastic Biodegradation: Potential of Microbial Enzymes

Plastic-based pollution poses a grave threat to environmental and human health. Plastic-based pollution poses a serious threat to both environmental and human health. Due to its adverse effects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, developing sustainable and eco-friendly methods for plastic waste management has become essential. Traditional disposal methods such as incineration and landfilling are problematic, as they often generate hazardous byproducts and contribute to further environmental degradation. Recent studies have demonstrated that certain types of plastics can be biologically degraded by microorganisms possessing enzymatic activity. Biodegradation, which utilizes enzymes isolated from microorganisms to break down plastic waste, has emerged as a promising and environmentally friendly alternative. These enzymes interact with plastic surfaces and hydrolyze high molecular weight polymer chains into smaller units. The resulting byproducts can then be utilized by microbes as carbon sources and ultimately converted into carbon dioxide and water. Enzymatic oxidation or hydrolysis introduces functional groups that enhance the hydrophilicity of polymers, facilitating the breakdown of high molecular weight plastics into lower molecular weight fragments. This process enables the degradation of some plastics within a matter of days. In this review, microbial-derived enzymes and their applications in the biodegradability of plastic polymers are evaluated.