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Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Insect farming: A bioeconomy-based opportunity to revalorize plastic wastes
ClearWorming the Circular Economy for Biowaste and Plastics: Hermetia illucens, Tenebrio Molitor and Zophobas morio
This paper examines whether insect larvae — black soldier flies, mealworms, and superworms — can help process both organic food waste and plastics as part of a circular economy. COVID-19 increased single-use plastic waste and food waste simultaneously, making combined bioconversion solutions appealing. The authors review evidence for using these insects to reduce two major waste streams at once.
Mitigation of Soil Pollution by Biodegradation of Plastic Materials through Activity of Mealworms
This review examines how mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) can biodegrade plastics including polystyrene and polyethylene, and discusses their use in circular production systems. Insect-based plastic biodegradation represents a promising biological approach to reducing plastic waste before it fragments into microplastics in the environment.
Biodegradation of polylactic acid by yellow mealworms (larvae of Tenebrio molitor) via resource recovery: A sustainable approach for waste management
Researchers demonstrated that yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) can biodegrade polylactic acid plastic with up to 90.9% conversion efficiency on a pure PLA diet and proposed a circular waste management approach where PLA plastic serves as feedstock for insect biomass production and the resulting frass is used as fertilizer.
Tenebrio molitor in the circular economy: a novel approach for plastic valorisation and PHA biological recovery
Mealworm beetles (Tenebrio molitor) can biodegrade certain plastics, and their gut bacteria produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a biodegradable bioplastic. This study explores using mealworms as a circular-economy tool to convert plastic waste into biodegradable materials.
Biodegradación de espumas plásticas por larvas de insectos: ¿una estrategia sustentable?
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.
Enhancing the bioconversion rate and end products of black soldier fly (BSF) treatment – A comprehensive review
Researchers reviewed how black soldier fly larvae can efficiently convert organic waste — including food scraps and manure — into protein-rich feed, fertilizer, and biofuel, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional livestock farming. Their work highlights the larvae's potential to reduce plastic and food waste pollution while supporting global food security.
Unveiling Fragmentation of Plastic Particles during Biodegradation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Foams in Mealworms: Highly Sensitive Detection and Digestive Modeling Prediction
Researchers discovered that mealworms biodegrading polystyrene and polyethylene foams generate micro- and nanoplastic fragments during the digestion process, despite removing over 70% of the ingested plastic. The study developed a digestive biofragmentation model to predict plastic fragmentation patterns, suggesting that insect-based plastic biodegradation may create secondary contamination that warrants further assessment.
Plastic Biodegradation through Insects and their Symbionts Microbes: A Review
This review examines how insects and their gut microbes can break down plastic waste, covering species like mealworms and waxworms that can digest polyethylene and polystyrene. The bacteria living in insect guts are responsible for much of this plastic-degrading activity. Insect-based biodegradation could offer a scalable biological solution to reducing plastic pollution.
Entomoremediation: An ecofriendly approach for waste management: A review
This review examines how insects and larvae can consume organic waste and potentially degrade plastic materials as a sustainable waste management approach called entomoremediation. Some insect larvae have shown ability to ingest and partially break down plastics, offering a low-cost biological waste processing option.
Evaluating the abundance of two particle size ranges of polyethylene microplastics in pig manure under integrated black soldier fly and biochar-amended composting treatments
Researchers combined black soldier fly larval bioconversion with biochar co-composting to control polyethylene microplastics in pig manure, finding that smaller MPs (150 μm) accumulated in larval guts while larger MPs (300 μm) concentrated in larval residue, with biochar particle size influencing subsequent MP oxidation during composting.
Biodegradation of Post-Consumer Expanded Polystyrene and Low-Density Polyethylene by Tenebrio molitor Larvae
Scientists found that mealworms (beetle larvae) can actually break down used plastic bags and foam containers by eating them and changing their chemical structure. The mealworms produce waste that contains smaller plastic pieces and chemical compounds, which could potentially reduce plastic pollution in the environment. This research is important because it shows a natural way to help deal with the massive amounts of plastic waste that currently pile up in landfills and oceans.
Lessons From Insect Fungiculture: From Microbial Ecology to Plastics Degradation
This review draws parallels between the microbial degradation of lignocellulose in insect fungiculture systems and the challenge of biodegrading synthetic plastics, arguing that fungal and bacterial enzymes evolved for plant polymer breakdown may be promising candidates for plastic degradation. Community-level microbial strategies from insect farming systems are proposed as inspiration for developing biotechnological solutions to plastic waste.
Optimizing polystyrene degradation, microbial community and metabolite analysis of intestinal flora of yellow mealworms, Tenebrio molitor.
Yellow mealworm larvae fed only expanded polystyrene were found to biodegrade the plastic, with the efficiency depending on temperature and humidity conditions. The gut microbiome of the larvae played a key role, and researchers identified metabolic pathways involved in polystyrene breakdown, advancing understanding of insect-based plastic biodegradation.
Plastics shape the black soldier fly larvae gut microbiome and select for biodegrading functions
Researchers found that black soldier fly larvae can adapt their gut microbiome to digest a wide range of plastics, shifting their microbial communities to favor biodegrading functions. This suggests the insects could serve as living incubators for discovering new plastic-breaking enzymes for industrial cleanup applications.
Examining the potential of plastic-fed black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) as "bioincubators" of plastic-degrading bacteria.
Researchers examined whether black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) fed on plastic waste can serve as 'bioincubators' for plastic-degrading bacteria, investigating how gut microbiota shifts in response to plastic-containing diets and whether these bacteria retain degradation activity.
Feeding and metabolism effects of three common microplastics on Tenebrio molitor L.
Mealworm larvae from three Chinese regions were fed microplastics (polystyrene, PVC, and LDPE) and were found to actually break down some of the plastic in their gut. The ability of mealworms to partially degrade certain plastics makes them a potential tool for biological plastic waste management.
Gut Microbiome and Degradation Product Formation during Biodegradation of Expanded Polystyrene by Mealworm Larvae under Different Feeding Strategies
Researchers found that mealworm larvae successfully degrade polystyrene under different feeding strategies, with gut microbiome composition and degradation byproduct profiles varying by diet, demonstrating that diet manipulation can optimize the biological plastic-degradation capacity of the mealworm system.
Enhanced biodegradation of microplastic and phthalic acid ester plasticizer: The role of gut microorganisms in black soldier fly larvae
Researchers discovered that black soldier fly larvae can biodegrade microplastics and phthalate plasticizers, with their gut microorganisms playing a key role in the breakdown process. The study found that the larvae's digestive bacteria enhanced the degradation of both contaminants, suggesting that insect-based bioprocessing could offer a novel approach to addressing plastic pollution.
Mitogenomic profiling and gut microbial analysis of the newly identified polystyrene-consuming lesser mealworm in Kenya
Researchers identified a lesser mealworm species in Kenya capable of consuming and surviving on polystyrene plastic, while also characterizing the gut bacteria — including Kluyvera and Enterobacter — likely responsible for plastic breakdown. This is the first report of plastic-degrading lesser mealworms from Africa and points toward insect-based bioremediation as a promising tool for plastic waste management.
Can the insects Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor be the future of plastic biodegradation?
This review examines recent discoveries about how wax moth and mealworm larvae can break down common plastics using enzymes in their saliva and gut microorganisms. Researchers found that these insects offer a promising biological alternative to traditional plastic disposal methods like landfilling and incineration, which themselves contribute to microplastic pollution. The study highlights key challenges including the need for standardized testing methods and proposes innovative ideas like using insects as living bioreactors for plastic waste processing.