Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Bacterial screening in Indian coastal regions for efficient polypropylene microplastics biodegradation

Researchers screened marine bacteria from two coastal regions in India for their ability to break down polypropylene microplastics. They identified several bacterial strains that caused measurable weight loss and structural changes in polypropylene particles over a 60-day period. The study suggests that naturally occurring marine bacteria could potentially be harnessed for biological approaches to reducing microplastic pollution in ocean environments.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioprospecting indigenous bacteria from landfill leachate for enhanced polypropylene microplastics degradation

Researchers isolated bacteria from landfill leachate to test their ability to degrade polypropylene microplastics. They identified a novel Staphylococcus haemolyticus strain that reduced polypropylene dry weight by over 25% in 30 days, with surface and chemical analysis confirming structural degradation through hydrolysis and oxidation.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent developments in microbial degradation of polypropylene: Integrated approaches towards a sustainable environment

This review covers recent advances in microbial degradation of polypropylene, summarizing bacterial strains, enzyme systems, and environmental conditions that facilitate breakdown of this highly persistent polymer. The authors discuss integrated biotechnological approaches combining physical pretreatment with microbial activity as a pathway toward more effective polypropylene biodegradation.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Isolation and Characterization of Polyethylene and Polyethylene Terephthalate-degrading Bacteria from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia

Researchers isolated bacteria from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, that showed the ability to degrade polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in laboratory conditions. They identified the most effective bacterial strains and confirmed plastic degradation through weight loss measurements and surface analysis. The study supports the potential of using naturally occurring marine bacteria for bioremediation of plastic-polluted coastal environments.

2024 The Open Biotechnology Journal 10 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Exploring biodegradative efficiency: a systematic review on the main microplastic-degrading bacteria

This systematic review identified bacteria that can break down microplastics in the environment. Some bacterial species show promising ability to degrade common plastics like polyethylene and polystyrene, offering a potential biological approach to reducing plastic pollution.

2024 Frontiers in Microbiology 27 citations
Article Tier 2

A community of marine bacteria with potential to biodegrade petroleum-based and biobased microplastics

Researchers showed that a consortium of marine bacteria could partially biodegrade both conventional low-density polyethylene and biobased polyethylene terephthalate microplastic films over 45 days, with spectroscopic and chemical evidence confirming surface changes and early-stage degradation.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 23 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role Of Bacteria In Microplastic Bioremediation And Implications For Marine Ecosystems

This literature review summarizes how bacteria can be harnessed through bioremediation to break down microplastics in marine environments, cataloging the bacterial species and mechanisms involved. While biological degradation is slow and not yet a practical cleanup solution at scale, identifying effective bacteria is an important step toward developing tools to reduce the long-term accumulation of microplastics in ocean ecosystems.

2024 BIO Web of Conferences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Polypropylene By Pseudomonas Aeruginosaisolated From Wastewater Associated Soil; A Potential Method To Eliminate The Plastic Pollution To Save Ecosystem

Researchers isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria from wastewater-associated soil and tested its ability to biodegrade polypropylene — the plastic used in many surgical masks and disposable products. The bacteria showed measurable plastic-degrading activity under lab conditions. This research is relevant to developing microbial solutions for degrading pandemic-era disposable plastic waste.

2021 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics under siege: Biofilm-forming marine bacteria from the microplastisphere and their role in plastic degradation

Researchers isolated and screened bacteria from microplastics collected along coastal beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to assess their ability to degrade plastic. One bacterial strain achieved over 10% degradation of low-density polyethylene, with surface analysis confirming physical breakdown of the plastic. The study suggests that naturally occurring marine bacteria colonizing microplastics may play a role in plastic biodegradation in ocean environments.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine bacteria capable of enzymatic degrading of low- and high-density polyethylene: Toward sustainable mitigation of marine microplastic pollution

Scientists discovered ocean bacteria that can break down common plastic types found in marine pollution, with some bacteria destroying up to 17% of the plastic in lab tests. These naturally occurring bacteria could potentially be used to help clean up the tiny plastic particles that contaminate our oceans and eventually enter our food chain through seafood. While still in early research stages, this finding offers hope for a biological solution to reduce the microplastics that may pose health risks when we consume contaminated fish and shellfish.

2026 Journal of Ecological Engineering
Article Tier 2

Enrichment and isolation of micro plastic degrading microorganisms from various natural sources

Researchers isolated microplastic-degrading microorganisms from soil and water samples using mineral salt media with polyethylene and polypropylene as sole carbon sources, successfully identifying four distinct microbial isolates capable of degrading these polymers.

2024 Ecology Environment and Conservation
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of weathered polystyrene films in seawater microcosms

Researchers found that natural marine bacterial communities, especially after adapting to plastic surfaces over time, can measurably break down weathered polystyrene films in seawater under realistic ocean conditions. Chemical and physical analysis confirmed actual degradation of the plastic's molecular structure, suggesting that ocean microbes play a role in the slow natural breakdown of plastic pollution.

2017 Scientific Reports 173 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial degradation of polypropylene microplastics and concomitant polyhydroxybutyrate production: An integrated bioremediation approach with metagenomic insights

Researchers isolated microbial consortia capable of degrading polypropylene microplastics, achieving weight losses of up to 17.8% after 30 days of incubation. The most effective consortium also produced polyhydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable plastic alternative, while breaking down the polypropylene. Metagenomic analysis revealed abundant carbohydrate-active enzymes and oxidation pathways, suggesting an integrated bioremediation approach that simultaneously degrades plastic waste and generates a useful bioplastic.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights into the degradation of high-density polyethylene microplastics using microbial strains: Effect of process parameters, degradation kinetics and modeling

Researchers tested several microbial strains for their ability to break down high-density polyethylene microplastics and developed models to predict degradation rates. Certain bacteria and fungi showed measurable ability to deteriorate the plastic surface over weeks of exposure. The study contributes to the development of biological approaches for remediating microplastic pollution in the environment.

2023 Waste Management 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of untreated plasticizers-free linear low-density polyethylene films by marine bacteria

Researchers isolated marine bacteria from the Tyrrhenian Sea and found that several strains — including Bacillus velezensis and two Vreelandella species — could break down untreated polyethylene plastic films in seawater, causing mass losses of up to 2.6% over 60 days. This is the first study demonstrating that these bacterial species can biodegrade plasticizer-free, unmodified polyethylene, an important step toward understanding natural plastic degradation in oceans.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploration of Plastic-Degrading Bacteria From Marina Beach, Semarang, Central Java

Indonesian researchers isolated bacteria from Marina Beach in Semarang that could degrade plastic, testing their ability to break down polyethylene and polypropylene. The bacteria showed measurable plastic-degrading activity under lab conditions. Identifying locally occurring plastic-degrading microbes supports the development of bioremediation strategies for plastic pollution in Indonesian marine environments.

2021 ILMU KELAUTAN Indonesian Journal of Marine Sciences
Article Tier 2

Plastic-Degrading Microbial Consortia from a Wastewater Treatment Plant

Researchers isolated bacteria from a wastewater treatment plant that can break down common plastics including polyethylene and polystyrene, some of the hardest plastics to recycle. The microbial communities worked together to degrade the plastics more effectively than individual bacterial strains. While biological plastic degradation is still slow compared to the scale of pollution, identifying these bacteria is a step toward developing biotechnology solutions for plastic waste cleanup.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Potensi Mikroorganisme Sebagai Agen Bioremediasi Mikroplastik Di Laut

This Indonesian review examines microorganisms with the potential to biodegrade microplastics in marine environments, including bacteria that can use plastic as a carbon source. Identifying plastic-degrading microbes is a step toward developing biological remediation strategies for marine microplastic pollution.

2020 OSEANA 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics by an engineered Stenotrophomonas pavanii in the presence of biofilm

Scientists engineered a biofilm-forming bacterium to break down PET microplastics (the type found in water bottles and food containers) at room temperature. The engineered bacteria achieved significant PET degradation over 30 days and also worked on other polyester plastics, offering a potential biological solution for cleaning up microplastic pollution in water environments.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of plastic-degrading bacteria in the human gut

Scientists discovered bacteria in the human gut that can break down common plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene, though all the plastic-degrading species identified were opportunistic pathogens. The bacteria could physically and chemically alter plastic surfaces but only achieved limited depolymerization. This finding raises the question of whether microplastic exposure in the gut could promote the growth of potentially harmful bacteria while they attempt to digest the plastic.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Typical Plastics: From Microbial Diversity to Metabolic Mechanisms

This review examines how marine microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, can naturally break down common plastics like PET, polystyrene, and polyethylene. Marine microbes may be better adapted than land-based organisms for this task because they already thrive in harsh conditions, offering a potential environmentally friendly approach to addressing ocean plastic pollution.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 115 citations
Article Tier 2

Bacterial degradation of polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in a mangrove ecosystem

Researchers isolated bacteria from a mangrove ecosystem that can break down polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics, achieving measurable weight loss over 60 days. The bacteria produced enzymes that caused visible surface degradation of the plastic particles, confirmed through microscopy and chemical analysis. While the degradation rates were modest, the study demonstrates that naturally occurring bacteria in coastal environments have the potential to help address microplastic pollution.

2024 Chemosphere 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Biofilm development as a factor driving the degradation of plasticised marine microplastics

Researchers investigated how natural marine biofilms drive the degradation of plasticized microplastics. The study found that biodegradation was dependent on polymer type, plasticizer type, and time, with polystyrene containing bisphenol A showing the most degradation, coinciding with increased abundance of putative biodegradative bacteria in the colonizing biofilm.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastic degradation by a novel PGPR Bacillus spizizenii

Researchers discovered that a beneficial soil bacterium, Bacillus spizizenii, can break down polystyrene microplastics with nearly 86% efficiency over 30 days. Chemical analysis confirmed that the bacteria significantly altered the plastic's molecular structure, and microscopy showed visible surface degradation. The finding suggests that naturally occurring soil bacteria could potentially be harnessed as a biological tool for reducing microplastic pollution.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 10 citations