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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A novel Bacillus subtilis BPM12 with high bis(2 hydroxyethyl)terephthalate hydrolytic activity efficiently interacts with virgin and mechanically recycled polyethylene terephthalate
ClearExamining and identifying bacteria-mediated polyethylene terephthalate bottle waste degradation Byprops
Researchers isolated Bacillus subtilis from PET plastic waste dump sites and demonstrated that the bacterium can degrade polyethylene terephthalate microplastics over six months, with UV-pretreated PET showing the most pronounced changes including new alkyl aryl ether and alkene groups detected by FTIR and GC-MS. The findings suggest soil bacteria could offer a biodegradable solution for eliminating PET from plastic-contaminated sites.
Biodegradation of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) by Bacillus safensis YX8
Researchers isolated a PET-degrading bacterial strain, Bacillus safensis YX8, from the surface of plastic waste and demonstrated its ability to break down PET nanoparticles. The study identified the degradation products as terephthalic acid and related compounds, suggesting this bacterium could contribute to environmentally friendly approaches for managing PET plastic waste.
Discovery and rational engineering of PET hydrolase with both mesophilic and thermophilic PET hydrolase properties
Researchers discovered a new enzyme from a soil bacterium that can break down PET plastic — the material in most plastic bottles — at both room temperature and elevated heat, then engineered an improved version that degrades PET powder almost completely within half a day at 55°C. This dual-temperature capability makes it more practical than existing enzymes for industrial-scale plastic recycling and could help address the global PET waste problem.
Degradation of PET plastic with engineered environmental bacteria
Scientists engineered a soil bacterium to break down PET plastic, one of the most common plastics in food packaging and textiles, by giving it the ability to produce and secrete a powerful plastic-degrading enzyme. This is one of the first demonstrations of a living microorganism that can directly consume PET as a food source, which could lead to more sustainable recycling approaches.
Biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics by Paenibacillus naphthalenovorans PETKKU2: Response surface optimization and genomic evidence for an alternative degradation mechanism
This study identified a soil bacterium, Paenibacillus naphthalenovorans PETKKU2, isolated from a Thai landfill, as capable of degrading PET microplastics and achieving nearly 10% weight loss over 35 days under optimized conditions — through a degradation pathway distinct from the well-known PETase enzyme route. Surface analysis confirmed progressive erosion and chemical changes in the plastic. Discovering new microbial pathways for PET degradation is important for developing biological recycling and remediation strategies for one of the world's most common plastic pollutants.
Towards synthetic PETtrophy: Engineering Pseudomonas putida for concurrent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) monomer metabolism and PET hydrolase expression
Researchers engineered a soil bacterium to simultaneously break down PET plastic and use its building-block chemicals as food, identifying key bottlenecks in balancing enzyme production with bacterial fitness that will need to be resolved before such microbes can be used for large-scale plastic biodegradation.
Biodegradation of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Microplastics by Baceterial Communities From Activated Sludge
Scientists isolated bacteria from wastewater treatment sludge that can biodegrade PET plastic, used in plastic bottles and food packaging. The bacteria broke down PET microplastics over a 60-day period, pointing toward a potential biological tool for removing plastic contamination from water treatment systems.
Biodegradation of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Microplastics by Baceterial Communities From Activated Sludge
Scientists isolated bacteria from wastewater treatment sludge that can biodegrade PET plastic, used in plastic bottles and food packaging. The bacteria broke down PET microplastics over a 60-day period, pointing toward a potential biological tool for removing plastic contamination from water treatment systems.
Biological Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate by Rhizobacteria
Researchers isolated rhizobacteria — bacteria associated with plant roots — that can biodegrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. This finding suggests that soil bacteria near plants may contribute to plastic breakdown in contaminated soils, though degradation rates remain slow.
Evaluation of Bacillus-Associated Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Surfaces For Biodegradation
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most common plastics, found in bottles and packaging, and it breaks down into persistent microplastics in the environment. This study screened bacteria collected from PET surfaces at a landfill in Malaysia, finding strains with promising esterase activity capable of forming biofilms on PET and beginning to degrade it. The findings point toward biological solutions for breaking down PET microplastics before they spread further into ecosystems.
Biodegradation of Microplastic Derived from Poly(ethylene terephthalate) with Bacterial Whole-Cell Biocatalysts
Engineered bacterial whole-cell biocatalysts were used to biodegrade PET microplastics under alkaline conditions, with the strain using PET as a sole carbon source and producing monomers that did not accumulate due to continuous cellular metabolism. The study demonstrates a combined enzymatic-microbial approach that overcomes product inhibition in enzymatic PET degradation.
Finding needles in haystacks: identification of novel conserved PETase enzymes in Streptomyces
Researchers identified a family of PET-degrading enzymes (LipA variants) naturally present in soil-dwelling Streptomyces bacteria, and showed that one variant could physically roughen and degrade amorphous PET film. The finding suggests that common soil bacteria may play a larger role than appreciated in breaking down plastic waste in the environment, and could be candidates for biotechnological recycling applications.
Enzymatic Degradation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastics by Bacterial Curli Display PETase
Researchers engineered bacteria to display a PET-degrading enzyme on their surface, creating a reusable biocatalyst capable of breaking down polyethylene terephthalate plastics. The system worked under various conditions, remained stable for at least 30 days, and could even degrade PET microplastics in wastewater and highly crystalline consumer plastic waste. This biological approach offers a promising environmentally friendly alternative for plastic recycling and waste treatment.
Engineering microbial division of labor for plastic upcycling
Scientists engineered a team of two specialized bacteria that work together to break down PET plastic waste and convert it into useful chemicals. This microbial partnership outperformed single-bacteria approaches, especially when dealing with high concentrations of plastic waste. The research demonstrates a promising biological method for recycling plastic pollution into valuable materials rather than letting it accumulate in the environment.
Synergistic functional activity of a landfill microbial consortium in a microplastic-enriched environment
Scientists studied soil bacteria from a decades-old landfill to understand how microbes adapt to high concentrations of polyethylene and PET microplastics. They found that multiple bacterial species work together to break down these plastics, with different roles for bacteria floating freely versus those attached to plastic surfaces. While biodegradation of microplastics is possible, it is slow, and understanding these natural processes could eventually help with cleanup efforts.
Efficient biodegradation of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic by Gordonia sp. CN2K isolated from plastic contaminated environment
Researchers isolated a bacterium called Gordonia sp. CN2K from a waste management site that can break down PET plastic, one of the most widely used and persistent types of plastic. Over 45 days, the bacterium degraded over 40% of PET microplastic by using it as its sole carbon and energy source. The findings suggest that naturally occurring microorganisms could be harnessed to help address the growing problem of microplastic pollution in the environment.
Breakdown of polyethylene therepthalate microplastics under saltwater conditions using engineered Vibrio natriegens
Scientists engineered a marine bacterium, Vibrio natriegens, to break down PET plastic into its basic chemical building blocks in saltwater conditions at moderate temperatures. The engineered bacteria display enzymes on their cell surface that can depolymerize PET without needing any pretreatment of the plastic. This biological approach could eventually help address ocean microplastic pollution, though significant work remains to scale the technology from the laboratory to real-world applications.
Microbial degradation of polyethylene terephthalate: a systematic review
This systematic review examines how microorganisms like bacteria and fungi can break down PET plastic, one of the most common types of plastic waste. The research identifies several promising biological approaches that could help reduce plastic pollution without the harmful side effects of chemical recycling methods. Finding better ways to break down plastic waste is critical for reducing the microplastics that end up in our water, food, and bodies.
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.
Eco-microbiology: discovering biochemical enhancers of PET biodegradation by Piscinibacter sakaiensis
Researchers are working to accelerate the biodegradation of PET plastic by Piscinibacter sakaiensis, a bacterium that naturally evolved to consume this common type of plastic. Using bioactivity screens and degradation tests, they identified a small number of biochemical conditions that more than doubled the PET biodegradation rate. The work provides a foundation for developing a fermentation process that could help address PET plastic pollution at scale.
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.
Genomic and proteomic analysis of Bacillus subtilis as microplastic bioremediation agents
Researchers analyzed the genes and proteins of Bacillus subtilis bacteria to understand how this common soil microbe might be used to break down microplastics biologically. The genomic and proteomic analysis identified enzymes that could potentially degrade plastic polymers, advancing efforts to develop microbial bioremediation of plastic pollution.
Discovery and Biochemical Characterization of a Novel Polyesterase for the Degradation of Synthetic Plastics
Researchers used bioinformatics to discover a new enzyme from soil bacteria capable of breaking down synthetic plastics like PET and polyurethane. The enzyme was successfully expressed and characterized in the lab, offering a promising lead for developing biological plastic recycling approaches.
Engineering the mangrove soil microbiome for selection of polyethylene terephthalate-transforming bacterial consortia.
Researchers engineered enrichment cultures from mangrove soil to select bacterial consortia capable of transforming polyethylene terephthalate (PET), finding via metagenome-assembled genomes that PET catabolism was distributed across multiple taxa harbouring putative novel PET-active hydrolases. They also described a novel species, Mangrovimarina plasticivorans, as a key consortium member containing genes for PET monomer metabolism.