Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Isolates of Polypropylene-degrading Bacteria from a Landfill

Researchers isolated and characterized polypropylene-degrading bacteria from a landfill site, identifying microbial strains capable of breaking down this widely used plastic, including the polypropylene found in disposable medical face masks that increased in use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The isolates demonstrated measurable degradation activity on polypropylene substrates, contributing to the search for biodegradation-based plastic waste management solutions.

2022 Jurnal Riset Kesehatan 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental Hazard of Polypropylene from Disposable Face Masks Linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Possible Mitigation Techniques through a Green Approach

Researchers assessed the biodegradation of disposable face masks made from polypropylene using Pseudomonas aeruginosa and found partial degradation was achievable, highlighting both the environmental hazard of pandemic-era PPE waste and potential microbial remediation strategies.

2022 Journal of Chemistry 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial solutions for plastic pollutants: Caprolactam, Polyvinyl alcohol, and surgical face masks

Researchers isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa from soil and demonstrated its capacity to degrade caprolactam, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and surgical face mask materials, identified through 16S rRNA sequencing and HPLC analysis. The findings highlight microbial biodegradation as a promising approach for managing these persistent plastic pollutants.

2024 Ruhuna Journal of Science
Article Tier 2

Identifikasi Bakteri Pendegradasi Polipropilen Pada Limbah Masker Dari Tpa Piyungan

This Indonesian study identified bacteria capable of degrading polypropylene in disposable face mask waste collected from a landfill. Bacteria that can break down synthetic polymers offer a potential biological tool for reducing microplastic formation from the large volumes of mask waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023 Jurnal Sains Dasar
Article Tier 2

Microbial Allies in Plastic Degradation: Specific bacterial genera as universal plastic-degraders in various environments

Researchers identified specific bacterial genera capable of degrading multiple types of plastic across different environments including landfill soil, sewage sludge, and river water. They found that certain bacteria, such as Pseudomonas and Bacillus species, consistently appeared as effective plastic degraders regardless of the environment. The study suggests that these universal plastic-degrading bacteria could be valuable candidates for developing bioremediation strategies to address plastic pollution.

2024 Chemosphere 18 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

Characterization of plastic degrading bacteria isolated from sewage wastewater

Researchers isolated bacteria from sewage wastewater that can degrade plastic, with two Pseudomonas strains achieving 25% weight loss of plastic pieces over 120 days. Chemical analysis confirmed the bacteria were breaking down and transforming the plastic polymer bonds. These plastic-eating bacteria could offer a green biotechnology approach to reducing microplastic pollution in wastewater systems.

2023 Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial degradation of polypropylene.

Researchers isolated bacteria from seawater and screened them for the ability to degrade polypropylene, using weight loss measurements and SEM analysis to evaluate degradation potential. The isolate with the strongest polypropylene degradation activity was identified as Stenotrophomonas sp., demonstrating a safe and convenient microbial pathway for breaking down this common microplastic polymer.

2024 BIOINFOLET - A Quarterly Journal of Life Sciences
Article Tier 2

Isolation of a soil bacterium for remediation of polyurethane and low-density polyethylene: a promising tool towards sustainable cleanup of the environment.

A soil bacterium tentatively classified in the Pseudomonas genus was found to biodegrade both polyurethane and low-density polyethylene plastics. The discovery of a single bacterial strain capable of degrading two different types of plastic is a step toward developing practical microbial tools for plastic waste remediation.

2021 3 Biotech
Article Tier 2

Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of Polyethylene-Degrading Bacillus cereus PE-1 Enriched from Landfill Microbial Consortium

Scientists found a bacteria called Bacillus cereus PE-1 in landfill soil that can actually eat and break down plastic bags and containers (polyethylene). The bacteria damaged the plastic's surface and reduced its weight by about 5% in just 30 days, suggesting it could potentially help clean up plastic pollution in the environment. While this research is still early and needs more testing, it offers hope for using natural bacteria to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste that threatens our ecosystems and food chain.

2026 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Microorganism-Based Bioremediation Approach for Plastics and Microplastics Wastes

Soil bacteria were isolated and screened for plastic-degrading capacity, with one of five isolates showing the highest low-density polyethylene (LDPE) degradation, demonstrating that soil-derived actinobacteria and other bacteria can contribute to bioremediation of plastic waste.

2024
Article Tier 2

Isolation, Screening and Characterization of Plastic-Degrading Bacteria From Soil for PWM

Scientists isolated bacteria from soil near garbage sites and identified strains capable of degrading plastic materials, with scanning electron microscopy revealing physical damage — holes and cracks — to plastic surfaces after bacterial exposure within 30 days. The study contributes to the search for soil microbes that could be harnessed for biological plastic waste management. Biodegradation by indigenous soil bacteria could offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to landfilling or incineration of plastic waste.

2026 Current World Environment
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastic degrading bacteria isolated from the Putri Cempo landfill

Researchers isolated bacteria from a landfill in Indonesia and characterized their ability to degrade microplastics, identifying indigenous strains with potential for use in bioremediation of plastic pollution.

2024 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative evaluation of polyethylene degradation efficiency by two Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from urban waste disposal areas

Researchers isolated two Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains from waste disposal sites and found both could use polyethylene as a carbon source, degrading approximately 22–25% of PE mass over 120 days, with chemical analysis confirming structural breakdown of the polymer and identification of degradation intermediates.

2025 Biotechnology Letters 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploitation of bacterial strains for microplastics (LDPE) biodegradation

Researchers tested five bacterial strains for their ability to biodegrade low-density polyethylene microplastics over four months. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the most significant degradation with an 18.2% weight loss, followed by Bacillus subtilis at 16.1%. The study demonstrates that naturally occurring soil bacteria can break down polyethylene microplastics, suggesting a potential biological approach to addressing plastic waste pollution.

2023 Chemosphere 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence of Plastic Degrading Bacteria in Aquatic Environment

This review examines evidence for plastic-degrading bacteria in aquatic environments, summarizing identified microorganisms and their enzymatic mechanisms capable of breaking down plastic materials, and discussing the potential application of these organisms in bioremediation of plastic pollution.

2022 Journal of Biological and Allied Health 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

Sustainable Removal of Nanoplastics: Exploiting the Lipolytic Activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa O6 Isolated from Mariout Wetland, Egypt

Egyptian researchers isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa O6 from coastal wetland sediments and demonstrated that its lipolytic enzymes can biodegrade nanoplastics in vitro, presenting a promising microorganism for bioremediation of plastic-contaminated coastal environments.

2024 Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Soil Bacteria

Researchers investigated whether soil bacteria could biodegrade polystyrene, a plastic historically considered highly resistant to natural degradation since studies dating to the 1970s first examined its environmental persistence. They found evidence that certain soil bacterial communities can break down polystyrene, suggesting a potential biological pathway for remediating this persistent plastic pollutant in terrestrial and marine environments.

2024 Deep Blue (University of Michigan)
Article Tier 2

Isolation and characterization of new bacterial strains degrading low-density polyethylene

Researchers isolated and characterized new bacterial strains capable of degrading low-density polyethylene, one of the most common plastic polymers. The strains were found in landfill and compost environments, and the study suggests that biological degradation could be a promising approach for addressing polyethylene waste accumulation.

2024 Chemical and Process Engineering New Frontiers 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Expanded Polystyrene Using Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Vitark5

Researchers isolated a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria from plastic-contaminated soil and tested its ability to break down expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam in lab conditions. The bacterium was able to grow using polystyrene as its sole carbon source, produced biosurfactants that helped it attach to plastic surfaces, and caused measurable weight loss in EPS samples. Microbial degradation of polystyrene is a promising approach to reducing one of the most persistent and environmentally harmful forms of plastic waste.

2025 Detritus 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Isolation and Identification of Indigenous Plastic-Degrading Bacteria from Dumai’s Ocean Water of Riau Province

Researchers isolated and identified plastic-degrading bacteria from the coastal waters of Dumai, Indonesia, finding indigenous microbial populations capable of breaking down plastic polymers. Local plastic-degrading bacteria represent a potentially sustainable biological tool for addressing microplastic contamination in affected environments.

2021 Ilmu Perairan (Aquatic Science) 6 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

Isolation and Characterisation of Polypropylene Microplastic-Utilising Bacterium from the Antarctic Soil

A polypropylene microplastic-degrading bacterium was isolated from Antarctic soil, a region increasingly affected by microplastic pollution despite its remoteness from direct contamination sources. The study characterized the isolate's ability to colonize and degrade PP microplastics in the cold terrestrial Antarctic environment.

2024 arXiv (Cornell University) 1 citations