Begum et al. (2015) evaluated the effect of soil bacterial obtained from plastic
polluted environment. The result of the biochemical and morphological characterization showed that Pseudomonas alcaligenes and Desulfotom aculumnigrificans
were detected to possess the ability to biodegrade polythene bag. It was detected
that Pseudomonas alcaligenes showed the effectiveness for plastic biodegradation
when compared to Desulfotom aculumnigrificans after 30 days. It was detected that
rise in the incubation period shows tremendous increase in weight loss of the treated
polythene bag. Their study indicated that Pseudomonas alcaligenes might be utilized drastic reduction of polythene bags available in the natural environment. This
might be linked to the cost-effectiveness, environmental friendly utilizing these
plastic degrading microorganisms.
The build-up of plastic wastes in the environment has been discovered to constitute threats to the environment while the significance of plastics that are biodegradable has been recognized as ecofriendly with enhanced application in various
sections that utilize plastic in their packaging.
Jumaah (2017) evaluated the potential of some microorganisms to biodegrade
some plastic material after incubation for a period of 1 month in a submerged
fermentation. The result revealed the presence of two Gram negative and three
Gram positive bacteria. The following bacterial were detected which involved
Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amylolyticus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus firmus,
and Pseudomonas putida. It was discovered that Pseudomonas putida exhibited the
highest biodegradative potential of plastic after performing submerged fermentation
with average value of 30% weight loss per month when compared to Bacillus subtilis
of 22% weight loss per month. Their study showed that Pseudomonas putida
exhibited the highest biodegradation potential among all the tested strains when
compared to the others.
The role played by the application of plastic in our economy each year has been
estimated to around 350–400 million tons. However, it has been discovered that due
to low circular utilization and recycling while millions of tons build up in the marine
and terrestrial environments. It has been observed that plastic possess the capability
to induce several adverse effect on environment and human health most especially
the microplastics. Therefore, the application of microorganism for the biodegradation of plastic has been identified as a sustainable tools. In view of the aforementioned, Danso et al. (2019) wrote a comprehensive review on the ester-based
polyurethane and polyethylene terephthalate which were high molecular weight
polymers.
Their review also highlighted the significant of microorganisms and enzymes that
could biodegrade these polymers. They also suggested that the application of dark
matter proteins and global metagenomes of non-cultivated microorganisms will help
in the biodegradation of plastic. It was also suggested that the application of new
biocatalysts and microorganisms could enhance rapid biodegradation and recycling
of numerous man-made polymers.
Soud (2019) evaluate the effect of Streptomyces spp. for the biodegradation of
plastic wastes and some other pollution. This strain was screened for their biodegradation potential of polyethylene low density polyethylene in various assays. The
14 Plastic-Eating Microorganisms: Recent Biotechnological Techniques for Recycling. . . 357
polluted environment. The result of the biochemical and morphological characterization showed that Pseudomonas alcaligenes and Desulfotom aculumnigrificans
were detected to possess the ability to biodegrade polythene bag. It was detected
that Pseudomonas alcaligenes showed the effectiveness for plastic biodegradation
when compared to Desulfotom aculumnigrificans after 30 days. It was detected that
rise in the incubation period shows tremendous increase in weight loss of the treated
polythene bag. Their study indicated that Pseudomonas alcaligenes might be utilized drastic reduction of polythene bags available in the natural environment. This
might be linked to the cost-effectiveness, environmental friendly utilizing these
plastic degrading microorganisms.
The build-up of plastic wastes in the environment has been discovered to constitute threats to the environment while the significance of plastics that are biodegradable has been recognized as ecofriendly with enhanced application in various
sections that utilize plastic in their packaging.
Jumaah (2017) evaluated the potential of some microorganisms to biodegrade
some plastic material after incubation for a period of 1 month in a submerged
fermentation. The result revealed the presence of two Gram negative and three
Gram positive bacteria. The following bacterial were detected which involved
Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amylolyticus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus firmus,
and Pseudomonas putida. It was discovered that Pseudomonas putida exhibited the
highest biodegradative potential of plastic after performing submerged fermentation
with average value of 30% weight loss per month when compared to Bacillus subtilis
of 22% weight loss per month. Their study showed that Pseudomonas putida
exhibited the highest biodegradation potential among all the tested strains when
compared to the others.
The role played by the application of plastic in our economy each year has been
estimated to around 350–400 million tons. However, it has been discovered that due
to low circular utilization and recycling while millions of tons build up in the marine
and terrestrial environments. It has been observed that plastic possess the capability
to induce several adverse effect on environment and human health most especially
the microplastics. Therefore, the application of microorganism for the biodegradation of plastic has been identified as a sustainable tools. In view of the aforementioned, Danso et al. (2019) wrote a comprehensive review on the ester-based
polyurethane and polyethylene terephthalate which were high molecular weight
polymers.
Their review also highlighted the significant of microorganisms and enzymes that
could biodegrade these polymers. They also suggested that the application of dark
matter proteins and global metagenomes of non-cultivated microorganisms will help
in the biodegradation of plastic. It was also suggested that the application of new
biocatalysts and microorganisms could enhance rapid biodegradation and recycling
of numerous man-made polymers.
Soud (2019) evaluate the effect of Streptomyces spp. for the biodegradation of
plastic wastes and some other pollution. This strain was screened for their biodegradation potential of polyethylene low density polyethylene in various assays. The
14 Plastic-Eating Microorganisms: Recent Biotechnological Techniques for Recycling. . . 357