Table 14.1 shows some techniques used in the degradation of plastics, types of
enzymes, and microorganisms involved.
14.3 Specific Examples of Microorganisms that Could
Degrade Plastic
The economic benefits derived from the use of plastics cannot be quantified. About
350–400 million load of it are produced year in year out. Plastics have been proven
to be nonbiodegradable. This nature of it can cause serious environmental and health
problem especially microplastics. However, of recent, several techniques have been
developed and employed in order to break this jinx of nonbiodegradability. Danso
et al. (2019) did a review of the viewpoint of environmental and biotechnological
prospects of using bacterial in the degradation of plastics. The authors stated that
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PUR (polyurethane) are active chemicals
found in plastics which are very noxious. That many microbial consortia are still
been evaluated to ascertain specific enzymes that can degrade plastics. However,
several studies have been carried out on the degrading potential of some microbial
consortia without specifying any enzymes that can breakdown polymers with high
molecular mass such as polyethylene, polyurethane (ether-based), polypropylene,
polyvinylchloride, polyamide, and polystyrene. In conclusion, the authors recommend that specific research on the richness of enzymes and microbial consortia
action on plastics should be carried out in order to tap into the protein-metagenomes
of native and non-cultivated bacterial potentials. This will pave new grounds for
bio-catalyst consortia that can degrade plastics to useable products (oligomers and
monomers) for human benefits in turn reduce the worldwide issues caused by
plastics.
Shah et al. (2008a, b) in a review looked at the remediation potential of bacteria
on plastics. The authors recounted the environmental problems causes as a result of
the nonbiodegradable nature of plastics. This has necessitated the global awareness
of their potential ecological and health threats. The authors stated that bioremediation is very important for water immiscible plastics, the reason that, when they enter
the aquatic environment eventually, they cannot be incinerated nor recycled. In
conclusion, the authors recommend that it is very important to understand the
mechanisms involved in bioremediation via considering the microbial consortia to
be used in synthetic or natural plastics. In addition, the biochemical reaction
involved in the interaction between the microbial consortia and the plastic materials
should also be understood immensely. Again the utilization of in vitro techniques is
highly encouraged in the biodegradation of plastics.
Bassi (2017), in a book, reviewed the biological technology for the management
of plastics. The author stated that wastes generated from plastics are unending and
need urgent management strategies. The utilization of microorganisms in the breakdown of plastics can yield many biomaterials that can be used in the agricultural and
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C. O. Adetunji and O. A. Anani
enzymes, and microorganisms involved.
14.3 Specific Examples of Microorganisms that Could
Degrade Plastic
The economic benefits derived from the use of plastics cannot be quantified. About
350–400 million load of it are produced year in year out. Plastics have been proven
to be nonbiodegradable. This nature of it can cause serious environmental and health
problem especially microplastics. However, of recent, several techniques have been
developed and employed in order to break this jinx of nonbiodegradability. Danso
et al. (2019) did a review of the viewpoint of environmental and biotechnological
prospects of using bacterial in the degradation of plastics. The authors stated that
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PUR (polyurethane) are active chemicals
found in plastics which are very noxious. That many microbial consortia are still
been evaluated to ascertain specific enzymes that can degrade plastics. However,
several studies have been carried out on the degrading potential of some microbial
consortia without specifying any enzymes that can breakdown polymers with high
molecular mass such as polyethylene, polyurethane (ether-based), polypropylene,
polyvinylchloride, polyamide, and polystyrene. In conclusion, the authors recommend that specific research on the richness of enzymes and microbial consortia
action on plastics should be carried out in order to tap into the protein-metagenomes
of native and non-cultivated bacterial potentials. This will pave new grounds for
bio-catalyst consortia that can degrade plastics to useable products (oligomers and
monomers) for human benefits in turn reduce the worldwide issues caused by
plastics.
Shah et al. (2008a, b) in a review looked at the remediation potential of bacteria
on plastics. The authors recounted the environmental problems causes as a result of
the nonbiodegradable nature of plastics. This has necessitated the global awareness
of their potential ecological and health threats. The authors stated that bioremediation is very important for water immiscible plastics, the reason that, when they enter
the aquatic environment eventually, they cannot be incinerated nor recycled. In
conclusion, the authors recommend that it is very important to understand the
mechanisms involved in bioremediation via considering the microbial consortia to
be used in synthetic or natural plastics. In addition, the biochemical reaction
involved in the interaction between the microbial consortia and the plastic materials
should also be understood immensely. Again the utilization of in vitro techniques is
highly encouraged in the biodegradation of plastics.
Bassi (2017), in a book, reviewed the biological technology for the management
of plastics. The author stated that wastes generated from plastics are unending and
need urgent management strategies. The utilization of microorganisms in the breakdown of plastics can yield many biomaterials that can be used in the agricultural and
360
C. O. Adetunji and O. A. Anani