proposed a novel disposal method for the breakdown of polymers as well as new
enzymatic degradation of plastic and inexpensive manufacture of decomposable
plastic.
Siracusa (2019) in a review looked at the degrading potential of artificial biopolymers by microbial consortia. The authors stated that the demand for polymers
that are biodegradable has risen (20–30%) over the last 10 years with a market share
of <0.1%. They said that the incentives gotten from natural renewable resources can
reduce the total dependency on petroleum resources. The wastes from natural
materials such as wood, cellulose-straw, potatoes, cereals-starch, and oilseed crops
can be converted into polymers and chemical intermediates. However, the utilization
of renewable natural materials for bioplastic production, cannot be vouched for any
negligible environmental influence. Moreover, bioplastics are commonly biodegradable, nevertheless the dispersion of the composting technology is a precondition for
their advancement. In conclusion the authors suggested that more efforts should be
put in place in order to optimize high performance and less expensive products for a
sustainable ecosystem.
Of recent, plastic pollution has drawn more attention because of the ecological
and health risks it portends. Shovitri et al. (2017) tested and evaluated the degradation of plastics by soil-burial technique with strains PL-01 (Pseudomonas) and
PL-01 (Bacillus) native microbes. The authors recounted their previous study on
plastics using similar strains. The strains were able to breakdown about 10% of
plastics. However, the results from their current study for 16 weeks revealed positive
influence by the two strains on the degradation of the plastics. Bacillus sp. had more
impact than Pseudomonas sp. It was noticed that transparent plastic degraded faster
than other colors (white and black) plastics “Kresek” bags. The results of the
biodegradation performance of the soil microbes showed that the native mangrove
soil microbes performed better in plastic degradation and biofilm formation without
Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains addition. The FTIR (Fourier transform infrared)
examination confirmed that there were reduced peaks of diffusion, indicating chemical efficient assemblage changes happening in the plastic compound after the study
regime (16 weeks).
Pathak and Navneet (2017) did an extensive review of the current level of
polymer degradation using different bacteria and fungi strains. The authors
recounted the ecological risks associated with the undiscriminating use of artificial
polymers on water and land. The application of plastic is very elaborate. Over use of
the artificial polymers can increase the level of pollution in the environment which in
turn affect the living and nonliving components therein. This pollutant, plastics, is
seen as a potential threat because it is nonbiodegradable. However, microorganisms
(bacterial and fungi) are the current bio-tools used in the biodegradation of xenobiotic and recalcitrant pollutants like plastics. Specific examples of such are: bacteria
(Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Clostridium thermocellum, Comamonas acidovorans,
Rhodococcus ruber, Streptomyces setonii, Streptomyces badius, Pseudomonas
stutzeri, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungi (Mucor rouxii, Pycnoporus
cinnabarinus, Fusarium lini, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger). They stated
that biofilm development enhances the degradation efficacy of plastic pollutant, then
14 Plastic-Eating Microorganisms: Recent Biotechnological Techniques for Recycling. . . 365
enzymatic degradation of plastic and inexpensive manufacture of decomposable
plastic.
Siracusa (2019) in a review looked at the degrading potential of artificial biopolymers by microbial consortia. The authors stated that the demand for polymers
that are biodegradable has risen (20–30%) over the last 10 years with a market share
of <0.1%. They said that the incentives gotten from natural renewable resources can
reduce the total dependency on petroleum resources. The wastes from natural
materials such as wood, cellulose-straw, potatoes, cereals-starch, and oilseed crops
can be converted into polymers and chemical intermediates. However, the utilization
of renewable natural materials for bioplastic production, cannot be vouched for any
negligible environmental influence. Moreover, bioplastics are commonly biodegradable, nevertheless the dispersion of the composting technology is a precondition for
their advancement. In conclusion the authors suggested that more efforts should be
put in place in order to optimize high performance and less expensive products for a
sustainable ecosystem.
Of recent, plastic pollution has drawn more attention because of the ecological
and health risks it portends. Shovitri et al. (2017) tested and evaluated the degradation of plastics by soil-burial technique with strains PL-01 (Pseudomonas) and
PL-01 (Bacillus) native microbes. The authors recounted their previous study on
plastics using similar strains. The strains were able to breakdown about 10% of
plastics. However, the results from their current study for 16 weeks revealed positive
influence by the two strains on the degradation of the plastics. Bacillus sp. had more
impact than Pseudomonas sp. It was noticed that transparent plastic degraded faster
than other colors (white and black) plastics “Kresek” bags. The results of the
biodegradation performance of the soil microbes showed that the native mangrove
soil microbes performed better in plastic degradation and biofilm formation without
Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains addition. The FTIR (Fourier transform infrared)
examination confirmed that there were reduced peaks of diffusion, indicating chemical efficient assemblage changes happening in the plastic compound after the study
regime (16 weeks).
Pathak and Navneet (2017) did an extensive review of the current level of
polymer degradation using different bacteria and fungi strains. The authors
recounted the ecological risks associated with the undiscriminating use of artificial
polymers on water and land. The application of plastic is very elaborate. Over use of
the artificial polymers can increase the level of pollution in the environment which in
turn affect the living and nonliving components therein. This pollutant, plastics, is
seen as a potential threat because it is nonbiodegradable. However, microorganisms
(bacterial and fungi) are the current bio-tools used in the biodegradation of xenobiotic and recalcitrant pollutants like plastics. Specific examples of such are: bacteria
(Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Clostridium thermocellum, Comamonas acidovorans,
Rhodococcus ruber, Streptomyces setonii, Streptomyces badius, Pseudomonas
stutzeri, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungi (Mucor rouxii, Pycnoporus
cinnabarinus, Fusarium lini, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger). They stated
that biofilm development enhances the degradation efficacy of plastic pollutant, then
14 Plastic-Eating Microorganisms: Recent Biotechnological Techniques for Recycling. . . 365