after the ultraviolet (UV) and chemical treatments in the control as 1630–1840 cm
À1
(carboxylic group), 2915 cm
À1 (CH stress), 1630–1840 cm
À1 (carboxylic group).
and 1710–1740 cm
À1 (carbonyl group). The findings from their study showed
reduced peaks after the treatment with the fungi strains. This indicates eating of
the polythene plastics by the fungi acids (carboxylic and carbonyl) as well as the
polymerization of the plastic polythene unit structures.
Plastics are inexpensive, strong, harsh resilient materials, durable, and light
weighted substances, which have been reported to have long lasting adverse effect
on the ecosystem. Raziyafathima et al. (2016) in a review, looked at the degradation
of plastics wastes by microbes. The authors recounted the ecological and health risks
posed by wastes from plastics when heated up by UV light. In the light of this,
scientists have developed biodegradable plastics that are eco-friendly and not noxious even at room temperature. The authors, in conclusion, recommend the use of
microbes for the effective degradation of wastes from plastics.
Changes brought by anthropogenic activities on the marine ecosystem as a result
of plastic influence can impede the health of the coastal environment. Urbanek et al.
(2018) did a review of plastic degradation by plastic-eating microorganisms in an icy
marine ecosystem. The authors stated that the impact from plastic pollution without
permanent remediation can live an indelible ecosystem injury. The artificial plastics
are the major debris in the benthic region of the ecosystem that constitute a blockage
to the food chain structure occasioned by humans. However, this problem remained
unresolved, but several approaches have been used to reduce the impacts on the
marine ecosystem. Biodegradation a process using microorganisms to degrade
wastes like plastic in the environment. Nonetheless, in a cold region, the authors
presented some microbes that can be utilize to degrade plastics in cold environment.
Specific examples of are; Rhodococcus, Micrococcus, Arthrobacter, Corynebacterium,
Streptomyces,
Pseudomonas,
Flavobacterium,
Cryobacterium,
Cryobacterium, Leifsonia, Agreia, Subtercola, Micrococcus and Polaromonas that
are sourced from cold environment. Others are Shewanella, Pseudoalteromonas,
Marinomonas, and Colwellia. The authors stated that the impact of biofouling
bacterial consortia are not well understood as well as the relationship between
the microbes and the plastics. However, the microbes inhabiting colder regions of
the world have natural potentials differ from others from other marine ecosystems.
The reason is that the nature of the environmental condition as well as the increasing
rates of wastes from plastics forces them to acclimatize to new-fangled substrates.
The authors in conclusion opined that natural acclimatization of microbes might take
much time. This will eventually slow the rate of degradation, and pollution from
plastics will increase and might be irremediable.
Odusanya et al. (2013) in a preliminary study, isolated, characterized and evaluated the degradation of plastic bottle by microbes in Nigeria. The LLDPE (Linear
Low Density Polyethylene) potable plastic bottle was used employing a simple
proprietary solvent technique to powderize and solubilize it. Utilizing an enrichment
culture techniques, eight bacterial colonies were isolated which were capable of
breaking down LLDPE into useable carbon source. The most productive organism
observed was Serratia marcescens. Results showed that the organisms isolated and
14 Plastic-Eating Microorganisms: Recent Biotechnological Techniques for Recycling. . . 367
À1
(carboxylic group), 2915 cm
À1 (CH stress), 1630–1840 cm
À1 (carboxylic group).
and 1710–1740 cm
À1 (carbonyl group). The findings from their study showed
reduced peaks after the treatment with the fungi strains. This indicates eating of
the polythene plastics by the fungi acids (carboxylic and carbonyl) as well as the
polymerization of the plastic polythene unit structures.
Plastics are inexpensive, strong, harsh resilient materials, durable, and light
weighted substances, which have been reported to have long lasting adverse effect
on the ecosystem. Raziyafathima et al. (2016) in a review, looked at the degradation
of plastics wastes by microbes. The authors recounted the ecological and health risks
posed by wastes from plastics when heated up by UV light. In the light of this,
scientists have developed biodegradable plastics that are eco-friendly and not noxious even at room temperature. The authors, in conclusion, recommend the use of
microbes for the effective degradation of wastes from plastics.
Changes brought by anthropogenic activities on the marine ecosystem as a result
of plastic influence can impede the health of the coastal environment. Urbanek et al.
(2018) did a review of plastic degradation by plastic-eating microorganisms in an icy
marine ecosystem. The authors stated that the impact from plastic pollution without
permanent remediation can live an indelible ecosystem injury. The artificial plastics
are the major debris in the benthic region of the ecosystem that constitute a blockage
to the food chain structure occasioned by humans. However, this problem remained
unresolved, but several approaches have been used to reduce the impacts on the
marine ecosystem. Biodegradation a process using microorganisms to degrade
wastes like plastic in the environment. Nonetheless, in a cold region, the authors
presented some microbes that can be utilize to degrade plastics in cold environment.
Specific examples of are; Rhodococcus, Micrococcus, Arthrobacter, Corynebacterium,
Streptomyces,
Pseudomonas,
Flavobacterium,
Cryobacterium,
Cryobacterium, Leifsonia, Agreia, Subtercola, Micrococcus and Polaromonas that
are sourced from cold environment. Others are Shewanella, Pseudoalteromonas,
Marinomonas, and Colwellia. The authors stated that the impact of biofouling
bacterial consortia are not well understood as well as the relationship between
the microbes and the plastics. However, the microbes inhabiting colder regions of
the world have natural potentials differ from others from other marine ecosystems.
The reason is that the nature of the environmental condition as well as the increasing
rates of wastes from plastics forces them to acclimatize to new-fangled substrates.
The authors in conclusion opined that natural acclimatization of microbes might take
much time. This will eventually slow the rate of degradation, and pollution from
plastics will increase and might be irremediable.
Odusanya et al. (2013) in a preliminary study, isolated, characterized and evaluated the degradation of plastic bottle by microbes in Nigeria. The LLDPE (Linear
Low Density Polyethylene) potable plastic bottle was used employing a simple
proprietary solvent technique to powderize and solubilize it. Utilizing an enrichment
culture techniques, eight bacterial colonies were isolated which were capable of
breaking down LLDPE into useable carbon source. The most productive organism
observed was Serratia marcescens. Results showed that the organisms isolated and
14 Plastic-Eating Microorganisms: Recent Biotechnological Techniques for Recycling. . . 367