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Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Published on: May 10, 2013
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Microbial Enzymatic Degradation of Biodegradable Plastics
Roohi1, Kulsoom Bano2, Mohammed Kuddus3
1Protein Research Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Integral University, Lucknow, U.P., India.
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
|May 27, 2017
Summary
Biodegradable plastics offer a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, with microbes and their enzymes facilitating degradation. Further research is needed for cost-effective production and enzymatic breakdown of these eco-friendly materials.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Renewable feedstock-derived biodegradable plastics are crucial for packaging, agriculture, and biomedical applications.
- Rising pollution necessitates biodegradable plastics and microbial degradation using extracellular enzymes.
- Microbial enzymatic degradation offers a bioremediation solution with no waste accumulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review microbial degradation of biodegradable plastics.
- To summarize patents related to plastic biodegradation.
Main Methods:
- Understanding microbial interactions and degradation mechanisms under environmental factors (pH, temperature, substrate properties).
- Analyzing surface erosion of polymer films for hydrolytic degradation characterization.
Main Results:
- Biodegradation yields low molecular weight monomers, CO2, methane, and water.
- Identified potent bacteria and fungi capable of degrading various biodegradable plastics.
- Summarized biotechnologically significant patents on plastic biodegradation.
Conclusions:
- New disposal techniques are essential for polymer degradation.
- Further research is required for economical production and enzymatic degradation of biodegradable plastics.
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