Recent advances in techniques for microplastic detection, microbial biodegradation and its genomic insights: a review

The rapid increase in plastic production and use has caused a large buildup of microplastics (MPs) in land, freshwater, and ocean environments. This situation poses serious risks to ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. Addressing this complex pollution problem requires accurate detection methods and sustainable strategies. This review provides a detailed look at the latest developments in techniques to identify and characterize microplastics. It covers traditional methods like microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy along with new methods such as hyperspectral imaging, atomic force microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry-based techniques, and electrochemical biosensors. The review assesses microbial degradation of plastics. It highlights important bacterial, fungal, and algal groups involved in degrading common plastics like polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). It also discusses genes, enzymatic processes and metabolic pathways involved in degradation process. By combining advancements in detection methods with findings from microbial and genomic studies, this review points out current challenges, new opportunities, and future directions for creating standardized, scalable, and effective strategies to tackle microplastic pollution.