2025· Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal for the Tropics· Vol 22, pp. 247-269· 0 citations
TL;DR
This review aims to synthesize knowledge on plastics and microbial plastic degradation, with particular focus on emerging and re-emerging challenges that hinder its large-scale application.
Abstract
Plastics are high-molecular-mass polymers made of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic compounds used in the production of water bottles, medical supplies and food packaging and more. Increased plastic production in recent years has resulted in an accumulation of plastic garbage in our environment, which is quite concerning. This review aims to synthesize knowledge on plastics and microbial plastic degradation, with particular focus on emerging and re-emerging challenges that hinder its large-scale application. The discharge of plastic additives, the buildup of microplastics in the marine environment, and their lack of degradability can all have a negative impact on aquatic life and human health. Synthetic polymers have been broken down using physicochemical techniques, such as photodegradation and thermal treatment, but reported efficiencies are often below 40% and can generate toxic byproducts such as aldehydes and microplastics.One environmentally beneficial solution to the plastic pollution problem is biodegradation. Several plastic- degrading bacteria, including Pseudomonas species, Bacillus species, Alcanivorax species, and Actinomycetes, have been isolated have also been found to degrade plastics while microbial plastic degradation has gained attention as an eco-friendly approach, several emerging and re-emerging challenges hinder its widespread application. These include the slow degradation rates, microbial adaptability to synthetic polymers, genetic and metabolic limitations, and the influence of environmental factors on microbial efficiency. Recent advancements in biotechnology, such as enzyme engineering, metagenomics, and synthetic biology, offer promising prospects for enhancing microbial plastic degradation. This review presents the current challenges, potential solutions, and future directions in microbial plastic degradation.
This review includes various bacterial and fungal enzymes associated with major stages of microbial plastic degradation, including biodeterioration, biofragmentation, bioassimilation, and mineralization and highlights recent advancements in metagenomics, enzyme engineering, synthetic biology, and multi‐omics approaches that helps in improving the efficiency and large‐scale industrial feasibility of microbial plastic degradation.
This study outlines existing metabolic engineering techniques for bio-upcycling PET into high-value compounds, as well as a number of engineering approaches intended to improve the performance of PET-degrading enzymes. One of the most popular aromatic polyesters in the world, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has an annual demand of over 29 million metric tons in 2022 and is expected to rise by 40% by 2030. Due to the growing amount of PET waste and the existing insufficiency of recycling techniques, it has accumulated in terrestrial ecosystems, posing serious hazards to world health. These technologies seek to convert recovered PET into more valuable items in order to address energy issues as well as environmental sustainability. One potentially biosustainable technique for handling and recycling plastics is enzyme-mediated biocatalytic depolymerization. Protein engineering developments have been applied to modify and improve the many plastic-degrading enzymes that have been discovered from microbial sources. Additionally, microbial metabolic engineering makes it possible to create customized microbial chassis that can break down PET substrates and transform the resulting monomers into compounds that are useful for industry.
Abdul Rauf Bhatti, Rabiya Asim, Muddasar Jamal et al.· Practices in Science and Tec...· 0 citations
A theoretical Plastic-to-Fertilizer (P2F) framework that proposes an engineered four-member microbial consortium capable of partially depolymerizing mixed plastic waste, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP), and channeling selected plastic-derived carbon intermediates toward biosynthesis of agronomically beneficial compounds is presented.
Krishnaraj Narayanan· Frontiers in Microbiology· 0 citations
Plastics have become indispensable materials in modern society; however, their continuous production and consumption have led to significant environmental challenges associated with plastic waste accumulation and the occurrence of microplastics. This review provides an overview of global plastic production, plastic waste generation, and waste management practices, with particular emphasis on circular economy strategies aimed at improving resource efficiency and reducing plastic pollution. The current situation in North Macedonia is also discussed, highlighting the challenges and opportunities related to plastic waste management and recycling. Special attention is given to microplastics as emerging environmental contaminants. Current knowledge regarding their sources, environmental distribution, and potential ecological and human health impacts is summarized. Recent studies indicate that atmospheric transport represents an important pathway for the dispersal and deposition of microplastic particles, contributing to their occurrence even in remote regions. The review further examines the application of moss biomonitoring as a cost effective and efficient approach for assessing atmospheric microplastic deposition. Preliminary observations from a European monitoring initiative, including samples from North Macedonia, confirm the widespread presence of atmospheric microplastics and reveal spatial variations in their concentrations and polymer composition. These findings highlight the importance of harmonized monitoring methodologies and the integration of environmental monitoring with circular economy and waste management strategies to mitigate microplastic pollution.
Aleksandra Ivanoska Dacikj, Katerina Bačeva Andonovska· Macedonian Journal of Ecolog...· 0 citations
Plastic materials are among the most widespread products of modern society, but they also pose one of the greatest environmental problems due to their slow degradation and accumulation in the environment. Biodegradable plastic was developed as a potential solution to this issue, designed as a material that can be broken down by microorganisms into simpler, more environmentally friendly compounds. However, although it is often regarded as a more sustainable alternative to conventional plastics, its actual impact on the environment and ecosystems is still not fully understood. The aim of this paper is to analyse and review the impact of biodegradable plastics on various components of the environment, including soil, aquatic ecosystems, plants, animals, and potential effects on human health. A review of previous research shows that biodegradable plastic can help reduce long-term pollution, as it breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, and mineral substances under certain conditions. However, numerous studies indicate that complete decomposition often occurs only in controlled industrial or laboratory settings, while in the natural environment decomposition may be incomplete, leading to the formation of microplastics. These tiny particles can persist in soil or water for long periods and potentially affect organisms and ecosystems. Analysis of scientific papers shows that the most studied types of biodegradable plastics are polylactic acid (PLA), polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), polybutylene succinate (PBS), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Most research has been conducted under laboratory conditions and over a relatively short period, usually less than a few months, which limits the ability to observe long-term ecological effects. The results of numerous studies indicate that biodegradable plastics can affect soil physicochemical properties, including changes in pH, soil structure, and nutrient availability. In some cases, there is a decrease in soil nitrogen content and changes in microbial communities, which can influence plant growth and development. Experiments have shown that the presence of biodegradable plastic can slow the growth of various plant species, including wheat, soybeans, maize, and lettuce, as well as reduce the content of chlorophyll and other important biochemical compounds. The impact of biodegradable plastics has been observed in both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. In certain invertebrates, such as earthworms and insects, negative effects on growth, reproduction, and survival have been recorded, while in some organisms these effects were minimal or statistically insignificant. In aquatic ecosystems, plastics can cause metabolic disturbances, reduced growth, and organ damage in fish and other organisms, especially at higher concentrations and with longer exposure times. In addition to environmental effects, potential risks to human health are also considered. Microplastics can enter the human body through food, water, and air, and some research indicates that biodegradable plastic can serve as a carrier of microorganisms and pollutants. During decomposition, small plastic particles can affect the balance of microorganisms in the digestive system and potentially cause inflammatory processes. In conclusion, although biodegradable plastics represent a promising alternative to conventional plastic materials, their environmental effects depend on the type of plastic, concentration, duration of exposure, and environmental conditions. Previous research indicates that they can have both positive and negative impacts on ecosystems. Therefore, long-term research is needed to better understand their real effects and enable safe and sustainable use in the future.
Veljko Jovanović, M. Nujkić· Zbornik radova· 0 citations
Pollution by emerging contaminants like microplastic is one of the major environmental concerns. Microplastics have become ubiquitous anthropogenic pollutants of aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric ecosystems, and can generate considerable ecological and health-related risks. Conventional remediation regimes are widely ineffective, due to the physicochemical recalcitrance of polymer matrices. Recent advances in microbial biotechnology have revealed several contrasting microbial taxa and enzyme systems, which can convert or mineralize synthetic polymers through a variety of pathways of complex biochemistry. This review summarizes the current understanding of microbial–polymer interactions, including surface colonization, biofilm-mediated depolymerization, and intracellular uptake of degradation intermediates. It also discusses recent developments in enzyme engineering, strain optimization employing the CRISPR method, and synthetic biology approaches improving catabolic efficiency. The advent of a variety of multi-omics technologies of metagenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics has enabled the characterization of novel hydrolases and oxidoreductases with a high potential catalytic efficiency. Advances in nanobiocatalysis, enzyme immobilization, and bioreactor technology improve the scale-up of these processes. Related molecular developments and environmental applications will promote the application of microbial biotechnology as a selective and sustainable tool for the mitigation of microplastic accumulation and the development of a circular bioeconomy that interacts positively with ecosystem resilience.