Critical Evaluation of Plastic waste remediation through Microbial Degradation

Abstract

Growingvolume of environmental plastic waste have generated global concerns because of their persistence in the environment. Not only they contaminate the environment but plastic also poses health risks to wildlife. Biodegradation of plastics by microbes is one possible solution to this problem. Microbial degradation of plastics means breaking down plastic polymers into its monomers and oligomers by microbes. Literature review with predefined criteria using the online databases of Scopus and Web of Science were used to find papers on microbial biodegradation of polymers. The objective of this study is to review already done research to find out appropriate microbial species capable of performing effective biodegradation of plastic and to compare the result of biodegradation of plastic polymer involving different kind of pretreatment strategies. This review study concluded Pseudomonas and Arthrobacter specie degraded high density polythene 15% and 12% respectively. Almost 8% of low density polythene degraded by Pseudomonas species. Aspergillus glaucus was efficient which degraded Polythene 28.80%. Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus japonicas degraded low density polythene 8% and 12% respectively. Anabaena spiroides (blue-green alga) degraded Polythene by 8.18%. Pretreatment had marked effect on the cracking and alteration of plastic polymer which helped to grow microbial species on cracked surface. After pre-treatment Bacillus subtilis degraded polythene by 9.26%. Rhizopus oryzae degraded 8.4% of low density polythene after heating at 70 °C for 10 days and washing with ethanol.