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Bergeson AR, Silvera AJ, Alper HS. Bottlenecks in biobased approaches to plastic degradation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4715. [PMID: 38830860 PMCID: PMC11148140 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49146-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Plastic waste is an environmental challenge, but also presents a biotechnological opportunity as a unique carbon substrate. With modern biotechnological tools, it is possible to enable both recycling and upcycling. To realize a plastics bioeconomy, significant intrinsic barriers must be overcome using a combination of enzyme, strain, and process engineering. This article highlights advances, challenges, and opportunities for a variety of common plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia R Bergeson
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ashli J Silvera
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Hal S Alper
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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2
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Ji J, Pei J, Ding F, Zeng C, Zhou J, Dong W, Cui Z, Yan X. Isolation and characterization of polyester polyurethane-degrading bacterium Bacillus sp. YXP1. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 249:118468. [PMID: 38354881 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms have the potential to be applied for the degradation or depolymerization of polyurethane (PU) and other plastic waste, which have attracted global attention. The appropriate strain or enzyme that can effectively degrade PU is the key to treat PU plastic wastes by biological methods. Here, a polyester PU-degrading bacterium Bacillus sp. YXP1 was isolated and identified from a plastic landfill. Three PU substrates with increasing structure complexities, including Impranil DLN, poly (1,4-butylene adipate)-based PU (PBA-PU), and polyester PU foam, were used to evaluate the degradation capacity of Bacillus sp. YXP1. Under optimal conditions, strain YXP1 could completely degrade 0.5% Impranil DLN within 7 days. After 30 days, the weight loss of polyester PU foam by strain YXP1 was as high as 42.1%. In addition, PBA-PU was applied for degradation pathway analysis due to its clear composition and chemical structure. Five degradation intermediates of PBA-PU were identified, including 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA), 1,4-butanediol, adipic acid, and two MDA derivates, indicating that strain YXP1 could depolymerize PBA-PU by the hydrolysis of ester and urethane bonds. Furthermore, the extracellular enzymes produced by strain YXP1 could hydrolyze PBA-PU to generate MDA. Together, this study provides a potential bacterium for the biological treatment of PU plastic wastes and for the mining of functional enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junbin Ji
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China; Nanjing Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, College of Food Science, Nanjing XiaoZhuang University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211171, China
| | - Jing Pei
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Fanghui Ding
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Caiting Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, China
| | - Weiliang Dong
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, China
| | - Zhongli Cui
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Xin Yan
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China.
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3
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Zhuo M, Chen Z, Liu X, Wei W, Shen Y, Ni BJ. A broad horizon for sustainable catalytic oxidation of microplastics. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122835. [PMID: 37931676 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their widespread appearance in the environment and biota, and their adverse effects on organisms. Since plastics are substantially produced to meet human needs, primary and secondary MPs are extensively trapped in wastewater treatment plants, freshwater, drinking water, ocean, air, and soil. The serious MPs pollution calls for efficient treatment strategies Herein, we discuss three catalytic processes (photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and biocatalysis) for the sustainable management of MPs, and the relevant catalytic mechanisms are clarified. For photocatalysis, three categories (organic, inorganic, hybrid) of photocatalysts are listed, with degradation efficiency of 23%-100%. Next, relative impact factors on photocatalysis, such as characteristics of MPs and photocatalysts, are discussed. Then, some promising electrocatalysts for the degradation/conversion of (micro)plastics and standard electrolyzer designs are briefly introduced. This electrocatalytic method has achieved over 77% of Faradaic efficiency. Next, potential organisms with abundant biocatalysts for degrading different types of MPs are reviewed. Advances in three bioremediation techniques including biositimulation, bioaugmentation, and biosurfactant are outlined. Lastly, perspectives are put forward to promote scientific development in solving environmental issues on MPs pollution in broad fields. This paper provides insights into the development of next-generation techniques for MPs pollution management in a sustainable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoshui Zhuo
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Zhijie Chen
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Wei Wei
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Yansong Shen
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
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4
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Gu X, Zhu S, Liu S, Liu Y. Analysis of the Influencing Factors of the Efficient Degradation of Waste Polyurethane and Its Scheme Optimization. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15102337. [PMID: 37242911 DOI: 10.3390/polym15102337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This work proposes an efficient catalytic recovery and utilization method for waste polyurethane foam. This method uses ethylene glycol (EG) and propylene glycol (PPG) as two-component alcohololytic agents for the alcoholysis of waste polyurethane foams. For the preparation of recycled polyethers, the conditions of different catalytic degradation systems were catalyzed by duplex metal catalysts (DMC) and alkali metal catalysts, and a synergy with both was also used. The experimental method was adopted with the blank control group and was set up for comparative analysis. The effect of the catalysts on the recycling of waste polyurethane foam was investigated. The catalytic degradation of DMC and the alkali metal catalysts alone, as well as the synergistic effect of the two catalysts, was explored. The findings revealed that the NaOH and DMC synergistic catalytic system was the best, and that the system activity was high under a two-component catalyst synergistic degradation. When the amount of NaOH added in the degradation system was 0.25%, the amount of DMC added was 0.04%, the reaction time was 2.5 h, and the reaction temperature was 160 °C, the waste polyurethane foam was completely alcoholized, and the prepared regenerated polyurethane foam had high compressive strength and good thermal stability. The efficient catalytic recycling method of waste polyurethane foam proposed in this paper has certain guiding and reference values for the practical production of solid-waste-recycled polyurethane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China
- School of Energy and Building Environment, Guilin University of Aerospace Technology, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Shangwen Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China
| | - Siwen Liu
- College of Innovative Material and Energy, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Yan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China
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Liu J, Zeng Q, Lei H, Xin K, Xu A, Wei R, Li D, Zhou J, Dong W, Jiang M. Biodegradation of polyester polyurethane by Cladosporium sp. P7: Evaluating its degradation capacity and metabolic pathways. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 448:130776. [PMID: 36706489 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms capable of decomposing polyurethane (PU) and other plastics have the potential to be used in bio-recycling processes. In this study, 20 PU-degrading strains were isolated, including 11 bacteria and 9 fungi, using a synthesized poly(1,4-butylene adipate)-based PU (PBA-PU) as the screening substrate. Three PU substrates with increasing structure complexities were used for a thorough evaluation of microbial degradation capacity: Impranil® DLN-SD, PBA-PU film and PU foam waste. After 4 days, the best fungal PBA-PU degrader, Cladosporium sp. P7, could degrade 94.5% of Impranil® DLN-SD. After 28 days of cultivation, 32.42% and 43.91% of solid PBA-PU film was converted into soluble small molecules when used as the sole carbon source or in a medium with other co-carbon sources, respectively. Accordingly, the weight loss of PU foam waste after 15 days was 15.3% for the sole carbon condition and 83.83% for the co-carbon conditions. Furthermore, PBA-PU was used for metabolic pathway analysis because of its known composition and chemical structure. Six metabolites were identified during the degradation process of PBA-PU, including adipic acid (AA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), and 4,4'-methylenedianiline (MDA), which can also be used as the sole carbon source to grow the fungal strain P7, resulting in the discovery of two MDA metabolites during the cultivation processes. Based on the presence of these eight metabolites, we hypothesized that PBA-PU is first depolymerized by the fungal strain P7 via ester and urethane bond hydrolysis, followed by intracellular metabolism and mineralization of the three monomers to CO2 and H2O.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Liu
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Qingyi Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Huirui Lei
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Kaiyuan Xin
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Anming Xu
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Ren Wei
- Junior Research Group Plastic Biodegradation, Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ding Li
- Institute of Veterinary Immunology & Engineering, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, PR China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Weiliang Dong
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China.
| | - Min Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Waste Plastics Biocatalytic Degradation and Recycling, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
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Zhang X, Li Y, Lei J, Li Z, Tan Q, Xie L, Xiao Y, Liu T, Chen X, Wen Y, Xiang W, Kuzyakov Y, Yan W. Time-dependent effects of microplastics on soil bacteriome. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 447:130762. [PMID: 36638676 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic threats to biodiversity, health and ecological safety are adding to concern worldwide, but the real impacts on the functioning of organisms and ecosystems are obscure owing to their inert characteristics. Here we investigated the long-lasting ecological effects of six prevalent microplastic types: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) on soil bacteria at a 2 % (w/w) level. Due to the inertia and lack of available nitrogen of these microplastics, their effects on bacteriome tended to converge after one year and were strongly different from their short-term effects. The soil volumes around microplastics were very specific, in which the microplastic-adapted bacteria (e.g., some genera in Actinobacteria) were enriched but the phyla Bacteroidetes and Gemmatimonadetes declined, resulting in higher microbial nitrogen requirements and reduced organic carbon mineralization. The reshaped bacteriome was specialized in the genetic potential of xenobiotic and lipid metabolism as well as related oxidation, esterification, and hydrolysis processes, but excessive oxidative damage resulted in severe weakness in community genetic information processing. According to model predictions, microplastic effects are indirectly derived from nutrients and oxidative stress, and the effects on bacterial functions are stronger than on structure, posing a heavy risk to soil ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyuan Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China; College of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yong Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China; Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China.
| | - Junjie Lei
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Ziqian Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Qianlong Tan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Lingli Xie
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yunmu Xiao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Ting Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Xiaoyong Chen
- College of Arts and Sciences, Governors State University, University Park, IL 60484, USA
| | - Yafeng Wen
- College of Landscape Architecture, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Wenhua Xiang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China; Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yakov Kuzyakov
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; Department of Agricultural Soil Science, University of Goettingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Dept. of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, University of Goettingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Wende Yan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China; Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China.
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Eberz J, Doeker M, Ackermann YS, Schaffeld D, Wierckx N, Jupke A. Selective Separation of 4,4’-Methylenedianiline, Isophoronediamine and 2,4-Toluenediamine from Enzymatic Hydrolysis Solutions of Polyurethane. SOLVENT EXTRACTION AND ION EXCHANGE 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/07366299.2023.2193229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Eberz
- Fluid Process Engineering (AVT.FVT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Moritz Doeker
- Fluid Process Engineering (AVT.FVT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yannic S. Ackermann
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Dominik Schaffeld
- Fluid Process Engineering (AVT.FVT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Andreas Jupke
- Fluid Process Engineering (AVT.FVT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Strotmann U, Thouand G, Pagga U, Gartiser S, Heipieper HJ. Toward the future of OECD/ISO biodegradability testing-new approaches and developments. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:2073-2095. [PMID: 36867202 PMCID: PMC10033483 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12406-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
In the past decades, industrial and scientific communities have developed a complex standardized system (e.g., OECD, ISO, CEN) to evaluate the biodegradability of chemical substances. This system includes for OECD three levels of testing (ready and inherent biodegradability tests, simulation tests). It was adopted by many countries and is completely integrated into European legislation (registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemicals, REACH). Nevertheless, the different tests have certain deficiencies, and the question arises of how accurately these tests display the situation in the real environment and how the results can be used for predictions. This review will focus on the technical advantages and weaknesses of current tests concerning the technical setup, the inoculum characterization, and its biodegradation potential as well as the use of adequate reference compounds. A special focus of the article will be on combined test systems offering enhanced possibilities to predict biodegradation. The properties of microbial inocula are critically discussed, and a new concept concerning the biodegradation adaptation potential (BAP) of inocula is proposed. Furthermore, a probability model and different in silico QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationships) models to predict biodegradation from chemical structures are reviewed. Another focus lies on the biodegradation of difficult single compounds and mixtures of chemicals like UVCBs (unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products, or biological materials) which will be an important challenge for the forthcoming decades. KEY POINTS: • There are many technical points to be improved in OECD/ISO biodegradation tests • The proper characterization of inocula is a crucial point in biodegradation tests • Combined biodegradation test systems offer extended possibilities for biodegradation tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Strotmann
- Department of Chemistry, Westfälische Hochschule, 45665, Recklinghausen, Germany
| | - Gerald Thouand
- Nantes Université, ONIRIS, CNRS, GEPEA, UMR 6144, 85000, La Roche sur Yon, France
| | - Udo Pagga
- Rüdigerstr. 49, 67069, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | | | - Hermann J Heipieper
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
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Wu KY, Yang TX, Yang M, Wu JQ, Li X, Chen XD, Tang L, Yang XY. Preliminary identification of soil fungi for the degradation of polyurethane film. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:145. [PMID: 36971856 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03491-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Polyurethane (PU) is a versatile plastic that boasts high environmental resistance. The biodegradation of PU has become a hot topic of research aimed at finding ways to potentially solve PU pollutants. Identifying microorganisms capable of efficiently degrading PU plastics is pivotal for the development of a green recycling process for PU. This study aimed to isolate and characterize PU-degrading fungi from the soil of a waste transfer station in Luoyang, China. We isolated four different fungal strains from the soil. Among the isolates, the P2072 and P2073 strains were identified as Rhizopus oryzae (internal transcribed spacer identity, 99.66%) and Alternaria alternata (internal transcribed spacer identity, 99.81%), respectively, through microscopic, morphologic, as well as 18S rRNA sequencing. The degradation ability of strains P2072 and P2073 was analyzed through measurement of weight loss, and they exhibited a degradation rate of 2.7% and 3.3%, respectively, for the PU films after 2 months' growth in mineral salt medium (MSM) with PU films as the sole carbon source. In addition, the P2073 strain exhibited protease activity in the presence of PU. To our knowledge, R. oryzae has never been reported as a PU-degrading fungus. This study provides a new perspective on the biodegradation of PU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kong-Yang Wu
- College of Life Science, Luoyang Normal University, Jiqing Road 6, Luoyang, 471934, China
| | - Tong-Xiang Yang
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Kaiyuan Road 236, Luoyang, 471023, China.
| | - Meng Yang
- College of Life Science, Luoyang Normal University, Jiqing Road 6, Luoyang, 471934, China
| | - Jin-Qiu Wu
- College of Life Science, Luoyang Normal University, Jiqing Road 6, Luoyang, 471934, China
| | - Xue Li
- College of Life Science, Luoyang Normal University, Jiqing Road 6, Luoyang, 471934, China
| | - Xue-Dong Chen
- College of Life Science, Luoyang Normal University, Jiqing Road 6, Luoyang, 471934, China
| | - Lin Tang
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Kaiyuan Road 236, Luoyang, 471023, China
| | - Xue-Yi Yang
- College of Life Science, Luoyang Normal University, Jiqing Road 6, Luoyang, 471934, China.
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10
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Cárdenas Espinosa MJ, Schmidgall T, Pohl J, Wagner G, Wynands B, Wierckx N, Heipieper HJ, Eberlein C. Assessment of New and Genome-Reduced Pseudomonas Strains Regarding Their Robustness as Chassis in Biotechnological Applications. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11040837. [PMID: 37110260 PMCID: PMC10144732 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11040837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Organic olvent-tolerant strains of the Gram-negative bacterial genus Pseudomonas are discussed as potential biocatalysts for the biotechnological production of various chemicals. However, many current strains with the highest tolerance are belonging to the species P. putida and are classified as biosafety level 2 strains, which makes them uninteresting for the biotechnological industry. Therefore, it is necessary to identify other biosafety level 1 Pseudomonas strains with high tolerance towards solvents and other forms of stress, which are suitable for establishing production platforms of biotechnological processes. In order to exploit the native potential of Pseudomonas as a microbial cell factory, the biosafety level 1 strain P. taiwanensis VLB120 and its genome-reduced chassis (GRC) variants as well as the plastic-degrading strain P. capeferrum TDA1 were assessed regarding their tolerance towards different n-alkanols (1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol, 1-decanol). Toxicity of the solvents was investigated by their effects on bacterial growth rates given as the EC50 concentrations. Hereby, both toxicities as well as the adaptive responses of P. taiwanensis GRC3 and P. capeferrum TDA1 showed EC50 values up to two-fold higher than those previously detected for P. putida DOT-T1E (biosafety level 2), one of the best described solvent-tolerant bacteria. Furthermore, in two-phase solvent systems, all the evaluated strains were adapted to 1-decanol as a second organic phase (i.e., OD560 was at least 0.5 after 24 h of incubation with 1% (v/v) 1-decanol), which shows the potential use of these strains as platforms for the bio-production of a wide variety of chemicals at industrial level.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Cárdenas Espinosa
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tabea Schmidgall
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jessica Pohl
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Georg Wagner
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Benedikt Wynands
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Hermann J. Heipieper
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Eberlein
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Bhavsar P, Bhave M, Webb HK. Solving the plastic dilemma: the fungal and bacterial biodegradability of polyurethanes. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 39:122. [PMID: 36929307 PMCID: PMC10020256 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03558-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Polyurethane (PU) is a plastic polymer which, due to its various desirable characteristics, has been applied extensively in domestic, industrial and medical fields for the past 50 years. Subsequently, an increasing amount of PU waste is generated annually. PU, like many other plastics, is highly resistant to degradation and is a substantial threat to our environment. Currently PU wastes are handled through conventional disposal techniques such as landfill, incineration and recycling. Due to the many drawbacks of these techniques, a 'greener' alternative is necessary, and biodegradation appears to be the most promising option. Biodegradation has the potential to completely mineralise plastic waste or recover the input materials and better enable recycling. There are hurdles to overcome however, primarily the efficiency of the process and the presence of waste plastics with inherently different chemical structures. This review will focus on polyurethanes and their biodegradation, outlining the difficulty of degrading different versions of the same material and strategies for achieving more efficient biodegradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parth Bhavsar
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swinburne University of Technology, John St, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia
| | - Mrinal Bhave
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swinburne University of Technology, John St, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia
| | - Hayden K Webb
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swinburne University of Technology, John St, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia.
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12
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Pandey P, Dhiman M, Kansal A, Subudhi SP. Plastic waste management for sustainable environment: techniques and approaches. WASTE DISPOSAL & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY 2023; 5:1-18. [PMID: 37359812 PMCID: PMC9987405 DOI: 10.1007/s42768-023-00134-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Excessive exploitation, negligence, non-degradable nature, and physical and chemical properties of plastic waste have resulted in a massive pollution load into the environment. Consequently, plastic entres the food chain and can cause serious health issues in aquatic animals and humans. The present review summarizes currently reported techniques and approaches for the removal of plastic waste. Many techniques, such as adsorption, coagulation, photocatalysis, and microbial degradation, and approaches like reduction, reuse and recycling are potentially in trend and differ from each other in their efficiency and interaction mechanism. Moreover, substantial advantages and challenges associated with these techniques and approaches are highlighted to develop an understanding of the selection of possible ways for a sustainable future. Nevertheless, in addition to the reduction of plastic waste from the ecosystem, many alternative opportunities have also been explored to cash plastic waste. These fields include the synthesis of adsorbents for the removal of pollutants from aqueous and gaseous stream, their utility in clothing, waste to energy and fuel and in construction (road making). Substantial evidence can be observed in the reduction of plastic pollution from various ecosystems. In addition, it is important to develop an understanding of factors that need to be emphasized while considering alternative approaches and opportunities to cash plastic waste (like adsorbent, clothing, waste to energy and fuel). The thrust of this review is to provide readers with a comprehensive overview of the development status of techniques and approaches to overcome the global issue of plastic pollution and the outlook on the exploitation of this waste as resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Pandey
- Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, Gaura Devi Paryavaran Bhawan, IT Park, Sahastradhara Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
| | - Manisha Dhiman
- School of Management, IMS Unison University, Makkawala Greens, Mussoorie Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
| | - Ankur Kansal
- Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, Gaura Devi Paryavaran Bhawan, IT Park, Sahastradhara Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
| | - Sarada Prasannan Subudhi
- Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, Gaura Devi Paryavaran Bhawan, IT Park, Sahastradhara Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001 India
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13
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Dey S, Anand U, Kumar V, Kumar S, Ghorai M, Ghosh A, Kant N, Suresh S, Bhattacharya S, Bontempi E, Bhat SA, Dey A. Microbial strategies for degradation of microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114438. [PMID: 36179880 PMCID: PMC9514963 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic has led to the generation of massive plastic wastes, comprising of onetime useable gloves, masks, tissues, and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Recommendations for the employ of single-use disposable masks made up of various polymeric materials like polyethylene, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, and polypropylene, polystyrene, can have significant aftermath on environmental, human as well as animal health. Improper disposal and handling of healthcare wastes and lack of proper management practices are creating serious health hazards and an extra challenge for the local authorities designated for management of solid waste. Most of the COVID-19 medical wastes generated are now being treated by incineration which generates microplastic particles (MPs), dioxin, furans, and various toxic metals, such as cadmium and lead. Moreover, natural degradation and mechanical abrasion of these wastes can lead to the generation of MPs which cause a serious health risk to living beings. It is a major threat to aquatic lives and gets into foods subsequently jeopardizing global food safety. Moreover, the presence of plastic is also considered a threat owing to the increased carbon emission and poses a profound danger to the global food chain. Degradation of MPs by axenic and mixed culture microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, microalgae etc. can be considered an eco-sustainable technique for the mitigation of the microplastic menace. This review primarily deals with the increase in microplastic pollution due to increased use of PPE along with different disinfection methods using chemicals, steam, microwave, autoclave, and incineration which are presently being employed for the treatment of COVID-19 pandemic-related wastes. The biological treatment of the MPs by diverse groups of fungi and bacteria can be an alternative option for the mitigation of microplastic wastes generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satarupa Dey
- Department of Botany, Shyampur Siddheswari Mahavidyalaya (affiliated to University of Calcutta), Howrah-711312, West Bengal, India.
| | - Uttpal Anand
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben Gurion, 8499000, Israel
| | - Vineet Kumar
- Waste Re-processing Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India; Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Sohna Road, Gurugram, Haryana,122103, India.
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Waste Re-processing Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mimosa Ghorai
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, West Bengal, India
| | - Arabinda Ghosh
- Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati, 781014, Assam, India
| | - Nishi Kant
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, Delhi, 110016, India
| | - S Suresh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, 462 003, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Sayan Bhattacharya
- School of Ecology and Environment Studies, Nalanda University, Rajgir, Nalanda, 803116, Bihar, India
| | - Elza Bontempi
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sartaj Ahmad Bhat
- Waste Re-processing Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, Maharashtra, India; River Basin Research Center, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Abhijit Dey
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, 86/1 College Street, Kolkata, 700073, West Bengal, India.
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14
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Abstract
Human activity and modern production contribute to the formation of a certain amount of waste that can be recycled to obtain useful products and energy sources. Today, the higher the level of industrial development, the greater the amount of waste generated, and as a result, the more important the need for disposal. A similar pattern is typical for any human production activity; as a result of large-scale production, at least 70–80% of waste is generated in relation to the amount of raw materials used. The large-scale use of polymeric materials and the plastic waste generated after their use lead to environmental pollution. While a small part of the waste is utilized naturally due to the vital activity of soil microorganisms, and a part is purposefully processed by humans into products for various purposes, a fairly large amount of waste occupies large areas in the form of a variety of garbage. After the removal of garbage by incineration, the liberated territories cannot be transferred to agricultural land due to the high content of harmful contaminants. The harm to the environment is quite obvious. In practice, certain types of waste consist of more than 70% content of valuable substances that can find further practical application in a wide variety of industries.
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15
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Hassan S, Sabreena, Khurshid Z, Bhat SA, Kumar V, Ameen F, Ganai BA. Marine Bacteria and Omic Approaches: A Novel and Potential Repository for Bioremediation Assessment. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 133:2299-2313. [PMID: 35818751 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Marine environments accommodating diverse assortments of life constitute a great pool of differentiated natural resources. The cumulative need to remedy unpropitious effects of anthropogenic activities on estuaries, and coastal marine ecosystems has propelled the development of effective bioremediation strategies. Marine bacteria producing biosurfactants are promising agents for bio-remediating oil pollution in marine environments, making them prospective candidates for enhancing oil recovery. Molecular omics technologies are considered an emerging field of research in ecological and diversity assessment owing to their utility in environmental surveillance and bioremediation of polluted sites. A thorough literature review was undertaken to understand the applicability of different omic techniques employed for bioremediation assessment using marine bacteria. This review further establishes that for bioremediation of environmental pollutants (i.e., heavy metals, hydrocarbons, xenobiotic and numerous recalcitrant compounds), organisms isolated from marine environments can be better utilized for their removal. The literature survey shows that omics approaches can provide exemplary knowledge about microbial communities and their role in the bioremediation of environmental pollutants. This review centres on applications of marine bacteria in enhanced bioremediation, utilizing the omics approaches that can be a vital biological contrivance in environmental monitoring to tackle environmental degradation. The paper aims to identify the gaps in investigations involving marine bacteria to help researchers, ecologists, and decision-makers to develop a holistic understanding regarding their utility in bioremediation assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahnawaz Hassan
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, India
| | - Sabreena
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, India
| | | | | | - Vineet Kumar
- Department of Botany, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh-495009, India
| | - Fuad Ameen
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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16
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Ruiz Barrionuevo JM, Vilanova-Cuevas B, Alvarez A, Martín E, Malizia A, Galindo-Cardona A, de Cristóbal RE, Occhionero MA, Chalup A, Monmany-Garzia AC, Godoy-Vitorino F. The Bacterial and Fungal Gut Microbiota of the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella L. Consuming Polyethylene and Polystyrene. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:918861. [PMID: 35865934 PMCID: PMC9294514 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.918861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plastic production has been increasing exponentially in the last 60 years, but plastic disposal is out of control, resulting in the pollution of all ecosystems on Earth. Finding alternative environmentally sustainable choices, such as biodegradation by insects and their associated gut microbiota, is crucial, however we have only begun to characterize these ecosystems. Some bacteria and one fungus have been previously identified in the gut of Greater Wax Moth larvae (Galleria mellonella L., Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) located mainly in the Northern hemisphere. The aim of this study was to describe changes in the gut microbiota associated with the consumption of polyethylene and polystyrene by the Greater Wax Moth in Argentina, considering both bacteria and fungi. Larvae were fed polyethylene, polystyrene and beeswax as control for 7 days. Next generation sequencing revealed changes in the bacterial gut microbiome of the wax moth larvae at the phyla and genus levels, with an increase in two Pseudomonas strains. The fungal communities showed no differences in composition between diets, only changing in relative abundance. This is the first report of both bacterial and fungal communities associated with a plastivore insect. The results are promising and call for more studies concerning a potential multi-kingdom synergy in the plastic biodegradation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana M. Ruiz Barrionuevo
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Brayan Vilanova-Cuevas
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Analía Alvarez
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Tucumán, Argentina
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI-CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Eduardo Martín
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Tucumán, Argentina
- Fundación Miguel Lillo (FML), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Agustina Malizia
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Alberto Galindo-Cardona
- Fundación Miguel Lillo (FML), Tucumán, Argentina
- Centro Científico Tecnológico (CCT-NOA SUR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Ricardo E. de Cristóbal
- INSIBIO (CONICET - UNT), Instituto de Química Biológica “Dr. Bernabé Bloj”, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - M. Angelica Occhionero
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Adriana Chalup
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Tucumán, Argentina
- Fundación Miguel Lillo (FML), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - A. Carolina Monmany-Garzia
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
- *Correspondence: A. Carolina Monmany-Garzia,
| | - Filipa Godoy-Vitorino
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Filipa Godoy-Vitorino,
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17
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Verschoor JA, Kusumawardhani H, Ram AFJ, de Winde JH. Toward Microbial Recycling and Upcycling of Plastics: Prospects and Challenges. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:821629. [PMID: 35401461 PMCID: PMC8985596 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.821629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Annually, 400 Mt of plastics are produced of which roughly 40% is discarded within a year. Current plastic waste management approaches focus on applying physical, thermal, and chemical treatments of plastic polymers. However, these methods have severe limitations leading to the loss of valuable materials and resources. Another major drawback is the rapid accumulation of plastics into the environment causing one of the biggest environmental threats of the twenty-first century. Therefore, to complement current plastic management approaches novel routes toward plastic degradation and upcycling need to be developed. Enzymatic degradation and conversion of plastics present a promising approach toward sustainable recycling of plastics and plastics building blocks. However, the quest for novel enzymes that efficiently operate in cost-effective, large-scale plastics degradation poses many challenges. To date, a wide range of experimental set-ups has been reported, in many cases lacking a detailed investigation of microbial species exhibiting plastics degrading properties as well as of their corresponding plastics degrading enzymes. The apparent lack of consistent approaches compromises the necessary discovery of a wide range of novel enzymes. In this review, we discuss prospects and possibilities for efficient enzymatic degradation, recycling, and upcycling of plastics, in correlation with their wide diversity and broad utilization. Current methods for the identification and optimization of plastics degrading enzymes are compared and discussed. We present a framework for a standardized workflow, allowing transparent discovery and optimization of novel enzymes for efficient and sustainable plastics degradation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo-Anne Verschoor
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Arthur F. J. Ram
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Johannes H. de Winde
- Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
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18
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Extracellular degradation of a polyurethane oligomer involving outer membrane vesicles and further insights on the degradation of 2,4-diaminotoluene in Pseudomonas capeferrum TDA1. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2666. [PMID: 35177693 PMCID: PMC8854710 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06558-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The continuing reports of plastic pollution in various ecosystems highlight the threat posed by the ever-increasing consumption of synthetic polymers. Therefore, Pseudomonas capeferrum TDA1, a strain recently isolated from a plastic dump site, was examined further regarding its ability to degrade polyurethane (PU) compounds. The previously reported degradation pathway for 2,4-toluene diamine, a precursor and degradation intermediate of PU, could be confirmed by RNA-seq in this organism. In addition, different cell fractions of cells grown on a PU oligomer were tested for extracellular hydrolytic activity using a standard assay. Strikingly, purified outer membrane vesicles (OMV) of P. capeferrum TDA1 grown on a PU oligomer showed higher esterase activity than cell pellets. Hydrolases in the OMV fraction possibly involved in extracellular PU degradation were identified by mass spectrometry. On this basis, we propose a model for extracellular degradation of polyester-based PUs by P. capeferrum TDA1 involving the role of OMVs in synthetic polymer degradation.
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19
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Rosenboom JG, Langer R, Traverso G. Bioplastics for a circular economy. NATURE REVIEWS. MATERIALS 2022; 7:117-137. [PMID: 35075395 PMCID: PMC8771173 DOI: 10.1038/s41578-021-00407-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 277] [Impact Index Per Article: 138.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Bioplastics - typically plastics manufactured from bio-based polymers - stand to contribute to more sustainable commercial plastic life cycles as part of a circular economy, in which virgin polymers are made from renewable or recycled raw materials. Carbon-neutral energy is used for production and products are reused or recycled at their end of life (EOL). In this Review, we assess the advantages and challenges of bioplastics in transitioning towards a circular economy. Compared with fossil-based plastics, bio-based plastics can have a lower carbon footprint and exhibit advantageous materials properties; moreover, they can be compatible with existing recycling streams and some offer biodegradation as an EOL scenario if performed in controlled or predictable environments. However, these benefits can have trade-offs, including negative agricultural impacts, competition with food production, unclear EOL management and higher costs. Emerging chemical and biological methods can enable the 'upcycling' of increasing volumes of heterogeneous plastic and bioplastic waste into higher-quality materials. To guide converters and consumers in their purchasing choices, existing (bio)plastic identification standards and life cycle assessment guidelines need revision and homogenization. Furthermore, clear regulation and financial incentives remain essential to scale from niche polymers to large-scale bioplastic market applications with truly sustainable impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Georg Rosenboom
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Robert Langer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Giovanni Traverso
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA
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20
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Greenman J, Gajda I, You J, Mendis BA, Obata O, Pasternak G, Ieropoulos I. Microbial fuel cells and their electrified biofilms. Biofilm 2021; 3:100057. [PMID: 34729468 PMCID: PMC8543385 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2021.100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) represent a wide range of different biofilm-based bioreactors that includes microbial fuel cells (MFCs), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) and microbial desalination cells (MDCs). The first described bioelectrical bioreactor is the Microbial Fuel Cell and with the exception of MDCs, it is the only type of BES that actually produces harvestable amounts of electricity, rather than requiring an electrical input to function. For these reasons, this review article, with previously unpublished supporting data, focusses primarily on MFCs. Of relevance is the architecture of these bioreactors, the type of membrane they employ (if any) for separating the chambers along with the size, as well as the geometry and material composition of the electrodes which support biofilms. Finally, the structure, properties and growth rate of the microbial biofilms colonising anodic electrodes, are of critical importance for rendering these devices, functional living 'engines' for a wide range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Greenman
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Iwona Gajda
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Jiseon You
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Buddhi Arjuna Mendis
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Oluwatosin Obata
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | | | - Ioannis Ieropoulos
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
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21
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Cárdenas Espinosa MJ, Schmidgall T, Wagner G, Kappelmeyer U, Schreiber S, Heipieper HJ, Eberlein C. An optimized method for RNA extraction from the polyurethane oligomer degrading strain Pseudomonas capeferrum TDA1 growing on aromatic substrates such as phenol and 2,4-diaminotoluene. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260002. [PMID: 34780548 PMCID: PMC8592408 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial degradation of xenobiotic compounds is an intense field of research already for decades. Lately, this research is complemented by downstream applications including Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), RT-PCR, qPCR, and RNA-seq. For most of these molecular applications, high-quality RNA is a fundamental necessity. However, during the degradation of aromatic substrates, phenolic or polyphenolic compounds such as polycatechols are formed and interact irreversibly with nucleic acids, making RNA extraction from these sources a major challenge. Therefore, we established a method for total RNA extraction from the aromatic degrading Pseudomonas capeferrum TDA1 based on RNAzol® RT, glycogen and a final cleaning step. It yields a high-quality RNA from cells grown on TDA1 and on phenol compared to standard assays conducted in the study. To our knowledge, this is the first report tackling the problem of polyphenolic compound interference with total RNA isolation in bacteria. It might be considered as a guideline to improve total RNA extraction from other bacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tabea Schmidgall
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Georg Wagner
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uwe Kappelmeyer
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephan Schreiber
- Department Molecular Systems Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hermann J. Heipieper
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Eberlein
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
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22
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Basit A, Shah ST, Ullah I, Muntha ST, Mohamed HI. Microbe-assisted phytoremediation of environmental pollutants and energy recycling in sustainable agriculture. Arch Microbiol 2021; 203:5859-5885. [PMID: 34545411 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-021-02576-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The perception of phytoremediation is efficiently utilized as an eco-friendly practice of green plants combating and cleaning up the stressed environment without harming it. The industrial revolution was followed by the green revolution which fulfilled the food demands of the growing population caused an increase in yield per unit area in crop production, but it also increased the use of synthetic fertilizers in agriculture. Globally, the intensive use of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture has led to serious health problems and irreversible environmental damage. Biofertilizers improve the growth of the plant and can be applied as an alternative to chemical/synthetic fertilizers. Cyanobacteria, bacteria, and fungi are known as some of the principal microbe groups used to produce biofertilizers that form symbiotic associations with plants. Microorganisms perform a key role in phosphate solubilization and mobilization, nitrogen fixation, nutrient management, biotic elicitors and probiotics, and pollution management (biodegradation agents), specifically bacteria which also help in atmospheric nitrogen fixation and are thus available for the growth of the plant. Management or biodegradation of hazardous chemical residues and heavy metals produced by a huge number of large-scale industries should be given primary importance to be transformed by various bacterial strains, fungi, algae. Currently, modern omics technologies such as metagenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic are being used to develop strategies for studying the ecology of microorganisms, as well as their use in environmental monitoring and bioremediation. This review briefly discusses some of the major groups of microorganisms that can perform different functions responsible for plant health, crop production, phytoremediation and also focus on the omics techniques reportedly used in environmental monitoring to tackle the pollution load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Basit
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Syed Tanveer Shah
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Izhar Ullah
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Peshawar, 25120, Pakistan
| | - Sidra Tul Muntha
- Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Heba I Mohamed
- Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
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23
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Zhang X, Li Y, Ouyang D, Lei J, Tan Q, Xie L, Li Z, Liu T, Xiao Y, Farooq TH, Wu X, Chen L, Yan W. Systematical review of interactions between microplastics and microorganisms in the soil environment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 418:126288. [PMID: 34102358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial ecosystems are widely contaminated by microplastics due to extensive usage and poor handling of plastic materials, but the subsequent fate and remediate strategy of these pollutants are far from fully understood. In soil environments, microplastics pose a potential threat to the survival, growth, and reproduction of soil microbiota that in turn threaten the biodiversity, function, and services of terrestrial ecosystems. Meanwhile, microorganisms are sensitive to microplastics due to the adaptability to changes in substrates and soil properties. Through the metabolic and mineralization processes, microorganisms are also crucial participator to the plastic biodegradation. In this review, we present current knowledges and research results of interactions between microplastics and microorganisms (both fungi and bacteria) in soil environments and mainly discuss the following: (1) effects of microplastics on microbial habitats via changes in soil physical, chemical, and biological properties; (2) effects of microplastics on soil microbial communities and functions; and (3) soil microbial-mediated plastic degradation with the likely mechanisms and potential remediation strategies. We aim to analyze the mechanisms driving these interactions and subsequent ecological effects, propose future directives for the study of microplastic in soils, and provide valuable information on the plastic bioremediation in contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyuan Zhang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yong Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China; Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China.
| | - Dan Ouyang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Junjie Lei
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Qianlong Tan
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Lingli Xie
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Ziqian Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Ting Liu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Yunmu Xiao
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Taimoor Hassan Farooq
- National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China; Bangor College China, a joint unit of Bangor University, Wales, UK and Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Xiaohong Wu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China; Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China; Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China
| | - Wende Yan
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Applied Forest Ecological Technology in Southern China, Changsha 410004, China; Laboratory of Urban Forest Ecology of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China.
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24
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Ellis LD, Rorrer NA, Sullivan KP, Otto M, McGeehan JE, Román-Leshkov Y, Wierckx N, Beckham GT. Chemical and biological catalysis for plastics recycling and upcycling. Nat Catal 2021. [DOI: 10.1038/s41929-021-00648-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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25
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Rossiter J. Soft robotics: the route to true robotic organisms. ARTIFICIAL LIFE AND ROBOTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10015-021-00688-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSoft Robotics has come to the fore in the last decade as a new way of conceptualising, designing and fabricating robots. Soft materials empower robots with locomotion, manipulation, and adaptability capabilities beyond those possible with conventional rigid robots. Soft robots can also be made from biological, biocompatible and biodegradable materials. This offers the tantalising possibility of bridging the gap between robots and organisms. Here, we discuss the properties of soft materials and soft systems that make them so attractive for future robots. In doing so, we consider how future robots can behave like, and have abilities akin to, biological organisms. These include huge numbers, finite lifetime, homeostasis and minimal—and even positive—environmental impact. This paves the way for future robots, not as machines, but as robotic organisms.
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26
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Amobonye A, Bhagwat P, Singh S, Pillai S. Plastic biodegradation: Frontline microbes and their enzymes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 759:143536. [PMID: 33190901 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Plastic polymers with different properties have been developed in the last 150 years to replace materials such as wood, glass and metals across various applications. Nevertheless, the distinct properties which make plastic desirable for our daily use also threaten our planet's sustainability. Plastics are resilient, non-reactive and most importantly, non-biodegradable. Hence, there has been an exponential increase in plastic waste generation, which has since been recognised as a global environmental threat. Plastic wastes have adversely affected life on earth, primarily through their undesirable accumulation in landfills, leaching into the soil, increased greenhouse gas emission, etc. Even more damaging is their impact on the aquatic ecosystems as they cause entanglement, ingestion and intestinal blockage in aquatic animals. Furthermore, plastics, especially in the microplastic form, have also been found to interfere with chemical interaction between marine organisms, to cause intrinsic toxicity by leaching, and by absorbing persistent organic contaminants as well as pathogens. The current methods for eliminating these wastes (incineration, landfilling, and recycling) come at massive costs, are unsustainable, and put more burden on our environment. Thus, recent focus has been placed more on the potential of biological systems to degrade synthetic plastics. In this regard, some insects, bacteria and fungi have been shown to ingest these polymers and convert them into environmentally friendly carbon compounds. Hence, in the light of recent literature, this review emphasises the multifaceted roles played by microorganisms in this process. The current understanding of the roles played by actinomycetes, algae, bacteria, fungi and their enzymes in enhancing the degradation of synthetic plastics are reviewed, with special focus on their modes of action and probable enzymatic mechanisms. Besides, key areas for further exploration, such as the manipulation of microorganisms through molecular cloning, modification of enzymatic characteristics and metabolic pathway design, are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodeji Amobonye
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
| | - Prashant Bhagwat
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
| | - Suren Singh
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
| | - Santhosh Pillai
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
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27
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Liu J, He J, Xue R, Xu B, Qian X, Xin F, Blank LM, Zhou J, Wei R, Dong W, Jiang M. Biodegradation and up-cycling of polyurethanes: Progress, challenges, and prospects. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 48:107730. [PMID: 33713745 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Polyurethanes (PUR) are ranked globally as the 6th most abundant synthetic polymer material. Most PUR materials are specifically designed to ensure long-term durability and high resistance to environmental factors. As the demand for diverse PUR materials is increasing annually in many industrial sectors, a large amount of PUR waste is also being generated, which requires proper disposal. In contrast to other mass-produced plastics such as PE, PP, and PET, PUR is a family of synthetic polymers, which differ considerably in their physical properties due to different building blocks (for example, polyester- or polyether-polyol) used in the synthesis. Despite its xenobiotic properties, PUR has been found to be susceptible to biodegradation by different microorganisms, albeit at very low rate under environmental and laboratory conditions. Discovery and characterization of highly efficient PUR-degrading microbes and enzymes capable of disassembling PUR polymer chains into oligo- and monomeric compounds is of fundamental importance for a circular plastic economy. In this review, the main methods used for screening PUR-degrading microbes and enzymes are summarized and compared in terms of their catalytic mechanisms. Furthermore, recycling and upcycling strategies of waste PUR polymers, including microbial conversion of PUR monomers into value added products, are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Jie He
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Rui Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Bin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Xiujuan Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Fengxue Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Lars M Blank
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jie Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China.
| | - Ren Wei
- Junior Research Group Plastic Biodegradation, Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Weiliang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China.
| | - Min Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
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28
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MacDonald EA, Edwards ED, Balanovic J, Medvecky F. Scientifically framed gene drive communication perceived as credible but riskier. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edith A. MacDonald
- Biodiversity Group Department of Conservation Conservation House Wellington New Zealand
| | - Eric D. Edwards
- Biodiversity Group Department of Conservation Conservation House Wellington New Zealand
| | - Jovana Balanovic
- Biodiversity Group Department of Conservation Conservation House Wellington New Zealand
| | - Fabien Medvecky
- Centre for Science Communication University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand
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29
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Welsing G, Wolter B, Hintzen HMT, Tiso T, Blank LM. Upcycling of hydrolyzed PET by microbial conversion to a fatty acid derivative. Methods Enzymol 2021; 648:391-421. [PMID: 33579413 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The enzymatic degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) results in a hydrolysate consisting almost exclusively of its two monomers, ethylene glycol and terephthalate. To biologically valorize the PET hydrolysate, microbial upcycling into high-value products is proposed. Fatty acid derivatives hydroxyalkanoyloxy alkanoates (HAAs) represent such valuable target molecules. HAAs exhibit surface-active properties and can be exploited in the catalytical conversion to drop-in biofuels as well as in the polymerization to bio-based poly(amide urethane). This chapter presents the genetic engineering methods of pseudomonads for the metabolization of PET monomers and the biosynthesis of HAAs with detailed protocols concerning product purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Welsing
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Birger Wolter
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Henric M T Hintzen
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Till Tiso
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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30
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Deng Y, Dewil R, Appels L, Ansart R, Baeyens J, Kang Q. Reviewing the thermo-chemical recycling of waste polyurethane foam. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 278:111527. [PMID: 33126201 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The worldwide production of polymeric foam materials is growing due to their advantageous properties of light weight, high thermal insulation, good strength, resistance and rigidity. Society creates ever increasing amounts of poly-urethane (PU) waste. A major part of this waste can be recycled or recovered in order to be put into further use. The PU industry is committed to assist and play its part in the process. The recycling and recovery of PU foam cover a range of mechanical, physical, chemical and thermo-chemical processes. In addition to the well-documented mechanical and chemical processing options, thermo-chemical treatments are important either as ultimate disposal (incineration) or towards feedstock recovery, leading to different products according to the thermal conditions of the treatment. The review focuses on these thermo-chemical and thermal processes. As far as pyrolysis is concerned, TDI and mostly polyol can be recovered. The highest recovery yields of TDI and polyols occur at low temperatures (150-200 °C). It is however clear from literature that pure feedstock will not be produced, and that a further upgrading of the condensate will be needed, together with a thermal or alternative treatment of the non-condensables. Gasification towards syngas has been studied on a larger and industrial scale. Its application would need the location of the PU treatment plant close to a chemical plant, if the syngas is to be valorized or considered in conjunction with a gas-fired CHP plant. Incineration has been studied mostly in a co-firing scheme. Potentially toxic emissions from PU combustion can be catered for by the common flue gas cleaning behind the incineration itself, making this solution less evident as a stand-alone option: the combination with other wastes (such as municipal solid waste) in MSWI's seems the indicated route to go.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Deng
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Raf Dewil
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Lise Appels
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Renaud Ansart
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Jan Baeyens
- Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Smart Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Kang
- Tianjin Agricultural University, Department of Basic Science, Tianjin, China.
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31
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Cárdenas Espinosa MJ, Colina Blanco A, Heipieper HJ, Eberlein C. Screening and cultivating microbial strains able to grow on building blocks of polyurethane. Methods Enzymol 2021; 648:423-434. [PMID: 33579414 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The diverse benefits of synthetic polymers is overshadowed by the amount of plastic waste and its whereabouts. The problem can only be tackled by reducing and recycling of plastics. In this respect, investigating the (microbial) degradation of each type of polymer currently used may provide further understanding that fosters the development of new feasible recycling technologies. Here, we present a strategy to isolate bacteria from environmental samples that are able to degrade hydrolysis products and building blocks of polyurethane (PUR). Protocols are presented to enrich bacteria on the primary diamines 2,4-diaminotoluene (TDA) and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (MDA) as well as an oligomeric PUR (Sigma Aldrich, proprietary composition). For TDA and the oligomeric PUR, methods are suggested to monitor their concentration in bacterial enrichment cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Colina Blanco
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hermann J Heipieper
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Eberlein
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Leipzig, Germany.
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32
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Exploring microbial consortia from various environments for plastic degradation. Methods Enzymol 2020; 648:47-69. [PMID: 33579417 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Many complex natural and synthetic compounds are degraded by microbial assemblages rather than single strains, due to usually limited metabolic capacities of single organisms. It can therefore be assumed that plastics can be more efficiently degraded by microbial consortia, although this field has not been as widely explored as plastic degradation by individual strains. In this chapter, we present some of the current studies on this topic and methods to enrich and cultivate plastic-degrading microbial consortia from aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, including substrate preparation and biodegradation assessment. We focus on both conventional and biodegradable plastics as potential growth substrates. Cultivation methods for both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms are presented.
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