The Role of Insects and Microorganisms in Plastic Biodegradation: A Comprehensive Review
Keywords:
Plastic, Biodegradation, Insects, Persistent, MicrobiotaAbstract
Plastic has been considered as a major environment polluting material for decades. Its physical, chemical and mechanical properties such as high tensile strength, elongation properties, high molecular weight, inertness and hydrophobic nature make it non-biodegradable. In spite of the fact that both environmental and microbial degradation of plastic have been studied in detail, most of the microorganisms reported so far are limited in their functions. However, the recent approaches in plastic degradation by use of insect caterpillars and their gut microbiota have shown interesting results. Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal worms), Tenebrio molitor (Yellow meal worms) and Galleria mellonella (Greater wax worms) are the insects reported till now in plastic degradation. In this comprehensive review, we have briefly focused on the general introduction and classification of plastics and properties which make plastic persistent in the nature. We also have glanced over certain Plastic biodegradation methods reported till today.
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