Microbial Approaches for the Plastic Bioremediation and Ecofriendly Environmental Sustainability

• Published in: Asian journal of chemistry 2023, Vol.35 (2), p.289-300
• Main Authors: Devi, R. Jayakala, Usha, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0970-7077; 0975-427X
• DOI: 10.14233/ajchem.2023.26928

The world’s first “infinite” plastic waste is a major issue existing in both developed and developing countries. Synthetic plastics are correlated to the current lifestyle in packing of food, detergents, cosmetics, plastic bottles, sanitary wares, household utensils, artificial leather and pharmaceutical products. These synthetic plastics include polyurethane, polystyrene, polypropylene, low-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, high-density polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate in the descending order of recycling codes. Extensive use of these synthetic polymer materials paves way for accumulation in the ecosystem. Improper handling of this plastic wastes by traditional disposal methods like landfill and incineration in open fields leads to the release of toxic chemicals in the environment. The recent advancement in the degradation of synthetic plastics is concentrated on the use of microorganisms and their enzymes as biological treatment. The interaction between microbes and the plastic polymer is needed to understand for quenching the thirst for microbial bioremediation approach to overcome plastic pollution. However, knowledge of scientific evidence for plastic degradation by microbes is paucity. This review highlighted insight gist about the effective microbial technology applied in bioremediation techniques like in situ and ex situ strategies. Further exploration of the vast diversity of plastic-eating microorganisms and their enzymes involved in the mechanism results in a valuable end product. This literature represents the green route to the bio-recycling of harmful plastic material from the ecosystem.