Bacteria as waste disposal service

Abstract

Despite initial successes in microbial PET degradation, there are no known microbial degradation pathways for most types of plastic. Microbial degradation of synthetic polymers (synthetics or plastic) is an important research areathat is just emerging. Initial successes show that amorphous PET and PUR based on ester bonds can be degraded by enzymes (esterases und cutinases), at least under laboratory conditions. This is promising and provides the basis for the first biotechnological recycling and upcycling processes. There are also first indications that PET can be degraded in nature by secreted enzymes over a very long period of time. Notably, for the vast majority (> 85 %) of synthetic and crude oil-based polymers, however, there is still no reliable knowledge of possible degradation pathways and the microbial enzymes involved. Here in particular, there is still a great need for research.