Scientists Find Wastewater Bacteria That Break Down PET Plastic 2u1z73 Aiding Pollution Control

Scientists have identified bacteria in wastewater that can break down PET plastic, offering a potential pollution solution. 64es

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 27 February 2025 22:03 IST

Scientists Find Wastewater Bacteria That Break Down PET Plastic, Aiding Pollution Control

Photo Credit: Pixabay/qimono 1r6031

Wastewater Bacteria Break Down PET Plastic, Aiding Pollution Control

Highlights

Wastewater bacteria found to degrade PET plastic effectively
Discovery could help reduce microplastic pollution in waterways
Researchers identify key enzyme responsible for plastic breakdown

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Our environment continues to grapple with plastic pollution, with microplastics infiltrating the air, food, and water. Scientists are actively seeking methods to break down this persistent material. A new development has identified bacteria in wastewater that can degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic widely used in packaging and textiles. The discovery has raised hopes of reducing PET waste, which contributes significantly to microplastic contamination in water bodies. Research efforts are now focused on understanding and enhancing the plastic-degrading ability of these microbes.

Microbes Capable of Breaking Down PET Identified 605x1o

According to a Northwestern University, and her team to investigate whether these microbes consume plastic as a source of energy. The study revealed that Comamonas testosteroni could break down PET, leading to the release of nano-sized plastic particles into water.

Enzyme Responsible for PET Breakdown Identified 1z416l

As per plastic nanoparticles. Genetic analysis identified a specific enzyme responsible for breaking down PET. Further testing confirmed its role when bacteria engineered without the gene for this enzyme were unable to degrade plastic, while non-plastic-consuming bacteria equipped with the gene could digest PET.

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Challenges and Future Research in Plastic Degradation 5f6y6k

Dr. Ren Wei, a biochemist at the University of Greifswald, expressed skepticism to Science News Explore about the practical application of this discovery, stating in reports that the degradation process is too slow to significantly reduce global plastic pollution. On the contrary, Dr. Jay Mellies, a microbiologist at Reed College, viewed the findings as promising, emphasiaing that every viable method should be explored. Dr. Victor Gambarini, a microbiologist at the University of Auckland, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that further research should focus on identifying or engineering enzymes capable of degrading PET more efficiently. Efforts are now being directed toward improving the enzyme's efficiency to make microbial plastic degradation a practical solution.

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