Chloe Zhang
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue, with eight million tonnes of plastic ending up in the ocean every year, according to a 2016 report. This has led to a search for solutions to break down plastic waste and reduce the environmental harm it causes. Scientists have been exploring various approaches, including enzymes, bacteria, biodegradables, and chemicals, to tackle this global problem. One of the promising developments is the creation of enzymes that can break down plastics within days, offering a potential solution to the vast amounts of plastic waste that currently plague our planet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Approach | Using enzymes, bacteria, biodegradable options, and chemicals |
| Enzymes | Can be used to break down plastic within days |
| Types of Enzymes | PETase and MHETase |
| Biodegradable Options | Biodegradable cell phones, shipping peanuts made from corn starch, plastics made from corn oil |
| Bacteria | Genetically engineered bacteria designed to eat specific materials like plastic |
| Chemicals | Simple chemicals can aid in biodegradation |
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What You'll Learn
Scientists develop an enzyme to destroy plastic
Scientists have developed an enzyme that can break down plastic in a matter of hours, offering a promising solution to the world's growing plastic waste problem. Led by Professor Hal Alper from the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, the research team created an enzyme variant that can efficiently degrade plastic waste.
This breakthrough builds on previous research by Professor John McGeehan from the University of Portsmouth, who in 2018 accidentally developed the first enzyme that could digest plastic. However, the process was relatively slow, prompting researchers to experiment with combining enzymes to enhance their performance.
The new enzyme, called FAST-PETase (functional, active, stable, and tolerant PETase), can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic polymer found in consumer packaging and textiles. PET accounts for 12% of all global waste and has traditionally taken centuries to degrade naturally. FAST-PETase completes a "circular process" of breaking down PET into smaller parts (depolymerization) and then chemically reassembling them (repolymerization). This process can be performed at temperatures below 50 degrees Celsius, making it both portable and affordable for large-scale industrial applications.
The development of FAST-PETase involved studying 51 different post-consumer plastic containers, five different polyester fibers and fabrics, and water bottles made from PET. The researchers employed machine learning to generate novel mutations to the natural enzyme PETase, which enables bacteria to degrade PET plastics. This machine learning model, known as 3DCNN, was created by Raghav Shroff, a research scientist at the Houston Methodist Research Institute.
The success of FAST-PETase in breaking down PET demonstrates the potential for enzymes to revolutionize plastic recycling on a global scale. By recovering and reusing plastics at the molecular level, industries can significantly reduce their environmental impact. While FAST-PETase currently only degrades PET and PEF (polyethene furoate), the research team is optimistic about further improvements and exploring combinations with other enzymes to broaden its applicability.
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Plastic-eating bacteria
Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, and one potential solution is the use of plastic-eating bacteria. These microorganisms have the remarkable ability to break down plastic, offering a promising approach to tackling plastic waste.
In 2001, a significant discovery was made by Japanese scientists led by Professor Kohei Oda from the Kyoto Institute of Technology. They found a unique bacterium, Ideonella sakaiensis, in a rubbish dump in the city of Sakai. This bacterium produces an enzyme that can break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic in clothing and packaging. The bacteria effectively "eat" the plastic by breaking it down and harvesting the carbon for energy, enabling their growth and reproduction.
Building on this discovery, researchers have been exploring ways to harness the power of these bacteria to address the plastic crisis. For example, a French company, Carbios, has been utilising a bacterial enzyme to process PET plastic waste since 2021. This process breaks down the plastic into precursor molecules, which can then be used to create new plastic. This achievement represents a significant milestone in plastic recycling, bringing us closer to a more sustainable and recyclable future for plastics.
Additionally, scientists have been working on creating enzymes that can break down plastic more efficiently. Professor John McGeehan from the University of Portsmouth and his team developed an enzyme that can degrade plastic within days, a significant improvement over the naturally evolved enzymes. They achieved this by combining different enzymes to create a more effective "cocktail." This innovation opens up new possibilities for enhancing the process of plastic degradation.
Beyond PET, there is ongoing research into finding and engineering microbes that can tackle other types of plastics. For instance, Simon Cragg, a microbiologist from the University of Portsmouth, is exploring mangroves in Vietnam and Thailand, searching for microbes that can degrade the mangrove roots and potentially make the leap to plastic degradation. These efforts offer hope that we can develop solutions to address the diverse range of plastics contributing to environmental pollution.
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Biodegradable alternatives
Plastic waste, particularly from packaging, is a significant contributor to environmental concerns. Biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics are being developed to address these issues. These alternatives are typically made from renewable natural resources and offer similar functionality to oil-based polymers while reducing the environmental impact associated with the use of finite resources.
One such biodegradable alternative is PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates). PHA is produced by microorganisms through bacterial fermentation fuelled by plant sources. It stands out among other bioplastics like PLA (polylactic acid) due to its faster degradation rate and ease of home composting. Genecis, a company specialising in this field, uses food and agricultural waste to feed bacterial cultures, creating a circular manufacturing process. Another company, Refork, produces eco-friendly cutlery, straws, and toothbrushes using a blend of wood fibre, PHA polymer, and minerals.
Other innovative biodegradable alternatives include algae-based packaging developed by Norwegian startup B'zeos. Their product line includes condiment packets, cutlery, and plastic wrap designed to biodegrade completely within 47 days. Notpla, the 2022 Earthshot winner, also creates seaweed-based cutlery and compostable takeout containers with an anti-grease seaweed coating.
PlantSwitch is developing a process to turn agricultural waste products like rice husks and wheat straw into compostable pellets made from a biopolymer resin. These pellets are intended to biodegrade within 8 weeks and serve as raw materials for manufacturers. Additionally, silicone, derived from silica stone, water, and natural gas-derived methanol, shares many physical characteristics with plastic but is considered more environmentally friendly.
While these alternatives show promise, it's important to note that the widespread adoption of biodegradable materials requires not only environmental performance benefits but also cost-effectiveness and unique advantages in use. Proper waste management practices, such as composting, are crucial to maximising the environmental benefits of biodegradable alternatives.
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Genetically engineered bacteria
In 2016, Japanese scientists made a breakthrough discovery that could help tackle the world's plastic problem. They found that a species of bacteria, Ideonella sakaiensis, was consuming plastic bottles. Normally, bacteria feed on dead organic matter, but I. sakaiensis has developed a taste for a certain type of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This plastic is used to make bottles, food packaging, and clothing.
Following this discovery, genetic scientists have been working to improve the efficiency of I. sakaiensis in breaking down plastics. One approach has been to genetically engineer bacteria that are more efficient at producing the necessary enzymes, such as E. coli, and turn them into PETase factories. PETase is an enzyme that breaks down the long molecular chains of PET into shorter chains called monomers, specifically terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.
Another strategy has been to combine the key traits of two bacterial species to create a novel organism capable of breaking down plastics in saltwater at room temperature. Researchers from North Carolina State University worked with Vibrio natriegens, a saltwater bacteria that reproduces very quickly, and I. sakaiensis, which produces enzymes that enable it to break down and metabolize PET. By transferring the genetic sequence responsible for producing these enzymes from I. sakaiensis into V. natriegens, the researchers created a bacteria capable of producing the desired enzymes.
While these developments offer hope in addressing the global plastic pollution problem, it is important to note that there are limitations and challenges. The enzyme PETase only decomposes PET plastic, and there are six other types of plastic that cannot be degraded using enzymes. Additionally, the process of breaking down plastics with enzymes or bacteria may require pre-treatment steps, such as removing salt from seawater, which can be economically infeasible.
Despite these challenges, researchers remain optimistic about the potential of genetically engineered bacteria in tackling plastic pollution. With ongoing improvements and further research, these organisms could play a significant role in mitigating the environmental impact of plastics in the future.
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Improving recycling methods
Recycling methods can be improved by using enzymes to break down plastics. In 2018, Professor John McGeehan from the University of Portsmouth accidentally developed the first enzyme that could feast on plastic. This enzyme can break down plastics into their original chemicals, reducing waste output and tackling the use of crude oil in plastic manufacture. This process can also be sped up by fusing a combination of enzymes. While this method currently only works on two types of plastic, PET and PEF, researchers are working on trying combinations with other enzymes to increase its efficacy.
Another way to improve recycling methods is to create biodegradable products. For example, there are now shipping peanuts made from corn starch that melt in water almost immediately. There are also biodegradable cell phones that can be pulled apart and planted in the ground, where the plastic case degrades and sunflowers grow from the seeds in the plastic.
Additionally, certain bacteria can be used to break down plastic, and simple chemicals can be added to aid in biodegradation. However, there are concerns about the potential negative consequences of using genetically engineered bacteria for biodegradation.
Finally, recycling methods can be improved by creating higher-quality recycled products. Currently, plastic bottles are often recycled into lower-quality materials such as fleeces or carpets. There is no successful way of making high-end products from recycled PET, and it is extremely hard to break down the polymers into their base monomers.
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Frequently asked questions
Scientists have developed an enzyme that can destroy plastic within days. This enzyme can break down plastics like PET, PEF, and polyethene furoate, which are commonly used in the food and drinks industry.
Enzymes are non-toxic and biodegradable and can be produced in large amounts by microorganisms. They break down plastics into their original chemicals, which can then be recycled.
There are various other approaches being explored, including the use of bacteria and simple chemicals to aid in biodegradation. Biodegradable alternatives to plastic are also being developed, such as biodegradable cell phones and shipping peanuts made from corn starch.
