[go: up one dir, main page]
Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Study of microbes having potentiality for biodegradation of plastics

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Plastic is a broad name given to the different types of organic polymers having high molecular weight and is commonly derived from different petrochemicals. Plastics are generally not biodegradable or few are degradable but in a very slow rate. Day by day, the global demand of these polymers is sharply increasing; however, considering their abundance and potentiality in causing different environmental hazards, there is a great concern in the possible methods of degradation of plastics. Recently, there have been some debates at the world stage about the potential degradation procedures of these synthetic polymers and microbial degradation has emerged as one of the potential alternative ways of degradation of plastics. Alternatively, some scientists have also reported many adverse effects of these polymers in human health, and thus, there is an immediate need of a potential screening of some potential microbes to degrade these synthetic polymers. In this review, we have taken an attempt to accumulate all information regarding the chemical nature along with some potential microbes and their enzymatic nature of biodegradation of plastics along with some key factors that affect their biodegradability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  • Abou-Zeid DM, Muller RJ, Deckwer WD (2001) Degradation of natural and synthetic polyesters under anaerobic conditions. J Biotechnol 86:113–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anthony SD, Meizhong L, Christopher EB, Robin LB, David LF (2004) Involvement of linear plasmids in aerobic biodegradation of vinyl chloride. Appl Environ Microbiol 70:6092–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akutsu H, Nakajima-Kambe T, Nomura N, Nakahara T (1998) Purification and properties of a polyester polyurethane-degrading enzyme from Comamonas acidovorans TB-35. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:62–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Benedict CV, Cook WJ, Jarrett P, Cameron JA, Huang SJ, Bell JP (1983a) Fungal degradation of polycaprolactones. J Appl Polym Sci 28:327–334

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benedict CV, Cameron JA, Huang SJ (1983b) Polycaprolactone degradation by mixed and pure cultures of bacteria and a yeast. J Appl Polym Sci 28:335–342

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bikiaris DN, Papageorgiou GZ, Achilias DS (2006) Synthesis and comparative biodegradability studies of three poly(alkylene succinate)s. Polym Degrad Stab 91:31–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bikiaris D, Panayiotou C (1998) LDPE/starch blends compatibilized with PE-g-MA copolymers. J Appl Polym Sci 70:1503–1521

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brucato CL, Wong SS (1991) Extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase from Penicillium funiculosum: general characteristics and active site studies. Arch Biochem Biophys 290:497–502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cacciari I, Quatrini P, Zirletta G, Mincione E, Vinciguerra V, Lupatelli P, Sermanni GG (1993) Isotactic polypropylene biodegradation by a microbial community: physicochemical characterization of metabolites produced. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:3695–3700

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calabia BP, Tokiwa Y (2006) A novel PHB depolymerase from a thermophilic Streptomyces sp. Biotechnol Lett 28:383–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calabia BP, Tokiwa Y (2004) Microbial degradation of poly (d-3-hydroxybutyrate) by a new thermophilic Streptomyces isolate. Biotechnol Lett 26:15–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canada Gazette Part II (2010), Vol. 144, No. 21, page: 1807. http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00940/Read_the_goverment-940923a. Accessed 13 Oct 2010

  • Carothers WH, Hill JW (1932) Studies of polymerization and ring formation. XV. Artificial fibers from synthetic linear condensation superpolymers. J Am Chem Soc 54:1579–1596

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra R, Rustgi R (1998) Biodegradable polymers. Prog Polym Sci 23:1273–1335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhury AA (1963) Poly-β-hydroxybuttersaure abbauende Bakterien und exo-enzyme. Arch Microbiol 47:167–200

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cook WJ, Cameron JA, Bell JP, Huang SJ (1981) Scanning electron microscopic visualization of biodegradation of polycaprolactones by fungi. J Polym Sci Polym Lett Ed 19:159–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crabbe JR, Campbell JR, Thompson L, Walz SL, Schultz WW (1994) Biodegradation of a colloidal ester-based polyurethane by soil fungi. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 33:103–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darby RT, Kaplan AM (1968) Fungal susceptibility of polyurethanes. Appl Microbiol 16:900–905

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • David C, De Kesei C, Lefebvre F, Weiland W (1994) The biodegradation of polymers: recent results. Angewandte Makromolekulare Chemie 216:21–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission DG ENV (2011) Revised final report—specific contract 07.0307/2009/545281/ETU/G2 under Framework contract ENV.G.4/FRA/2008/0112.

  • Elbanna K, Lütke-Eversloh T, Jendrossek D, Luftmann H, Steinbüchel A (2004) Studies on the biodegradability of polythioester copolymers and homopolymers by polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-degrading bacteria and PHA depolymerases. Arch Microbiol 182(2–3):212–25

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fields RD, Rodriguez F, Finn RK (1974) Microbial degradation of polyesters: polycaprolactone degraded by P. pullulans. J Appl Polym Sci 18:3571–3579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fukuzaki H, Yoshida M, Asano M, Kumakura M (1989) Synthesis of copoly(d, l-lactic acid) with relative low molecular weight and in vitro degradation. Eur Polym J 25:1019–1026

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilan I, Hadar Y, Sivan A (2004) Colonization, biofilm formation and biodegradation of polyethylene by a strain of Rhodococcus ruber. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 65:97–104

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonda KE, Jendrossek D, Molitoris HP (2000) Fungal degradation of the thermoplastic polymer poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) under simulated deep sea pressure. Hydrobiologia 426:173–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin GJL (2007) Degradation of polyethylene in compost burial. J Polym Sci Polym Symp 57:281–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gu JD (2003) Microbiological deterioration and degradation of synthetic polymeric materials: recent research advances. Inter Biodete Biodeg 52:69–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hadad D, Geresh S, Sivan A (2005) Biodegradation of polyethylene by the thermophilic bacterium Brevibacillus borstelensis. J Appl Microbiol 98:1093–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hakkarainen M, Albertsson AC (2004) Environmental degradation of polyethylene. Adv Polym Sci 169:177–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han J-S, Son Y-J, Chang C-S, Kim M-N (1998) Purification and properties of extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase produced by Penicillium pinophilium. J Microbiol 36:67–73

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hao J, Wang J, Zhao W, Ding L, Gao E, Yuan W (2011) Effect of bisphenol A exposure on sex hormone level in occupational women. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu 40(3):312–319

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Howard GT (2002) Biodegradation of polyurethane. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 49:213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishii N, Inoue Y, Shimada K, Tesuka Y, Mitomo H, Kasuya K (2007) Fungal degradation of poly(ethylene succinate). Polym Degrad Stab 92:44–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iwamoto A, Tokiwa Y (1994a) Enzymatic degradation of plastics containing polycaprolactone. Polym Degrad Stab 45:205–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iwamoto A, Tokiwa Y (1994b) Effect of the phase structure on biodegradability of polypropylene/poly(ε-caprolactone) blends. J Appl Polym Sci 52:1357–1360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iyer S, Shah R, Sharma A, Jendrossek D, Desai A (2000) Purification of Aspergillus fumigatus (Pdf1) poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase using a new, single-step substrate affinity chromatography method: characterization of the PHB depolymerase exhibiting novel self-aggregation behavior. J Polym Environ 8:197–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarerat A, Tokiwa Y (2001a) Degradation of poly(tetramethylene succinate) by thermophilic actinomycetes. Biotechnol Lett 23:647–651

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarerat A, Tokiwa Y (2001b) Degradation of poly(l-lactide) by fungus. Macromol Biosci 1:136–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarerat A, Tokiwa Y (2003a) Poly(l-lactide) degradation by Saccharothrix waywayandensis. Biotechnol Lett 25:401–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarerat A, Tokiwa Y (2003b) Poly(l-lactide) degradation by Kibdelosporangium aridum. Biotechnol Lett 25:2035–2038

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jarerat A, Tokiwa Y, Tanaka H (2004) Microbial poly(l-lactide) degrading enzyme induced by amino acids, peptides and poly(l-amino acids). J Polym Environ 12:139–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jendrossek D, Frisse A, Andermann M, Kratzin HD, Stanislawski T, Schlegel HG (1995) Biochemical and molecular characterization of the Pseudomonas lemoignei polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerase system. J bacteriol 1773:596–607

    Google Scholar 

  • Joel F.R (1995) Polymer science and technology: introduction to polymer science, 3 edn. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, 07458, 4 – 9

  • Kasuya K, Takagi K, Ishiwatari S, Yoshida Y, Doi Y (1997) Biodegradabilities of various aliphatic polyesters in natural waters. Polym Degrad Stab 59:327–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasuya T, Nakajima H, Kitamoto K (1999) Cloning and characterization of the bipA gene encoding ER chaperone BiP from Aspergillus oryzae. J Biosci Bioeng 88(5):472–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kathiresan K (2003) Diversity and effectiveness of tropical mangrove soil microflora on the degradation of polythene carry bags. Rev Biol Trop 51:629–634

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H, Ju H-S, Kim J (2000a) Characterization of an extracellular poly(3-hydroxy-5-phenylvalerate) depolymerase from Xanthomonas sp. JS02. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 53:323–327

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim HM, Ryu KE, Bae K-S, Rhee YH (2000b) Purification and characterization of extracellular medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerase from Pseudomonas sp. RY-1. J Biosci Bioeng 89:196–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim M-N, Lee A-R, Yoon J-S, Chin I-J (2000c) Biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), Sky-Green and Mater-Bi by fungi isolated from soils. Eur Polym J 36:1677–1685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim DY, Nam JS, Rhee YH (2002a) Characterization of an extracellular medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) depolymerase from Pseudomonas alcaligenes LB19. Bio macromolecules 3:291–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim DY, Yun JH, Kim HW, Bae KS, Rhee YH (2002b) Purification and characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase from a fungal isolate, Emericellopsis minima W2. J Microbiol 40:129–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim DY, Shin DS, Nam JS, Rhee YH (2002) Molecular cloning of the gene encoding medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) depolymerase from Pseudomonas alcaligenes LB19. Proc Int Meet Fed Korean Microbiol Soc 2002:206

  • Kita K, Mashiba S, Nagita M, Ishimaru K, Okamoto K, Yanase H, Kato N (1997) Cloning of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase from a marine bacterium, Alcaligenes faecalis AE122, and characterization of its gene product. Biochim Biophys Acta 1352:113–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kleeberg I, Hetz C, Kroppenstedt RM, Muller RJ, Deckwer WD (1998) Biodegradation of aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters by Thermomonospora fusca and other thermophilic compost isolates. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:1731–1735

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kleeberg I, Welzel K, Vanden Heuvel J, Muller RJ, Deckwer WD (2005) Characterization of a new extracellular hydrolase from Thermobifida fusca degrading aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters. Biomacromolecules 6:262–270

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korherr C, Roth R, Holler E (1995) Poly(β-l-malate) hydrolase from plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum. Can J Microbiol 41(Suppl 1):192–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi T, Sugiyama A, Kawase Y, Saito T, Mergaert J, Swings J (1999) Biochemical and genetic characterization of an extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase from Acidovorax sp. strain TP4. J Polym Environ 7:9–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koyama N, Doi Y (1997) Miscibility of binary blends of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric and poly[(S)-lactic acid]. Polymer 38:1589–1593

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan AV, Stathis P, Permuth SF, Tokes L, Feldman D (1993) Bisphenol-A: an estrogenic substance is released from polycarbonate flasks during autoclaving. Endocrinology 132:2279–2286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumagai Y, Doi Y (1992) Enzymatic degradation and morphologies of binary blends of microbial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) with poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(1,4-butylene adipate) and poly(vinyl acetate). Polym Degrad Stab 36:241–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SY (1996) Bacterial poly hydroxyalkanoates. Biotechnol Bioeng 49:1–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee B, Anthony LPIII, Alfred F, Theodore BB Jr (1991) Biodegradation of degradable plastic polyethylene by Phanerochaete and Streptomyces species. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 57(3):678–685

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lenz R W (1993) Biodegradable polymers. In: Advances in polymer science, vol 107. Springer, Berlin, 1–40

  • Lim HA, Raku T, Tokiwa Y (2005) Hydrolysis of polyesters by serine proteases. Biotechnol Lett 27:459–464

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu L, Li S, Garreau H, Vert M (2000) Selective enzymatic degradations of poly(l-lactide) and poly(ε-caprolactone) blend films. Biomacromolecules 3:350–359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mabrouk MM, Sabry SA (2001) Degradation of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) and its copolymer poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by a marine Streptomyces sp. SNG9. Microbiol Res 156:323–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maeda Y, Nakayama A, Iyoda J, Hayashi K, Yamamoto N (1993) Synthesis and biodegradation of the copolymers of succinic anhydride with various oxiranes. Kobunshi Ronbunshu 50:723–729

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mittelstaedt M (2010) Canada first to declare bisphenol A toxic. The Globe and Mail (Canada). http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-first-to-declare-bisphenol-a-toxic/article1755272/. Accessed 13 Oct 2010

  • Matavulj M, Molitoris HP (1992) Fungal degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates and a semi-quantitative assay for screening their degradation by terrestrial fungi. FEMS Microbiol Rev 103:323–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald RT, McCarthy S, Gross RA (1996) Enzymatic degradability of poly(lactide): effects of chain stereochemistry and material crystallinity. Macromolecules 29:7356–7361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLellan DW, Halling PJ (1988) Acid-tolerant poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) hydrolases from moulds. FEMS Microbiol Lett 52:215–218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mergaert J, Anderson C, Wouters A, Swings J, Kersters K (1992) Biodegradation of poly(hydroxyalkanoates). FEMS Microbiol Rev 103:317–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mergaert J, Webb A, Anderson C, Wouters A, Swings J (1993) Microbial degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3- hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in soils. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:3233–3238

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mergaert J, Anderson C, Wouters A, Swings J (1994) Microbial degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in compost. J Environ Polym Degrad 2:177–183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mergaert J, Wouters A, Anderson C, Swings J (1995) In situ biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in natural waters. Can JMicrobiol 41(Suppl 1):154–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mergaert J, Swings J (1996) Biodiversity of microorganisms that degrade bacterial and synthetic polyesters. J Ind Microbiol 17:463–469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miyazaki S, Takahashi K, Shiraki M, Saito T, Tezuka Y, Kasuya KI (2000) Properties of a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase from Penicillium funiculosum. J Polym Environ 8:175–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Mogil'nitskii GM, Sagatelyan RT, Kutishcheva TN, Zhukova SV, Kerimov SI, Parfenova TB (1987) Disruption of the protective properties of the polyvinyl chloride coating under the effect of microorganisms. Prot Met 23(Engl.Transl):173–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohanty AK, Misra M, Hinrichsen G (2000) Biofibers, biodegradable polymers and biocomposites: an overview. Materials and Engineering 276(277):1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Mor R, Silvan A (2008) Biofilm formation and partial biodegradation of polystyrene by the actinomycete Rhodococcus ruber: biodegradation of polystyrene. Biodegradation 19:851–858

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy CA, Cameron JA, Huang SJ, Vinopal RT (1996) Fusarium polycaprolactone depolymerase is cutinase. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:456–460

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagata M, Kiyotsukuri T, Minami S, Tsutsumi N, Sakai W (1997) Enzymatic degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) copolymers with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and/or poly(ethylene glycol). Eur Polym J 33:1701–1705

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakajima-Kambe T, Onuma F, Kimpara N, Nakahara T (1995) Isolation and characterization of a bacterium which utilizes polyester polyurethane as a sole carbon and nitrogen source. FEMS Microbiol Lett 129:39–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nishida H, Suzuki S, Tokiwa Y (1998) Distribution of poly (propiolactone) aerobic degrading microorganisms in different environments. J Environ Polym Degrad 6:43–57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • No Plastics in the Environment (NoPE) Imports versus surplus: a glut of plastics in India today, January 10, 2002. Bharati Chaturvedi, Director, Chintan Environmental Organization in New Delhi.

  • Oda Y, Asari H, Urakami T, Tonomura K (1995) Microbial degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and polycaprolactone by filamentous fungi. J Ferment Bioeng 80:265–269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohkita T, Lee SH (2006) Thermal degradation and biodegradability of poly (lactic acid)/corn starch biocomposites. J App Polym Sci 100:3009–3017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pranamuda H, Chollakup R, Tokiwa Y (1999) Degradation of polycarbonate by a polyester-degrading strain, Amycolatopsis sp. strain HT-6. Appl Environ Microbiol 65:4220–4222

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pranamuda H, Tokiwa Y, Tanaka H (1995) Microbial degradation of an aliphatic polyester with a high melting point, poly(tetramethylene succinate). Appl Environ Microbiol 61:1828–1832

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pranamuda H, Tokiwa Y, Tanaka H (1997) Polylactide degradation by an Amycolatopsis sp. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:1637–1640

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pranamuda H, Tsuchii A, Tokiwa Y (2001) Poly(l-lactide degrading enzyme produced by Amycolatopsis sp. Macromol Biosci 1:25–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pilz H, Brandt B, and Fehringer R (2010) The impact of plastics on life cycle energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, summary report. denkstatt GmbH, Vienna, Austria.

  • Reeve MS, McCarthy SP, Downey MJ, Gross RA (1994) Polylactide stereochemistry: effect on enzymatic degradability. Macromolecules 27:825–831

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Renstad R, Karlsson S, Albertsson A-C (1999) The influence of processing induced differences in molecular structure on the biological and non-biological degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), P(3-HB-co-3-HV). Polym Degrad Stab 63:201–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romen F, Reinhardt S, Jendrossek D (2004) Thermotolerant poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-degrading bacteria from hot compost and characterization of the PHB depolymerase of Schlegelella sp. KB1a. Arch Microbiol 182:157–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sabir, I (2004) Plastic industry in Pakistan. http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/investors/nov2004/index.html. Accessed November 2004

  • Sanchez JG, Tsuchii A, Tokiwa Y (2000) Degradation of poly caprolactone at 50 °C by a thermotolerant Aspergillus sp. Biotechnol Lett 22:849–853

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sang B-I, Hori K, Tanji Y, Unno H (2002) Fungal contribution to in situ biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) film in soil. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 58:241–247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scherer TM, Fuller RC, Lenz RW, Goodwin S (1999) Hydrolysis activity of an extracellular depolymerase from Aspergillus fumigatus with bacterial and synthetic polyesters. Polym Degrad Stab 64:267–275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shimao M (2001) Biodegradation of plastics. Curr Opinion Biotechnol 12:242–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sivan A, Szanto M, Pavlov V (2006) Biofilm development of the polyethylene-degrading bacterium Rhodococcus ruber. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 72(2):346–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soto AM, Justicia H, Wray JW, Sonnenschein C (1991) p-Nonyl-phenol: an estrogenic xenobiotic released from “modified” polystyrene. Environ Health Perspect 92:167–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soto AM, Sonnenschein C, Chung KL, Fernandez MF, Serrano FO ON (1995) The E-SCREEN assay as a tool to identify estrogens: an update on estrogenic environmental pollutants. Environ Health Perspect 103(Suppl 7):113–122

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suyama T, Hosoya H, Tokiwa Y (1998a) Bacterial isolates degrading aliphatic polycarbonates. FEMS Microbiol Lett 161:255–261

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suyama T, Tokiwa Y, Oichanpagdee P, Kanagawa T, Kamagata Y (1998b) Phylogenetic affiliation of soil bacteria that degrade aliphatic polyesters available commercially as biodegradable plastics. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:5008–5011

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suyama T, Tokiwa Y (1997) Enzymatic degradation of aliphatic polycarbonate, poly(tetramethylene carbonate). Enz Microb Technol 20:122–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takagi S, Koyama M, Kameyama H, Tokiwa Y (1994) Development of polycaprolactone/gelatinized starch blends and their enzymatic degradation. In: Doi Y, Fukuda K (eds) Biodegradable plastics and polymers. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 437–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Tansengco ML, Tokiwa Y (1998) Thermophilic microbial degradation of polyethylene succinate. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 14:133–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tezuka Y, Ishii N, Kasuya K, Mitomo H (2004) Degradation of poly(ethylene succinate) by mesophilic bacteria. Polym Degrad Stab 84:115–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokiwa Y, Ando T, Suzuki T (1976) Degradation of polycaprolactone by a fungus. J Ferm Technol 54:603–608

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokiwa Y, Iwamoto A, Koyama M (1990) Development of biodegradable plastics containing polycaprolactone and/or starch. Polym Mats Sci Eng 63:742–746

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokiwa Y, Suzuki T (1974) Degradation of poly(ethylene glycol) adipate by a fungus. J Ferm Technol 52:393–398

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokiwa Y, Suzuki T (1977a) Purification of polyethylene adipate-degrading enzyme produced by Penicillium sp. strain 14–3. Agric Biol Chem 41:265–274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokiwa Y, Suzuki T (1977b) Hydrolysis of polyesters by lipases. Nature 270:76–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokiwa Y, Suzuki T (1981) Hydrolysis of copolyesters containing aromatic and aliphatic ester blocks by lipase. J Appl Polym Sci 26:441–448

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokiwa Y, Suzuki T, Takeda K (1986) Hydrolysis of polyesters by Rhizopus arrhizus lipase. Agric Biol Chem 50:1323–1325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokiwa Y, Iwamoto A, Koyama M, Kataoka N, Nishida H (1992) Biological recycling of plastics containing ester bonds. Makromol Chem Makromol Symp 57:273–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokiwa Y, Calabia BP (2006) Biodegradability and biodegradation of poly(lactide). Appl Microbiol 72:244–251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tribedi P, Sarkar S, Mukherjee K, Sil AK (2011) Isolation of a novel Pseudomonas sp from soil. Environ sci pollut Res. doi:10.1007/s 11356 – 011 – 0711 – 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Tseng M, Hoang KC, Yang MK, Yang SF, Chu WS (2007) Polyester-degrading thermophilic actinomycetes isolated from different environment in Taiwan. Biodegradation 18:579–583

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuchii A, Suzuki T, Fukuoka S (1980) Microbial degradation of polyethylene oligomers. Rep Ferment Res Inst 55:35–40

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA). Update on bisphenol A for use in food contact applications: January 2010; 15 January 2010. Accessed 15 Jan 2010.

  • Uruyama H, Kanamori T, Kimura Y (2002) Properties and biodegradability of polymer blends of poly(l-lactide)swith different optical purity of the lactate units. Macromol Mater Eng 287:116–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter T, Augusta J, Muller R-J, Widdecke H, Klein J (1995) Enzymatic degradation of a model polyester by lipase from Rhizophus delemar. Enzyme Microb Technol 17:218–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Inagawa Y, Saito T, Kasuya K, Doi Y, Inoue Y (2002) Enzymatic hydrolysis of bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxypropionate)s by poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) depolymerase from Acidovorax sp. TP4. Bio-macromolecules 3(4):828–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WWF-Australia. wwf.org.au. Accessed 16 Jul 2010.

  • Witt U, Muller RJ, Deckwer WD (1995) Biodegradation of polyester copolymers containing aromatic compounds. J Macromol Sci Pure Appl Chem 4:851–856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams DF (1981) Enzymatic hydrolysis of polylactic acid. Eng Med 10:5–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamada-Onodera K, Mukumoto H, Katsuyaya Y, Saiganji A, Tani Y (2001) Degradation of polyethylene by a Fungus, Penicillium simplicissimum YK. Poly Degrad Stab 72:323–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Y, Yanful EK, Bassi AS (2005) A review of plastic waste biodegradation. Cri Rev Biotechnol 25:243–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mycopathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, P.O. Rahara, Kolkata, 700118, West Bengal, India

    Swapan Kumar Ghosh, Sujoy Pal & Sumanta Ray

Authors
  1. Swapan Kumar Ghosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sujoy Pal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sumanta Ray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Swapan Kumar Ghosh.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ghosh, S.K., Pal, S. & Ray, S. Study of microbes having potentiality for biodegradation of plastics. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 4339–4355 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1706-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1706-x

Keywords