Biodegradation of polyether-polyurethane foam in yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and effects on the gut microbiome

Liu, Jiawei; Liu, Jingyuan; Xu, Bin; Xu, Anming; Cao, Shixiang; Wei, Ren; Zhou, Jie; Jiang, Min; Dong, Weiliang

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135263

Cited by 43 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Notably, Tenebrio molitor exhibited amazing degradation efficiency and possessed a wide selection of plastic types. In a recent study in 2022, the efficiency of mealworms to degrade polyester-PU foam was as high as 67% (Liu et al, 2022). Currently, the widely reported types of plastics degraded by Tenebrio molitor included PE (Brandon et al, 2018), PS (Brandon et al, 2021), Polyester PU (Liu et al, 2022), and PVC (Peng et al, 2020a).…”

Section: Biodegradation Of Plastics By Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a recent study in 2022, the efficiency of mealworms to degrade polyester-PU foam was as high as 67% (Liu et al, 2022). Currently, the widely reported types of plastics degraded by Tenebrio molitor included PE (Brandon et al, 2018), PS (Brandon et al, 2021), Polyester PU (Liu et al, 2022), and PVC (Peng et al, 2020a). Tenebrio molitor larvae not only degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) but also linear lowdensity polyethylene (LLDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).…”

Section: Biodegradation Of Plastics By Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plastic biodegradation by in vitro environmental microorganisms and in vivo gut microorganisms of insects

et al. 2023

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Traditional plastics, such as polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PUR), and other plastic polymers, are difficult to degrade and are gradually accumulated in the environment to cause a serious environmental problem, which is urgently needed to develop novel treatments or control technology. The biodegradation of plastics has gained great attention due to the advantages of green and safe characteristics. Microorganisms play a vital role in the biodegradation of plastics, including environmental microbes (in vitro) and gut microbes of insects (in vivo). Microbial degradation in environmental conditions in vitro is extremely slow for major plastics at degradation rates on the basis of a month or even a year time, but recent discoveries show that the fast biodegradation of specific plastics, such as PS, PE, and PUR, in some invertebrates, especially insects, could be enhanced at rates on basis of hours; the biodegradation in insects is likely to be gut microbial-dependent or synergetic bioreactions in animal digestive systems. This review comprehensively summarizes the latest 7-year (2016–2022) publications on plastic biodegradation by insects and microorganisms, elucidates the mechanism of plastic degradation in insects and environmental microbes, and highlights the cutting-edge perspectives for the potential applications of plastic biodegradation.

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Section: Biodegradation Of Plastics By Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Biodegradation Of Plastics By Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic biodegradation by in vitro environmental microorganisms and in vivo gut microorganisms of insects

et al. 2023

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“…Recent studies have found that certain macroinvertebrates, especially insect larvae, are capable of the rapid biodegradation of plastics. Yellow mealworm, the larva of Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) observed around the world and naturally present in forests with rotten wood, is one of the highly efficient plastic-degrading macroinvertebrates that voluntarily ingest a wide variety of petroleum-based plastic products, e.g., PS, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyurethane (PUR), PP, PVC, and PET. ,,− The unique metabolic process in the mealworm intestines endows them with great plastic-degrading capacities to depolymerize and biodegrade the ingested plastics through various gut-related mechanisms. After passing through the mealworm intestines, almost half of the ingested PS and LDPE can be efficiently biodegraded and mineralized within a short retention time of about 12 h, with residual polymers excreted in the frass. ,− ,,,,,,,− However, whether MPs or NPs are generated, retained, and accumulated as residues in the frass during the digestion of the plastics remains unknown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unveiling Fragmentation of Plastic Particles during Biodegradation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Foams in Mealworms: Highly Sensitive Detection and Digestive Modeling Prediction

Peng,

Xiao,

Sun

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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It remains unknown whether plastic-biodegrading macroinvertebrates generate microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) during the biodegradation of plastics. In this study, we utilized highly sensitive particle analyzers and pyrolyzer-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GCMS) to investigate the possibility of generating MPs and NPs in frass during the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foams by mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae). We also developed a digestive biofragmentation model to predict and unveil the fragmentation process of ingested plastics. The mealworms removed 77.3% of ingested PS and 71.1% of ingested PE over a 6-week test period. Biodegradation of both polymers was verified by the increase in the δ13C signature of residual plastics, changes in molecular weights, and the formation of new oxidative functional groups. MPs accumulated in the frass due to biofragmentation, with residual PS and PE exhibiting the maximum percentage by number at 2.75 and 7.27 μm, respectively. Nevertheless, NPs were not detected using a laser light scattering sizer with a detection limit of 10 nm and Py-GCMS analysis. The digestive biofragmentation model predicted that the ingested PS and PE were progressively size-reduced and rapidly biodegraded, indicating the shorter half-life the smaller plastic particles have. This study allayed concerns regarding the accumulation of NPs by plastic-degrading mealworms and provided critical insights into the factors controlling MP and NP generation during macroinvertebrate-mediated plastic biodegradation.

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“…In particular, insect larvae belonging to darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) have been demonstrated to biodegrade various plastics, including the larvae of Tenebrio molitor, Tenebrio obscurus, Zophobas atratus, Tribolium castaneum, and Plesiophthalmus davidis. ,,− Among them, the most widely studied species is yellow mealworms (T. molitor Linnaeus 1758), which are capable of degrading major plastics including PE, PS, PP, PVC, PUR, and poly(lactic acid) (PLA), ,,,,− ,− ,,,,, and are ideal model insect larvae for investigating plastic biodegradation since they aggressively chew and ingest plastic products (foam, film, etc .) and are also available commercially at pet markets as animal feed on a large scale due to easy rearing. ,,, Mealworms are holometabolic insects and go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult beetle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Polymer Size on Polystyrene Biodegradation in Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor): Responses of Depolymerization Pattern, Gut Microbiome, and Metabolome to Polymers with Low to Ultrahigh Molecular Weight

Peng

Sun

Xiao

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) in mealworms (Tenebrio molitor lavae) has been identified with commercial PS foams. However, there is currently limited understanding of the influence of molecular weight (MW) on insect-mediated plastic biodegradation and the corresponding responses of mealworms. In this study, we provided the results of PS biodegradation, gut microbiome, and metabolome by feeding mealworms with highpurity PS microplastics with a wide variety of MW. Over 24 days, mealworms (50 individuals) fed with 0.20 g of PS showed decreasing removal of 74.1

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Biodegradation of polyether-polyurethane foam in yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and effects on the gut microbiome

Cited by 43 publications

References 52 publications

Plastic biodegradation by in vitro environmental microorganisms and in vivo gut microorganisms of insects

Plastic biodegradation by in vitro environmental microorganisms and in vivo gut microorganisms of insects

Unveiling Fragmentation of Plastic Particles during Biodegradation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Foams in Mealworms: Highly Sensitive Detection and Digestive Modeling Prediction

Influence of Polymer Size on Polystyrene Biodegradation in Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor): Responses of Depolymerization Pattern, Gut Microbiome, and Metabolome to Polymers with Low to Ultrahigh Molecular Weight

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