Computational Exploration of Bio-Degradation Patterns of Various Plastic Types

Abstract

Plastic materials are recalcitrant in the open environment, surviving for longer without complete remediation. The current disposal methods of used plastic material are inefficient; consequently, plastic wastes are infiltrating the natural resources of the biosphere. The mixed composition of urban domestic waste with different plastic types makes them unfavorable for recycling; however, natural assimilation in situ is still an option to explore. In this research work, we have utilized previously published reports on the biodegradation of various plastics types and analyzed the pattern of microbial degradation. Our results demonstrate that the biodegradation of plastic material follows the chemical classification of plastic types based on their main molecular backbone. The clustering analysis of various plastic types based on their biodegradation reports has grouped them into two broad categories of C-C (non-hydrolyzable) and C-X (hydrolyzable). The C-C and C-X groups show a statistically significant difference in their biodegradation pattern at the genus level. The Bacilli class of bacteria is found to be reported more often in the C-C category, which is challenging to degrade compared to C-X. Genus enrichment analysis suggests that Pseudomonas and Bacillus from bacteria and Aspergillus and Penicillium from fungi are potential genera for the bioremediation of mixed plastic waste. The lack of uniformity in reporting the results of microbial degradation of plastic also needs to be addressed to enable productive growth in the field. Overall, the result points towards the feasibility of a microbial-based biodegradation solution for mixed plastic waste.

Designing biodegradable alternatives to commodity polymers

“…75 Amongst the features evaluated, including monomer chemistry, polymer architecture, molecular weight distribution and crystallinity, the chemical nature of the backbone linkage was reported to be the most important parameter in determining the biodegradation profile of a polymer. Separately, a literature-driven cluster analysis 130 was performed using the PlasticDB database to identify a relationship between various polymers and their biodegradation profiles. Curated from 471 publications, the results demonstrated that the chemical classification, and hence the structure of the polymer backbone, has a direct relationship to its susceptibility to biodegradation.…”

Perspectives on biorefineries in microbial production of fuels and chemicals

“…Thermochemical treatment and land filling are the primary means of plastic disposal, however biological deconstruction for renewable plastic generation or other bio-products are being investigated (Bertocchini and Arias, 2023;Malik et al, 2023). Recycling and up-cycling plastics to biodegradable plastics bioproducts are two approaches that can help restore the damage caused by this polymer (Kochanska et al, 2022;Morici et al, 2022).…”

A Regression Analysis on Steam Gasification of Polyvinyl Chloride Waste for an Efficient and Environmentally Sustainable Process

“…Plastic waste has become a significant threat to the environment, with millions of tons of plastic ending up in oceans and landfills every year [3]. The problem with plastic waste is that it takes hundreds of years to decompose, and it often ends up in landfills or oceans, causing harm to wildlife and the environment [4]. This has led to a massive accumulation of plastic waste in our landfills, oceans, and water bodies [5].…”