Hydrocarbon-based plastics: Progress and perspectives on consumption and biodegradation by insect larvae

Pivato, Andressa F.; Miranda, Gabriela Messias; Prichula, Janira; Lima, Jeane Estela Ayres de; Ligabue, Rosane Angélica; Seixas, Adriana; Trentin, Danielle da Silva

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133600

Cited by 45 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…These findings suggest that the bran can enhance the PBAT consumption by mealworms, but only a mixture feedstock with a low PBAT addition percentage (e.g., 10–20% PBAT) is suitable for rapid PBAT ingestion and recycling. This could be because the biodegradation of the PBAT mixture feedstock with high PBAT contents could not provide efficient energy and elements for the digestive enzymes of mealworms. ,− On the other hand, the SPCRs by mealworms in this study (12.9 to 37.8 mg PBAT 100 larvae –1 d –1 , Tables S4 and S6) were remarkably lower than the specific consumption rates of PLA microplastics (45.2 to 202.7 mg PLA 100 larvae –1 d –1 ) but comparable to the specific consumption rates of nonbiodegradable plastic materials (e.g., PVC microplastics, PS and LDPE foams, − ,,, and PP foam , ). These findings suggest that mealworms may not have the same affinity for all degradable plastics (e.g., PHA, PCL, PLA, PBAT, etc.).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…Bio-based biodegradable plastics like PLA (or maybe PHA) may be more readily biodegraded and assimilated than petro-based biodegradable plastics in the mealworm intestines . The differences in the SPCRs might also be associated with the type of tested plastic, the source of mealworms, etc. ,, Further studies are required to corroborate these perspectives.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…32 The differences in the SPCRs might also be associated with the type of tested plastic, the source of mealworms, etc. 45,50,51 Further studies are required to corroborate these perspectives.…”

Section: Survival and Growth Of Mealworms Fed On Differentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biodegradation and Carbon Resource Recovery of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) by Mealworms: Removal Efficiency, Depolymerization Pattern, and Microplastic Residue

Peng

Zhang

Sun

et al. 2023

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) waste biodegrades slowly under ambient conditions and typically ends up in incineration plants and landfills with great carbon emissions, and little is known about recovering carbon resources from PBAT waste in environmentally friendly ways. Here, we tested the biodegradation and resource recovery of PBAT using it as a supplementary feedstock for mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae). Over the 36-day test period, the PBAT removal was 49.2− 54.9% depending on the ratio of PBAT in PBAT-containing feedstocks (100, 80, 60,40,20, and 10% PBAT). A low ratio of PBAT (10% PBAT content) in the PBAT−bran mixture feedstock was favorable for the growth and development of mealworms due to the highest final survival rate (96.3 ± 1.5%) and greatest larval weight growth (39.5 ± 1.5%). The biodegradation and depolymerization of PBAT were confirmed by chemical and thermal modifications as well as changes in molecular-weight distribution (MWD). Notably, the bran addition altered the depolymerization pattern of the ingested PBAT from broad depolymerization (a decrease in molecular weights) to limited-extent depolymerization (an increase in molecular weights) due to competitive digestion. Digestive biodegradation and removal resulted in a particle size reduction of the ingested PBAT material and generated residual PBAT particles within the range of microplastics (>9 μm). Based on the results, we provide a conceptual approach for management and resource recovery from PBAT waste via insect-mediated biodegradation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 61%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biodegradation and Carbon Resource Recovery of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) by Mealworms: Removal Efficiency, Depolymerization Pattern, and Microplastic Residue

Peng

Zhang

Sun

et al. 2023

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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“…The mealworm larvae are distinguished from other larvae of holometabolic insects by their voracity, resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions, and rapid biomass growth [ 13 ]. Tenebrio molitor is characterized by the ability to digest foods that are not naturally present in the environment, including polyethylene, polystyrene, and processed cellulose, as confirmed by many research studies [ 14 , 15 ]. Even plastics, which are durable and resistant to mechanical damage and biodegradation, can be used by these insects as food.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Concept of Sustainable Demolition Process for Brickwork Buildings with Expanded Polystyrene Foam Insulation Using Mealworms of Tenebrio molitor

et al. 2022

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The traditional demolition process for brickwork buildings results in a significant volume of mixed debris. The debris consists of ceramic bricks (and other wall elements), mortar, thermal insulation (usually expanded polystyrene or rockwool), smaller steel elements, pieces of wood, and glass. Such mixed debris is difficult to recycle. Separating thermal insulation that is “glued” by cement mortar to brickwork is probably the most difficult and time-consuming task in processing mixed debris. This task can be performed in a very different and fully “automatized” manner using Tenebrio molitor mealworms. The mealworms remove expanded polystyrene from brickwork surfaces and transform it into frass. In the paper, a research program aiming to prove the concept of using the mealworms of Tenebrio molitor for processing mixed debris is presented. The tests were conducted using two models of a three-layered brickwork wall, which is very common in Europe. The proposed approached was successful. Both types of used expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) were fully removed from multilayer wall specimens. The possibilities and limitations of the proposed processing method were discussed and analyzed. The conducted research proved that it is feasible to clean brickwork debris from the EPS using Tenebrio molitor mealworms. Differences in the speed of cleaning process regarding the type of EPS were noted. More research is needed to scale the process, and to find the best method for using frass. By using Tenebrio molitor mealworms, one can make the demolition process much cleaner.

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“…A considerable amount of research has been carried out on PE degradation, e.g. by insect larvae (Pivato et al, 2022;Yang et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2022) or in marine ecosystems (Gilan et al, 2004;Oberbeckmann and Labrenz, 2020;Sivan, 2011), all with mixed results. While selected studies have reported some level of PE biodegradation by marine microbial isolates or consortia (Harshvardhan and Jha, 2013;Paço et al, 2017;Syranidou et al, 2019), the underlying molecular mechanisms of such processes have remained controversial (Wright et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Mechanistic Understanding of Polyethylene Biodegradation by the Marine Bacterium Alcanivorax

Zadjelovic

Erni-Cassola²,

Lester

et al. 2021

SSRN Journal

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Hydrocarbon-based plastics: Progress and perspectives on consumption and biodegradation by insect larvae

Cited by 45 publications

References 96 publications

Biodegradation and Carbon Resource Recovery of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) by Mealworms: Removal Efficiency, Depolymerization Pattern, and Microplastic Residue

Biodegradation and Carbon Resource Recovery of Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) by Mealworms: Removal Efficiency, Depolymerization Pattern, and Microplastic Residue

Concept of Sustainable Demolition Process for Brickwork Buildings with Expanded Polystyrene Foam Insulation Using Mealworms of Tenebrio molitor

A Mechanistic Understanding of Polyethylene Biodegradation by the Marine Bacterium Alcanivorax

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