Progressing Plastics Circularity: A Review of Mechano-Biocatalytic Approaches for Waste Plastic (Re)valorization

Nikolaivits, Efstratios; Pantelic, Brana; Azeem, Muhammad; Taxeidis, George; Babu, Ramesh; Topakas, Evangelos; Fournet, Margaret Brennan; Nikodinović‐Runić, Jasmina

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2021.696040

Cited by 71 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 292 publications

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“…Green chemistry can redesign the plastics value chain in plastics production to recycling and end-of-life via widening rules and incentives intervention. Nikolaivits et al [356] summarized mechano-biocatalytic perspectives for the valorization of plastic wastes. The depolymerization of plastics can produce new products, instead of waste disposal, with high product value, having effectively combined interdisciplinary approaches for the end-of-life in circular economy.…”

Section: Recyclingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

et al. 2021

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Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Plastic waste exposed to the environment creates problems and is of significant concern for all life forms. Plastic production and accumulation in the natural environment are occurring at an unprecedented rate due to indiscriminate use, inadequate recycling, and deposits in landfills. In 2019, the global production of plastic was at 370 million tons, with only 9% of it being recycled, 12% being incinerated, and the remaining left in the environment or landfills. The leakage of plastic wastes into terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is occurring at an unprecedented rate. The management of plastic waste is a challenging problem for researchers, policymakers, citizens, and other stakeholders. Therefore, here, we summarize the current understanding and concerns of plastics pollution (microplastics or nanoplastics) on natural ecosystems. The overall goal of this review is to provide background assessment on the adverse effects of plastic pollution on natural ecosystems; interlink the management of plastic pollution with sustainable development goals; address the policy initiatives under transdisciplinary approaches through life cycle assessment, circular economy, and sustainability; identify the knowledge gaps; and provide current policy recommendations. Plastic waste management through community involvement and socio-economic inputs in different countries are presented and discussed. Plastic ban policies and public awareness are likely the major mitigation interventions. The need for life cycle assessment and circularity to assess the potential environmental impacts and resources used throughout a plastic product’s life span is emphasized. Innovations are needed to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover plastics and find eco-friendly replacements for plastics. Empowering and educating communities and citizens to act collectively to minimize plastic pollution and use alternative options for plastics must be promoted and enforced. Plastic pollution is a global concern that must be addressed collectively with the utmost priority.

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Section: Recyclingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

et al. 2021

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“…As with chemical degradation, the major difficulty in the enzyme degradation of polymers such as PE and PP derives from their high hydrophobicity, stability, and inertness, and their reactivity may be implemented by UV or thermal oxidation pretreatments [150]. While PE and PP enzymatic degradation is still a very challenging topic, numerous hydrolytic enzymes have been identified and are efficient for PET degradation [151]. PET hydrolases represent one of the most recent breakthroughs in the depolymerization of post-consumer PET, allowing the recovery of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol at industrial relevant scale [120].…”

Section: Enzymatic Catalysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advancements in Plastic Packaging Recycling: A Mini-Review

et al. 2021

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Today, the scientific community is facing crucial challenges in delivering a healthier world for future generations. Among these, the quest for circular and sustainable approaches for plastic recycling is one of the most demanding for several reasons. Indeed, the massive use of plastic materials over the last century has generated large amounts of long-lasting waste, which, for much time, has not been object of adequate recovery and disposal politics. Most of this waste is generated by packaging materials. Nevertheless, in the last decade, a new trend imposed by environmental concerns brought this topic under the magnifying glass, as testified by the increasing number of related publications. Several methods have been proposed for the recycling of polymeric plastic materials based on chemical or mechanical methods. A panorama of the most promising studies related to the recycling of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS) is given within this review.

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“…are additional fungal species with a high degree of plastic degradability (Sowmya et al, 2015). Contrary to popular belief, different fungal consortia have been proven to destroy various polymers, such as PET and PLA, through synergistic action (Ghosh et al, 2019;Nikolaivits et al, 2021). Before eventual depolymerization, as well as their potential to release hydrophobin for improved hyphal adhesion to hydrophobic substrates, fungal hyphae are critical in both the initial colonization and the subsequent depolymerization of the fungus (Wang et al, 2018;Quarantin et al, 2019).…”

Section: Fungal Degradation Of Pla-pet Wastementioning

confidence: 99%

Potential Use of Microbial Enzymes for the Conversion of Plastic Waste Into Value-Added Products: A Viable Solution

et al. 2021

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The widespread use of commercial polymers composed of a mixture of polylactic acid and polyethene terephthalate (PLA-PET) in bottles and other packaging materials has caused a massive environmental crisis. The valorization of these contaminants via cost-effective technologies is urgently needed to achieve a circular economy. The enzymatic hydrolysis of PLA-PET contaminants plays a vital role in environmentally friendly strategies for plastic waste recycling and degradation. In this review, the potential roles of microbial enzymes for solving this critical problem are highlighted. Various enzymes involved in PLA-PET recycling and bioconversion, such as PETase and MHETase produced by Ideonella sakaiensis; esterases produced by Bacillus and Nocardia; lipases produced by Thermomyces lanuginosus, Candida antarctica, Triticum aestivum, and Burkholderia spp.; and leaf-branch compost cutinases are critically discussed. Strategies for the utilization of PLA-PET’s carbon content as C1 building blocks were investigated for the production of new plastic monomers and different value-added products, such as cyclic acetals, 1,3-propanediol, and vanillin. The bioconversion of PET-PLA degradation monomers to polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolymers by Pseudomonas and Halomonas strains was addressed in detail. Different solutions to the production of biodegradable plastics from food waste, agricultural residues, and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)-accumulating bacteria were discussed. Fuel oil production via PLA-PET thermal pyrolysis and possible hybrid integration techniques for the incorporation of thermostable plastic degradation enzymes for the conversion into fuel oil is explained in detail.

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Progressing Plastics Circularity: A Review of Mechano-Biocatalytic Approaches for Waste Plastic (Re)valorization

Abstract: Graphical Abstract

Cited by 71 publications

References 292 publications

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

Impacts of Plastic Pollution on Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development Goals, and Need to Focus on Circular Economy and Policy Interventions

Recent Advancements in Plastic Packaging Recycling: A Mini-Review

Potential Use of Microbial Enzymes for the Conversion of Plastic Waste Into Value-Added Products: A Viable Solution

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