Microbial degradation of plastic: A review on bacterial and fungal contributions

Plastic is a synthetic polymer that consists of high molecular weight. Plastic is prepared from organic compounds first derived from natural gas or renewable sources. There are different types of plastics: Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), etc... The polymeric material takes long time for decompose leading to long term accumulation in landfills and oceans. To overcome the problem, researchers have researched the biodegradation of plastic by Enzymes, including bacteria and fungi, have been identified for their ability to degrade plastics under specific conditions. Recently in biotechnology, a Plastic eating enzyme was identified i.e PETase (polyethylene terepthalate hydrolase) from Ideonella sakaiensis in Japan. This review explores the mechanisms and potential applications of biodegradation of plastic waste and some factors that affect the biodegradation of plastic.