Page 26 - Plastics News October 2024

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

Wastewater bacteria can break down plastic for

food, yielding new possibilities for cleaning up

plastic waste

esearchers from Northwestern University
have discovered how Comamonas bacte-
Rria degrade plastic, providing insights into
bacteria-based solutions for plastic pollution. The
bacterium, Comamonas testosteroni, breaks down
plastic, specifically polyethylene terephthalate
(PET), into small nanoplastic particles. The bacte-
ria then secrete an enzyme that further degrades
the plastic, using the carbon atoms in the plastic
for food. This discovery, published in Environmental
Science & Technology, opens possibilities for ad-
dressing plastic waste in environments like urban rivers and wastewater systems.

Led by environmental engineering professor Ludmilla Aristilde, the research builds on previous work
studying how C. testosteroni metabolizes carbon from plastics. PET, used in packaging and beverage
bottles, is a major contributor to plastic pollution, making up 12% of global plastic usage and 50% of
microplastics in wastewater. The bacteria’s ability to degrade PET into bioavailable carbon could be
optimized to develop future solutions for cleaning up plastic waste.

The study used experimental techniques to observe how the bacterium interacts with and breaks
down PET. The researchers found that the bacteria broke plastics down into nanoparticles and iden-
tified a specific enzyme responsible for this process. Without this enzyme, the bacteria's plastic-de-
grading ability was lost, emphasizing the enzyme's critical role.

This research could help us better understand the fate of plastics in wastewater systems, particularly
how microplastics and nanoplastics evolve during treatment, offering new perspectives on pollution
management.

Source:- Phys.org

UP cabinet approves bio plastic policy, private

investment in higher education

he Uttar Pradesh (UP) state cabinet has approved several key policies to drive economic
growth and sustainability. One significant decision is the approval of a bio plastic policy, which
Twill offer substantial incentives to companies investing in the production of biodegradable and
compostable plastics. Companies that invest 1,000 crore or more will receive a 50% subsidy for seven

26 PLASTICS NEWS October 2024