Scientists have discovered a special group of bacteria in the Arctic Alps that can digest plastic. Research shows that this finding not only helps tackle the pressing problem of pollution, but also has potential for economic growth.
While previous industrial enzymes were effective at high temperatures above 30°C, newly discovered cold-living microbes efficiently decompose plastics at lower temperatures, providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution. In order to find these unique microorganisms, researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute WSL made expeditions in the Alpine and arctic regions, which are known for their harsh conditions.
Research on Bacteria
During the 2018 Swiss Arctic Project, the team collected bacterial and fungal samples from garbage, including plastic waste, in Greenland, Svalbard and Switzerland. These isolated microbes were grown in vitro, and the researchers used advanced molecular techniques to identify these species. Surprisingly, 56% of the samples were found to be capable of digesting plastics, although polyethylene showed resistance.
Among the most impressive results were two uncharacterized fungal species, Neodevriesia and Lachnellula, which showed the ability to digest all types of plastics except polyethylene. In addition, it was observed that the ability to digest plastic differs depending on the culture medium. The evolutionary origins of this unique ability still remain an intriguing topic. Although plastics have only existed since the 1950s, this suggests that the ability to degrade plastics was not a trait chosen by the natural evolutionary process. Although the discovery of these plastic-consuming bacteria is an important step forward, some hurdles need to be overcome.
Scientists are trying to determine the temperature range where enzymes are most effective. In general, however, it has been observed that these strains thrive at temperatures between 4°C and 20°C, with the optimum temperature being around 15°C. More research is needed to identify the enzymes involved, optimize their production, and increase their stability in large-scale applications. The discovery of bacteria digesting these plastics offers an effective solution to the global plastic waste problem and offers hope for a sustainable future.
Conversion without harming the environment
This bacterium, which transforms the PET material used in plastic production into its natural components, realizes this transformation by using its unique enzymes. According to Webtekno’s reports, thanks to its enzymes that convert PET into a substance called “MHET”, this bacterium also converts this substance into natural components of plastic material and obtains the basic components of unprocessed PET material. As a result, the obtained substance can be mixed into the soil without harming the environment.
The biggest problem faced by this type of bacteria, which could potentially offer a solution to the environmental pollution problem, is its slow operation. According to scientists, this type of bacteria requires about 6 weeks to mix a thin layer of PET into the soil. Therefore, it may be more practical to wait for the plastic bottles to mix into the soil. However, Japanese scientists state that they have discovered the gene that allows PET to mix with the soil. This means that in the future this gene can be amplified and the bacterium can operate at a much faster rate.
