TAGS: Sustainability and Bioplastics
A species of worm with an appetite for polystyrene could be the key to plastic recycling on a mass scale.
Researchers at the University of Queensland have discovered the common Zophobas morio ‘superworm’ can eat through polystyrene, thanks to a bacterial enzyme in their gut.
Mini Recycling Plants
Dr. Chris Rinke and his team from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences fed superworms different diets over a three-week period, with some given polystyrene foam, some bran and others put on a fasting diet.
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We found the superworms fed a diet of just polystyrene not only survived, but even had marginal weight gains,” Dr. Rinke said. “
This suggests the worms can derive energy from the polystyrene, most likely with the help of their gut microbes.”
The researchers used a technique called metagenomics to find several encoded enzymes with the ability to degrade polystyrene and styrene. The long-term goal is to engineer enzymes to degrade plastic waste in recycling plants through mechanical shredding, followed by enzymatic biodegradation.
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Superworms are like mini recycling plants, shredding the polystyrene with their mouths and then feeding it to the bacteria in their gut,” Dr. Rinke said. “
The breakdown products from this reaction can then be used by other microbes to create high-value compounds such as bioplastics.”
It’s hoped this bio-upcycling will incentivise plastic waste recycling and reduce landfill.
Co-author of the research, PhD candidate Jiarui Sun, said they aim to grow the gut bacteria in the lab and further test its ability to degrade polystyrene. “
We can then look into how we can upscale this process to a level required for an entire recycling plant,” Ms. Sun said.
Dr. Rinke said there are many opportunities for the biodegradation of plastic waste.
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Our team is very excited to push the science to make it happen,” he said.
Source: University of Queensland