Plastics can be broken down by one in five bacteria, as discovered by researchers at Leiden University. The study found that more than 18 percent of bacterial strains were able to degrade plastics, but the bacteria require specific conditions to do so effectively. For example, bacteria must be starved in order to break down plastics.
The discovery of the bacteria’s ability to break down plastics was made by a doctoral student named Jo-Anne Verschoor, who conducted experiments with a diverse collection of bacteria. These bacteria were originally used in the search for new antibiotics, but Verschoor’s experiments revealed their potential for breaking down plastics. His research was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications Biology.
When bacteria are hungry, they start to look for food, which can include plastics. Verschoor’s experiments involved exposing different species of bacteria to plastic materials, such as PET plastics found in plastic bottles. This discovery could lead to new ways of recycling plastics and addressing plastic waste problems.
By understanding how bacteria can break down plastics, researchers may be able to develop more sustainable methods for managing plastic waste. The findings of this study could greatly expand the range of bacteria that can be used to break down plastics effectively.