Title of Project
Utilizing plastic-degrading microbes for plastic degradation
Semester of Project Completion
Fall 2021
Project Type
Open Access
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Life Below Water
Abstract
Our oceans are full of pollution and a large portion of those are plastics. They resist degradation from the elements and have long half-lives. About 300 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into our oceans every year. Many of these include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), etc. Much of this is not recycled and so there is a massive accumulation of it present in our oceans. Microbes tend to form biofilms on these plastics and break them down. However, the relationship between plastics and the diversity of biofilm communities are being understood as well as how we can use these plastic-degrading microbes as a potential form of bioremediation.
Recommended Citation
Garcia, Brandon, "Utilizing plastic-degrading microbes for plastic degradation" (2021). Global Sustainable Development Projects. 6.
https://scholarship.rollins.edu/sdg/6
Rights Holder
Brandon Garcia