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Tournier V, Duquesne S, Guillamot F, Cramail H, Taton D, Marty A, André I. Enzymes' Power for Plastics Degradation. Chem Rev 2023; 123:5612-5701. [PMID: 36916764 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Plastics are everywhere in our modern way of living, and their production keeps increasing every year, causing major environmental concerns. Nowadays, the end-of-life management involves accumulation in landfills, incineration, and recycling to a lower extent. This ecological threat to the environment is inspiring alternative bio-based solutions for plastic waste treatment and recycling toward a circular economy. Over the past decade, considerable efforts have been made to degrade commodity plastics using biocatalytic approaches. Here, we provide a comprehensive review on the recent advances in enzyme-based biocatalysis and in the design of related biocatalytic processes to recycle or upcycle commodity plastics, including polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, and polyolefins. We also discuss scope and limitations, challenges, and opportunities of this field of research. An important message from this review is that polymer-assimilating enzymes are very likely part of the solution to reaching a circular plastic economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Tournier
- Carbios, Parc Cataroux-Bâtiment B80, 8 rue de la Grolière, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Sophie Duquesne
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, TBI, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, Toulouse, France, 135, avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
| | - Frédérique Guillamot
- Carbios, Parc Cataroux-Bâtiment B80, 8 rue de la Grolière, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Henri Cramail
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Daniel Taton
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, LCPO, 16 Avenue Pey-Berland, 33600 Pessac, France
| | - Alain Marty
- Carbios, Parc Cataroux-Bâtiment B80, 8 rue de la Grolière, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Isabelle André
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, TBI, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRAE, INSA, Toulouse, France, 135, avenue de Rangueil, F-31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
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Wu X, Liu P, Zhao X, Wang J, Teng M, Gao S. Critical effect of biodegradation on long-term microplastic weathering in sediment environments: A systematic review. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 437:129287. [PMID: 35714544 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) pollution in global sediment has been intensely studied and recognized as the ultimate sink for residual MPs in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. During MP long-term retention in sediments, plastic-degrading bacteria (i.e., Flavobacteriaceae, Bacillus, Rhodobacteraceae, and Desulfobacteraceae) can utilize those MPs as their carbon and energy sources through enzyme (hydrolase and oxidoreductase) reactions, which further alter or transform high molecular weight MP polymers into lower molecular weight biodegradation byproducts (i.e., monomers and oligomers) and release toxic additives. In other words, MPs can act as durable substrates for plastic-degrading bacteria in sediments. However, to date, the biodegradation rates of MPs in sediment environments are still poorly understood due to their limited degradation efficiency. Herein, we review the enzyme-induced biodegradation processes of MPs in sediment environments, which is important for accessing the alteration of MP properties and their potential ecological risks after undergoing long-term weathering processes. In addition, the factors associated with the MP properties (polymer type, molecular weight, crystallinity, and hydrophobicity) and sediment conditions (sediment type, temperature, pH, salinity, and oxygen content) that influence plastic degradation processes are also reviewed. The mechanisms may relate to the MP properties and sediment conditions that can influence microbial abundance, enzyme concentrations, and enzyme activities, thus altering MP biodegradation ratios. We anticipate that the observations reviewed in this study will pose a new issue to better understand the formation process, fate, and potential ecological risks associated with aged MPs in sediment environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Junyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Miaomiao Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Shixiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
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Amobonye A, Bhagwat P, Singh S, Pillai S. Plastic biodegradation: Frontline microbes and their enzymes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 759:143536. [PMID: 33190901 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Plastic polymers with different properties have been developed in the last 150 years to replace materials such as wood, glass and metals across various applications. Nevertheless, the distinct properties which make plastic desirable for our daily use also threaten our planet's sustainability. Plastics are resilient, non-reactive and most importantly, non-biodegradable. Hence, there has been an exponential increase in plastic waste generation, which has since been recognised as a global environmental threat. Plastic wastes have adversely affected life on earth, primarily through their undesirable accumulation in landfills, leaching into the soil, increased greenhouse gas emission, etc. Even more damaging is their impact on the aquatic ecosystems as they cause entanglement, ingestion and intestinal blockage in aquatic animals. Furthermore, plastics, especially in the microplastic form, have also been found to interfere with chemical interaction between marine organisms, to cause intrinsic toxicity by leaching, and by absorbing persistent organic contaminants as well as pathogens. The current methods for eliminating these wastes (incineration, landfilling, and recycling) come at massive costs, are unsustainable, and put more burden on our environment. Thus, recent focus has been placed more on the potential of biological systems to degrade synthetic plastics. In this regard, some insects, bacteria and fungi have been shown to ingest these polymers and convert them into environmentally friendly carbon compounds. Hence, in the light of recent literature, this review emphasises the multifaceted roles played by microorganisms in this process. The current understanding of the roles played by actinomycetes, algae, bacteria, fungi and their enzymes in enhancing the degradation of synthetic plastics are reviewed, with special focus on their modes of action and probable enzymatic mechanisms. Besides, key areas for further exploration, such as the manipulation of microorganisms through molecular cloning, modification of enzymatic characteristics and metabolic pathway design, are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodeji Amobonye
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
| | - Prashant Bhagwat
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
| | - Suren Singh
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
| | - Santhosh Pillai
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, P.O. Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa.
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Gerritse J, Leslie HA, de Tender CA, Devriese LI, Vethaak AD. Fragmentation of plastic objects in a laboratory seawater microcosm. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10945. [PMID: 32616793 PMCID: PMC7331685 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67927-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the fragmentation of conventional thermoplastic and compostable plastic items in a laboratory seawater microcosm. In the microcosm, polyurethane foams, cellulose acetate cigarette filters, and compostable polyester and polylactic acid items readily sank, whereas polyethylene air pouches, latex balloons, polystyrene foams and polypropylene cups remained afloat. Microbial biofilms dominated by Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Planctomycetes and Bacteriodetes grew on the plastics, and caused some of the polyethylene items to sink to the bottom. Electrical resistances (ER) of plastic items decreased as function of time, an indication that seawater had penetrated into microscopic crevices in the plastic that had developed over time. Rate constants for ER decrease in polyethylene items in the microcosm were similar to tensile elongation decrease of polyethylene sheets floating in sea, measured previously by others. Weight loss of plastic items was ≤ 1% per year for polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene, 3-5% for latex, polyethylene terephthalate and polyurethane, 15% for cellulose acetate, and 7-27% for polyester and polylactic acid compostable bags. The formation of microplastics observed in the microcosm was responsible for at least part of the weight loss. This study emphasizes the need to obtain experimental data on plastic litter degradation under conditions that are realistic for marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Gerritse
- Deltares, Unit Subsurface and Groundwater Systems, Daltonlaan 600, 3584 BK, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Heather A Leslie
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Caroline A de Tender
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S9, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 92, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Lisa I Devriese
- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), InnovOcean Site, Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400, Ostend, Belgium
| | - A Dick Vethaak
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Deltares, Unit Marine and Coastal Systems, Boussinesqweg 1, 2629 HV, Delft, The Netherlands
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Jeszeová L, Puškárová A, Bučková M, Kraková L, Grivalský T, Danko M, Mosnáčková K, Chmela Š, Pangallo D. Microbial communities responsible for the degradation of poly(lactic acid)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) blend mulches in soil burial respirometric tests. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 34:101. [DOI: 10.1007/s11274-018-2483-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Gamerith C, Herrero Acero E, Pellis A, Ortner A, Vielnascher R, Luschnig D, Zartl B, Haernvall K, Zitzenbacher S, Strohmeier G, Hoff O, Steinkellner G, Gruber K, Ribitsch D, Guebitz GM. Improving enzymatic polyurethane hydrolysis by tuning enzyme sorption. Polym Degrad Stab 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2016.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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7
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Enzymatic hydrolysis of nylons: quantification of the reaction rate of nylon hydrolase for thin-layered nylons. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:8751-61. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5885-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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9
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Song YS, Lee HU, Lee JH, Choi HS, Choi US, Kim SW. Biodegradation of Synthetic Plastics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.7841/ksbbj.2012.27.4.215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Tachibana K, Hashimoto K, Tansho N, Okawa H. Chemical modification of chain end in nylon 4 and improvement of its thermal stability. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.24682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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A novel aryl acylamidase fromNocardia farcinicahydrolyses polyamide. Biotechnol Bioeng 2009; 102:1003-11. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.22139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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14
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Enzymes go big: surface hydrolysis and functionalisation of synthetic polymers. Trends Biotechnol 2008; 26:32-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2007.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2007] [Revised: 09/28/2007] [Accepted: 10/01/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Gautam R, Bassi AS, Yanful EK. Candida rugosa lipase-catalyzed polyurethane degradation in aqueous medium. Biotechnol Lett 2007; 29:1081-6. [PMID: 17450322 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-007-9354-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2007] [Accepted: 02/28/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Candida rugosa lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) was used to degrade commercially-available solid poly(ester)urethane (Impranil) in an aqueous medium under different temperature, pH, enzyme and substrate concentrations. A mathematical model was developed and applied to represent the degradation kinetics of the solid polyurethane. Reaction optima were found to be pH 7 and 35 degrees C. Diethylene glycol, a degradation byproduct, generation rate was measured to be 0.12 mg/l min and the activation energy was calculated as 9.121 kcal/gmol K. This information will be useful in developing bioreactors for practical applications to manage polyurethane wastes using lipase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeeb Gautam
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Gautam R, Bassi AS, Yanful EK. A review of biodegradation of synthetic plastic and foams. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2007; 141:85-108. [PMID: 17625268 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-007-9212-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2006] [Revised: 07/05/2006] [Accepted: 07/11/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic polymeric foams have pervaded every aspect of modern life. Although foams provide numerous benefits, they also cause a significant environmental litter problem because of their recalcitrant and xenobiotic nature. Biodegradation may provide solution to the problem, but not enough is known about the biodegradation process of synthetic plastic and plasticbased foams. This review has been written to provide an overview of the current state of plastic foam biodegradation. Several biodegradation pathways of a few select synthetic polymers are also presented along with a discussion on some of the physico-chemical factors that can influence the biodegradation of plastic foams.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Gautam
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.
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Heumann S, Eberl A, Pobeheim H, Liebminger S, Fischer-Colbrie G, Almansa E, Cavaco-Paulo A, Gübitz GM. New model substrates for enzymes hydrolysing polyethyleneterephthalate and polyamide fibres. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 69:89-99. [PMID: 16624419 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbbm.2006.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2005] [Revised: 02/08/2006] [Accepted: 02/09/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Recently the potential of enzymes for surface hydrophilisation and/or functionalisation of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and polyamide (PA) has been discovered. However, there was no correlation between enzyme class/activity (e.g. esterase, lipase, cutinase) and surface hydrolysis of these polymers and consequently no simple assay to estimate this capability. Enzymes active on the model substrates bis (benzoyloxyethyl) terephthalate and adipic acid bishexyl-amide, were also capable of increasing the hydrophilicity of PET and PA. When dosed at the identical activity on 4-nitrophenyl butyrate, only enzymes from Thermobifida fusca, Aspergillus sp., Beauveria sp. and commercial enzymes (TEXAZYME PES sp5 and Lipase PS) increased the hydrophilicity of PET fibres while other esterases and lipases did not show any effect. Activity on PET correlated with the activity on the model substrate. Hydrophilicity of fibres was greatly improved based on increases in rising height of up to 4.3 cm and the relative decrease of water absorption time between control and sample of the water was up to 76%. Similarly, enzymes increasing the hydrophilicity of PA fibres such as from Nocardia sp., Beauveria sp. and F. solani hydrolysed the model substrate; however, there was no common enzyme activity (e.g. protease, esterase, amidase) which could be attributed to all these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Heumann
- Research Centre Applied Biocatalysis, Petersgasse 14, A-8010 Graz, Austria
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Deguchi T, Matsubara M, Nishida T. NADH oxidation by manganese peroxidase with or without alpha-hydroxy acid. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2002; 66:717-21. [PMID: 12036041 DOI: 10.1271/bbb.66.717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
NADH oxidation by manganese peroxidase (MnP) was done in a reaction mixture including either alpha-hydroxy acid or acetate. The oxidation in the former reaction mixture was inhibited by a catalase and was accelerated by exogenous H2O2, while the oxidation in the latter reaction mixture was inhibited by a superoxide dismutase and was not accelerated by the exogenous H2O2. These results indicated that there are significant differences between the two reaction systems, particularly, in the active oxygen species involved in the reactions. Additionally, the experiment of MnP reduction with Mn(II) suggests that MnP has a separate catalytic activity other than an oxidation of Mn(II) to Mn(III) in the reaction mixture including acetate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Deguchi
- Chemical and Environmental Technology Laboratory, Kobe Steel, Ltd., Japan.
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