The notorious degradation-proof plastic can now be broken down!
It was in 2016 that a group of Japanese researchers discovered a bacteria
strain that had naturally evolved to degrade polyethylene terephthalate
(common plastic known as PET or polyester.)
Later while studying the same bacteria, scientists from the the University of
Portsmouth in the U.K. and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National
Renewable Energy Laboratory, made a breakthrough, when they found out
that a particular enzyme in the bacteria was capable of breaking down plastic
completely in a few days.
(The researchers findings were published in Proceedings of National Academy
of Sciences.)
While investigating the enzyme’s structure a tweak was made to it which
ramped up its ability to degrade PET, also giving it the ability to degrade an
alternative form of PET known as PEF.
Imagine the group of researchers led by professor John McGeehan who only
wanted to tweak the enzyme to find out its origin but ended up finding a
substance that could efficiently breakdown plastic!
National Geographic reported in 2015 that eight million tons of plastic make it
into the ocean annually. Not only is plastic detrimental to wildlife, but also to
seabirds and other marine creatures who mistake it for food.
So, removing plastics from the environment could actually be a great thing, but
can the enzyme help is the question.
Simply breaking down large pieces of plastic into smaller pieces is not useful in
itself– rather it creates microplastics that can cause damage to marine
environments – the bacteria however can make plastic recycling far more
effective. Even then it is a long way to go for it to be usable in recycling
industries.
Although a small thing now, it proves that there is more room for development
in the field, and the future shows a promising solution for the garbage piling
around the world.
The author believes that everyone; not just scientists should perform their
roles to create a better future for the next gen. Of utmost priority should be
the objective that plastic doesn’t make it to the water bodies.
Less usage of it in our daily lives or simply saying NO to it, would really be a
giant step towards cleaning the world.
Innovators Quest VIT 