Chapter 12: Microbial plastic and microplastic bioremediation and innovations

Plastics have become an indispensable part of our daily lives and, despite their negative effects on the environment, they are unavoidable. A continual accumulation of plastic waste has led to plastic pollution and this environmental problem has increased pressure on scientists to develop alternatives for plastic biodegradation and bioremediation. This chapter will examine the methods of action of microorganisms and their enzymatic pathways in the biodegradation of plastic polymers, which will also highlight recent findings of multiple microbial species that may biodegrade plastic and the distinct enzymes they produce throughout the bioremediation process. Also highlighted are new methods in engineering, biotechnology and nanotechnology that may increase the pace of microbial plastic biodegradation by maximising microbial efficacies. This chapter will also discuss the limitations, obstacles and difficulties encountered in the implementation of plastic biodegradation, as well as the ecological effects of engineering solutions and the efficient promotion of natural plastic biodegradation. Finally, the significance of interdisciplinary research in promoting sustainable plastic biodegradation within waste management, addressing the constraints of plastic bioremediation and providing avenues for future research while enhancing the potential for large-scale industrial plastic biodegradation, is highlighted.