The key to plastic recycling on a mass scale may be found in a species of worm.
The Zophobas morio'superworm' can eat through polystyrene thanks to a bacterium.
Dr. Chris Rinke and his team from UQ's School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences fed different superworms different diet over a three week period, with some given polystyrene foam, some bran and others put on a fast diet
Dr. Rinke said that the superworms were fed a diet of just polystyrene.
The worms are most likely to get their energy from their gut microbes.
Using a technique called metagenomics, the researchers were able to find several enzymes that could degrade polystyrene.
The goal is to degrade plastic waste through mechanical shredding.
"Superworms are like mini recycling plants, shredding the polystyrene with their mouths and then feeding it to thebacteria in their gut."
The breakdown products from this reaction can be used by other organisms.
The hope is that bio-upcycling will encourage plastic waste recycling.
The co-author of the research is a candidate for the PhD.
The process can be upscaled to a level required for an entire recycling plant.
There are many opportunities for the biodegradation of plastic waste.
He said that the team is excited to push the science.
The research was published in a journal.
More information: Jiarui Sun et al, Insights into plastic biodegradation: community composition and functional capabilities of the superworm (Zophobas morio) microbiome in styrofoam feeding trials, Microbial Genomics (2022). DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000842
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