In 2016, the the scientist Japan has made a remarkable discovery that could help solve the world’s plastic problem, according to the journal Science. Scientists collected plastic bottles outside a recycling facility and discovered that a species bacteria are “eating” them.
Normally, bacteria take their time to absorb dead organic matter, but Ideonella sakaiensis has developed a preference for a plastic type certain called polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
After analyzing the bacteria, the scientists discovered that it produces two digestive enzymes called PET hydrolysates or PETase. When these enzymes interact with PET plastic, it breaks down long molecular chains into shorter chains (monomers) called terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. These monomers are then further broken down to release energy for bacterial growth.
After discovering bacteria that eat plastic, many genetic scientists tested Ideonella sakaiensis to destroy plastic waste. One of the research ventures is to design genetically modified bacteria that are more efficient at producing enzymes, such as E.coli, and turn them into PETase factories.
Although the discovery offers hope in the fight against plastic waste, scientists warn that they are still years away from being widely used commercially. Similarly, PETase only breaks down PET plastic, there are six other plastics that we still can’t break down using enzymes.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
