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Polypropylene

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Backyard Fungi Found to Efficiently Break Down Plastic

Originally Published 2 years ago — by ScienceAlert

Scientists have discovered two strains of fungi, Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, that can break down polypropylene, a hardy plastic used to make bottle caps and food containers, in just 140 days. The fungi degraded between 25 and 27 percent of samples after 90 days, and the plastic was completely broken down after 140 days. The researchers believe their work is an "important stepping stone" in designing practical biological ways to treat plastic waste. While plastic-munching bacteria have been able to break down 90 percent of PET in just 16 hours, fungi are attracting attention for their versatility and ability to degrade all sorts of synthetic substrates with a powerful concoction of enzymes.

science environment biodegradation environment fungi plastic-waste polypropylene recycling

Backyard Fungi Found to Break Down Plastic in Record Time

Originally Published 2 years ago — by ABC News

Australian scientists have discovered that two types of fungi found in plants and soil can break down polypropylene, one of the world's most stubborn plastics, which could help ease the burden of the global recycling crisis. The fungi took 90 days to degrade 27% of the plastic tested, and about 140 days to completely break it down. The technology could be scaled up to process thousands of tonnes of plastic a year, but experts caution that plastic use needs to be drastically reduced too.

science science-and-environment environmental-pollution fungi plastic-recycling polypropylene science-and-environment waste-management