Biodegradation of Polyethylene and Plastic Mixtures in Mealworms (Larvae of Tenebrio molitor) and Effects on the Gut Microbiome

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 52; no. 11; pp. 6526 - 6533
• Main Authors: Brandon, Anja Malawi, Gao, Shu-Hong, Tian, Renmao, Ning, Daliang, Yang, Shan-Shan, Zhou, Jizhong, Wu, Wei-Min, Criddle, Craig S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 05.06.2018
• Subjects: Adaptability; Biodegradation; Carbon dioxide; Chemical reactions; Citrobacter; digestive system; environmental science; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; high-throughput nucleotide sequencing; Intestinal microflora; intestinal microorganisms; Larvae; Microbiomes; Molecular chains; molecular weight; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Organic chemistry; Oxidation; Plastics; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Polymers; Polystyrene; Polystyrene resins; polystyrenes; Studies; Tenebrio molitor

Recent studies have demonstrated the ability for polystyrene (PS) degradation within the gut of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor). To determine whether plastics may be broadly susceptible to biodegradation within mealworms, we evaluated the fate of polyethylene (PE) and mixtures (PE + PS). We find that P...