Enrichment of native plastic-associated biofilm communities to enhance polyester degrading activity.

ABSTRACT: Plastic pollution is an increasing worldwide problem urgently requiring a solution. While recycling rates are increasing globally, only 9% of all plastic waste has been recycled, and with the cost and limited downstream uses of recycled plastic, an alternative is needed. Here, we found that expanded polystyrene (EPS) promoted high levels of bacterial biofilm formation and sought out environmental EPS waste to characterize these native communities. We demonstrated that the EPS attached communities had limited plastic degrading activity. We then performed a long-term enrichment experiment where we placed a robust selection pressure on these communities by limiting carbon availability such that the waste plastic was the only carbon source. Seven of the resulting enriched bacterial communities

SUBMITTER: Howard SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10947123 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature