Is Wastewater Bacteria The Solution To Plastic Waste?
Recent research from Northwestern University has discovered a family of common wastewater bacteria may have a remarkable ability. The Comamonadaceae family of bacteria, particularly Comamonas testosteroni, has been shown to be able break down plastic waste in urban rivers and wastewater systems. Scientists have long known this bacteria to thrive in environments abundant with plastic litter, but a new study reveals why and how.
Initially, the bacteria fragment plastic into smaller pieces called nanoplastics. They then secrete specialized enzymes that further degrade these plastics, allowing the bacteria to consume the carbon atoms for energy. Lead researcher Ludmilla Aristilde, an associate professor of environmental engineering, highlighted this groundbreaking finding, noting, “We have systematically shown, for the first time, that a wastewater bacterium can take a starting plastic material, deteriorate it, fragment it, break it down, and use it as a source of carbon.”
The discovery opens the door to potential bioremediation strategies to combat plastic pollution, including microplastic, which threatens both wildlife and drinking water sources. The study focused specifically on polyethylene terephthalate (PET — a commonly used plastic in food packaging and beverage bottles — which accounts for a substantial portion of microplastics found in wastewater.
To investigate this process, the research team utilized advanced microscopy to observe changes in plastic surfaces when exposed to C. testosteroni. They discovered that the bacteria possess an innate ability to degrade plastics down to monomers, the basic building blocks of polymers. Through collaborative efforts, the researchers identified a specific enzyme responsible for this degradation. Notably, bacteria lacking this enzyme showed a marked decrease in their ability to break down plastic.
The implications of this research extend beyond plastic degradation; it also enhances researchers’ understanding of how plastics behave during wastewater treatment. After all, wastewater systems are significant reservoirs of microplastics and nanoplastics. The study seems to indicate that many nanoplastics and microplastics may actually be formed during the wastewater treatment process. However, these bacteria could also clearly be leveraged to further breakdown and eliminate such plastics in wastewater effluent.
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