Meghan Hodges
Fungi are nature's very own waste disposal units, capable of breaking down toxic byproducts and even certain types of plastic. In fact, some fungi have been found to degrade polyurethane, a common material used in construction foam.
Scientists have identified over 400 species of fungi and bacteria that can break down plastic. These organisms are able to produce enzymes that can break down plastic into smaller molecules.
While this discovery is promising, it is not a silver bullet. The most effective way to tackle plastic pollution is to reduce the amount of plastic entering the environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fungi that can break down plastic | Aspergillus terreus, Engyodontium album, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus japonicus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus penicilloides, Aspergillus tubingensis, Aspergillus versicolor, Aureobasidium pullulans, Candida guilliermondii, Chrysonilia setophila, Penicillium adametzii, Penicillium chermisinum, Penicillium crysosporium, Penicillium dupontii, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium griseofulvum, Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium minioluteum, Penicillium oxalicum, Penicillium pinophilium, Penicillium restricum, Penicillium roqueforti, Penicillium simplicissimum, Penicillium verruculosum, Pestalotiopsis microspora, Pullularia pullulans, Sirococcus conigenus, Stagonosporopsis citrulli, Talaromyces islandicus, Thermoascus aurantiacus, Thielavia terrestris, Thyrostroma jaczewskii, Verticillium Lecanii, Verticillium leptobactrum, Xepiculopsis gramineae, Zopfiella karachiensis, Cryptococcus laurentii, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Polyporus circinatus, Pseudozyma antarctica, Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum, Pestalotiopsis microspora, Plectosphaerella sp., Plectosphaerellaceae, Fusarium, Penicillium, Botryotinia, Trichoderma |
| Fungi that can break down polyurethane | Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aspergillus terreus, Engyodontium album, and three other strains of fungi |
| Fungi that can break down polyethylene | None of the 13 fungi could decompose the polyethylene plastic they grew on in Lake Zurich |
| Fungi that can break down polypropylene | Aspergillus terreus, Engyodontium album |
| Fungi that can break down polycaprolactone | 184 fungal strains |
| Fungi that can break down polythene | Alternaria alternata, Alternaria brassicicola, Aspergillus caespitosus, Aspergillus fischeri, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus japonicus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus penicilloides, Aspergillus tubingensis, Aspergillus versicolor, Aureobasidium pullulans, Candida guilliermondii, Chrysonilia setophila, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Colletotrichum fructicola, Curvularia protuberata, Debaryomyces hansenii, Emericellopsis minima, Eupenicillium hirayamae, Eupenicillium rubidurum, Exophiala jeanselmei, Fusarium solani, Gliocladium virens, Guignardia mangiferae, Malbranchea cinnamomea, Monilinia fructicola, Myceliophthora thermophila, Paecilomyces farinosus, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Paecilomyces marquandii, Paecilomyces variotii, Penicillium adametzii, Penicillium argillaceum, Penicillium chermisinum, Penicillium crysosporium, Penicillium dupontii, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium griseofulvum, Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium minioluteum, Penicillium oxalicum, Penicillium pinophilium, Penicillium restricum, Penicillium roqueforti, Penicillium simplicissimum, Penicillium verruculosum, Pestalotiopsis microspora, Pullularia pullulans, Sirococcus conigenus, Stagonosporopsis citrulli, Talaromyces islandicus, Thermoascus aurantiacus, Thielavia terrestris, Thyrostroma jaczewskii, Verticillium Lecanii, Verticillium leptobactrum, Xepiculopsis gramineae, Zopfiella karachiensis, Cryptococcus laurentii, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Polyporus circinatus, Pseudozyma antarctica, Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum, Pestalotiopsis microspora, Plectosphaerella sp., Plectosphaerellaceae, Fusarium, Penicillium, Botryotinia, Trichoderma |
What You'll Learn
Fungi can break down plastic into simpler molecules
Fungi are versatile and can break down almost all substrates. This is due to their production of powerful enzymes, which are excreted and used to break down these complex structures.
The ability of fungi to break down plastic varies depending on the type of plastic and the fungal species. For example, a study found that none of the 13 fungal strains tested could decompose polyethylene plastic, however, four strains could degrade polyurethane.
Fungi can also break down plastic without any pretreatment of the plastic or the presence of sugars, which were previously thought to be essential for priming the degradation process.
The discovery of plastic-degrading fungi is promising for developing new ways to recycle plastic and reduce pollution. However, it is not a comprehensive solution to the growing plastic waste problem, and the most effective way to tackle plastic pollution is to reduce plastic production and the amount of plastic entering the environment.
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Fungi can break down plastic without any pretreatment
The fungi that can break down plastic without any pretreatment include:
- Cladosporium cladosporioides (a soil fungus)
- Two soil fungi
- One plant pathogenic fungus
The study also found that none of the 13 fungi could decompose polyethylene plastic. However, this is still an incredible find, and it is likely that many more fungi are waiting to be discovered.
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Fungi can break down plastic in the absence of sugars
Fungi are incredibly versatile and can break down complex substrates, including plastics. This is due to their production of powerful enzymes, which are excreted and used to break down substrates into simpler molecules that the fungal cells can then absorb.
A study by researchers in Switzerland found that some fungi can break down certain types of plastic, such as polyurethane, without the need for pre-treatment. The researchers collected plastic litter from the shoreline of Lake Zurich and found that four strains of fungi could degrade polyurethane.
Another study, led by researchers at the University of Sydney, found that two common strains of fungi, Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, could successfully biodegrade polypropylene, a hard-to-recycle plastic. This was achieved after the plastic had been pre-treated with either UV light or heat.
Fungi have also been found to break down plastic in the presence of sugars. For example, a study by Khan and Stevenson (2017) found that the fungus Aspergillus tubingensis could successfully colonize plastic surfaces and break down the chemical bonds between the plastic molecules.
Overall, while some fungi can break down plastic in the absence of sugars, pre-treatment of the plastic or the presence of sugars may enhance the degradation process.
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Fungi can break down plastic in a short amount of time
Some fungi can break down plastic in as little as 30 days. For example, two common fungi, Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, were able to break down polypropylene by 21% over 30 days of incubation, and by 25-27% over 90 days.
The speed of degradation depends on the type of plastic and the species of fungi. For example, Cladosporium cladosporioides is the most efficient degrader of polyurethane, while Aspergillus tubingensis can successfully colonise plastic surfaces and break the chemical bonds between plastic molecules.
Fungi can also break down plastics when working in tandem with other methods. For example, biodegradation can be accelerated when combined with photodegradation and thermo-oxidative mechanisms.
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Fungi can break down multiple types of plastic
Another study by researchers at the University of Sydney found that two common strains of fungi, Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, were able to break down polypropylene, a hard-to-recycle plastic. Aspergillus terreus has also been found to break down low-density polyethylene.
A diverse microbiome of bacteria and fungi in salt marshes on the coast of Jiangsu, China, was found to break down polypropylene. In addition, a study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials identified 184 fungal strains capable of breaking down polycaprolactone, a biodegradable polyester commonly used in the production of polyurethanes.
Fungi are able to break down plastic by producing enzymes that break down the plastic into smaller molecules. A study by researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Berlin found that certain microfungi can survive exclusively on plastics, degrading them into simpler forms. Strains of Fusarium, Penicillium, Botryotinia, and Trichoderma, are promising taxa for bioremediation.
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Frequently asked questions
Some fungi can break down polyurethane, polyethylene, and polypropylene.
Fungi secrete enzymes that break down the plastic into smaller molecules.
They have been found in Lake Zurich, Lake Stechlin, and the Yellow Sea Coast.
The most effective way to tackle plastic pollution is to reduce the amount of plastic entering the environment. Fungi are more suitable for controlled environments like sewage treatment plants rather than natural settings.
