https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.

gov/pmc/articles/PMC8669999/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780323898584/
biodegradability-of-conventional-plastics
file:///C:/Users/Student/Downloads/
Microbialdegradationofpolyethyleneterephthalateasystematic.pdf
https://github.com/csimha/DMD_solid_R0
https://github.com/S-neha68/RECYCLE-STATION

Title Page:
 Title of the Paper
 Author(s) Name(s)
 Institutional Affiliation(s)
 Running Head (a shortened version of the title)
 Abstract:
 A brief summary of the research, including the purpose, methods, results, and
conclusions. It is usually around 150-250 words.
 Keywords:
 A list of relevant keywords or phrases that highlight the main topics of the
paper.
 Introduction:
 Background and context of the study
 Statement of the problem or research question
 Objectives or hypotheses of the study
 Significance or importance of the research
 Literature Review:
 Review of relevant literature and previous research on the topic
 Identification of gaps in the existing knowledge
 Justification for the current study in relation to previous research
 Methodology:
 Description of the research design and methods used
 Participants or subjects
 Data collection procedures
 Statistical analyses, if applicable
 Results:
 Presentation of the findings, often using tables, figures, and graphs
 Objective reporting of the results without interpretation
 Discussion:
 Interpretation of the results
 Comparison with previous research
  Implications of the findings
 Limitations of the study
 Suggestions for future research
 Conclusion:
 Summary of the main findings
 Concluding remarks
 References:
 A list of all the sources cited in the paper, following a specific citation style
(e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago)
 Appendices (if applicable):
 Additional materials such as questionnaires, data sets, or other supplementary
information.

Engineering of PETase

In 2016 Yoshida et al. published a report about the newly isolated

bacterium Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 that was able to use PET as its
major carbon and energy source

Worldwide plastic production reached 348 million metric tons in

2017, and this number increases annually by ∼5%

The global production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is

estimated to reach 87.16 million metric tons by 2022. After a single
use, a remarkable part of PET is accumulated in the natural
environment as plastic waste. Due to high hydrophobicity and high
molecular weight, PET is hardly biodegraded by wild-type
microorganisms. To solve the global problem of uncontrolled
pollution by PET, the degradation of plastic by genetically modified
microorganisms has become a promising alternative for the plastic
circular economy
PET is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic that is widely used for
packaging foods and beverages, especially convenience-sized soft
drinks, juices and water. Virtually all single-serving and 2-liter bottles
of carbonated soft drinks and water sold in the U.S. are made from
PET.
Polyethylene Terephthalate, commonly known as PET, is a type of
polymer belonging to the polyester family. It is a thermoplastic
polymer resin of the polyester class and is widely used for various
applications. Here are some key characteristics and uses of PET:
Packaging: PET is most commonly associated with packaging
materials, particularly for beverage bottles (water, soft drinks, juices)
and food containers. It is preferred for its transparency, lightweight,
and recyclability.
Textile Industry: PET is also used in the textile industry to produce
synthetic fibers for clothing, carpets, and other fabrics. Polyester
fabrics are known for their durability and resistance to stretching and
shrinking.
Engineering Applications: Due to its strength, PET is sometimes used
in engineering applications, such as for making gears, bearings, and
other precision parts.
Electronics: PET films are used in the electronics industry for
applications like flexible printed circuits and insulation for electrical
components.
Medical Applications: PET is used in the medical field for items like
medical textiles, implant materials, and some disposable medical
devices.
Recyclability: PET is highly recyclable, and recycled PET (rPET) is
commonly used to produce new PET products, reducing the
environmental impact of plastic waste.
It's worth noting that while PET is recyclable, proper recycling
practices and infrastructure are essential to make the recycling
process effective. The recycling code for PET is "1."
The focus is on mutations introduced to the enzymes of the hydrolase
class—PETase, MHETase and cutinase—which in the last few years
have attracted growing interest for the PET degradation processes.

Biodegradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET can be degraded into mono-

(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (MHET), bis-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET)
and ethylene glycol (EG) by PETase. MHET can later be hydrolysed to terephthalic acid
(TPA) and EG by MHETase. TPA and EG can be further transported into the cell and
converted to protocatechuic acid (PCA) and subsequently integrated into cellular
metabolisms via the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA).
**********************************************************************************

PETase Ideonella PET Plasmid: ⁃R61A: mutagene Ma et al.

sakaiensis pET28a; 1.6 fold sis of six
Host: E. ⁃L88F: key
coli BL21 2.0 fold residues
(DE3) ⁃I179F: around
15.0 fold a the
substrate-
binding
groove in
order to:
 create
space
around
the active
site;
increase
the
hydropho
bicity of
the amino
acids
around
the active
site;
improve
the
affinity of
the amino
acids
around
the active
site for
PET
Conclusion

As the production of plastics is still increasing, enzymatic hydrolysis of

PET and other plastic is gaining importance and interest from
researchers. This way of degradation of plastic is evaluated as an
environmentally friendly, novel strategy for the recycling of post-
consumer plastic materials. Thus, in order to better adapt the enzymes
to synthetic polymers, the use of genetic engineering may be a key to
solving the plastic pollution problem. However, the engineering of
novel hydrolases exhibiting highly efficient and specific catalytic
properties towards PET materials remains a challenge. All findings
presented above may provide further options to obtain effective
enzymes for biocatalytic plastic recycling processes.
Microorganisms isolated from cold environment with capability for degradation of
plastic
Microorganism Source Plastic References
Shewanella, Deep-sea sediment, PCL Sekiguchi et al.
 Moritella sp.,
the Kurile and Japan
Psychrobacter sp., (2010)
Trenches
Pseudomonas sp.
Vibrio alginolyticus, Benthic zones of
Vibrio marine PVA-LLDPE Raghul et al. (2014)
parahemolyticus environments
Pseudomonas sp., PCL, commercial
Clonostachys rosea, available bag based Urbanek et al.
The Arctic soil
Trichoderma sp., on potato and corn (2017)
Rhodococcus sp. starch
Zalerion maritimum Marine environment PE Paco et al. (2017)
Kovalam coast—off
Aspergillus the Bay of Bengal,
Pramila and Vijaya
versicolor, 500 m away from LDPE
Ramesh (2011)
Aspergillus sp. shore at the depth
of 5 m
Deep seawater of
Tottori Prefecture Sekiguchi et al.
Pseudomonas sp. PCL
and offshore in (2009)
Toyama bay
Pseudomonas sp.,
Monofilament fibers Sekiguchi et al.
Alcanivorax sp., Deep seawater
of PCL, PHB/V, PBS (2011)
Tenacibaculum sp.

environmental impact of plastic waste

Pollution has become a major environmental concern in recent years. An

environmentally friendly atmosphere is critical for a healthy society. Plastic garbage
is dumped directly into the environment by various industries, including automotive,
textiles, power plants, and many more. These plastic/synthetic wastes emit various
toxic gases into the environment, posing a serious threat to humankind. As a result of
this environmental influence, many airborne infections have emerged and pose a
health risk. Life cycle assessment is especially crucial for analyzing the recycling
process of plastic waste. This chapter sheds light on what happens to the plastics we
throw out, how a piece of waste travels from the land to an aquatic ecosystem, and
most importantly, the environmental impacts of various plastic products.

Composition, properties and other factors influencing plastics

biodegradability
Plastic litter has become increasingly abundant in the environment, with entire
products and fragments found worldwide in practically all environmental matrices.
The global oceans are especially exposed to plastic debris, as they are natural sinks
for pollution. A proportion of land-based plastic materials find their way to the
marine environment. As part of the work toward a solution to the increasing
amounts of plastic litter, interest in plastic biodegradation processes has grown. This
plastic litter is subjected to various extrinsic environmental conditions (e.g.,
temperature, moisture, pH, salinity, oxygen concentration, UV exposure, microbial
community structure, and variations in mechanical energy) to influence its
biodegradation potential and the rate at which that biodegradation takes place.
Plastics comprise a wide range of polymers with distinct intrinsic physical and
chemical properties (polymer type, crystallinity, molecular weight, morphology,
additive chemical content, and composition) that significantly influence their
susceptibility to particular degradation mechanisms, including biodegradation. As a
result of large variations in these intrinsic and extrinsic parameters, the
biodegradation and biodegradability of plastics within the natural environment is a
complex process not conducive to a simple or generic description. Despite a steadily
increasing research focus on plastic biodegradation, much remains unknown about
the interactions among microorganisms, environments, and plastic materials. This
chapter provides an overview of biodegradation mechanisms. It combines this with
current knowledge about the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters that influence plastic
biodegradability, emphasizing biodegradation in the marine environment. Topics for
further research and development are also highlighted.

Bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, and degradation in natural

environments

The widespread manufacturing of traditional plastics and their use in various

commercial applications endangers both fossil fuel sources and the environment.
Bioplastics have emerged from the development of renewable resources to provide
sustainable solutions. These polymers are more acceptable than conventional plastics
because they use renewable resources such as agricultural wastes (rather than
petroleum sources) and are biodegradable under various conditions. The physical
and chemical structure of bioplastics significantly affects their biodegradability, and
their environment plays a critical role in their biodegradation. This study
summarizes recent discoveries related to bioplastic biodegradation under diverse
settings, environmental circumstances, and degrees of biodegradation.

Biodegradability and current status of polyethylene terephthalate

The widespread global acceptance of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in our daily
lives can be attributed primarily to its remarkable strength, high recyclability
potential, and established compatibility with human foods, medicines, and other
consumer products. As with other conventional plastics, the accumulation of PET
polymer wastes puts immense pressure on the already fragile planet due to their
recalcitrant nature. To this end, substantial effort has been made to promote PET
biodegradation by various microbes and their enzymes. This chapter reviews recent
research and advancements in enhancing PET biodegradation and improving its
functionalities to suit current environmental realities. In this regard, the roles of
actinomycetes, algae, bacteria, and fungi in PET degradation are elucidated with a
special focus on Ideonella sakaiensis, the model PET biodegrader. Also accentuated
is the central function of various PET-hydrolyzing enzymes (the carboxylic ester
hydrolases) in degradation. In addition, the significance of PET biodegradation in the
circular bioeconomy and some specific progress made in PET research are also
discussed.

Utilization of chemical additives to enhance biodegradability of

plastics

The harmful environmental impacts of single-use plastics are reported daily from
every corner of the world. Single-use plastic wrappings and supplementary
throwaway plastics derived from petro-based sources constantly accumulate in
landfills and escape into the environment. Managing plastic waste is a matter of
concern for the environment; biodegradable plastics can alleviate some of these
issues. “Oxo-degradable” or “oxo-biodegradable” plastics are typical plastics with
additives to support the oxidation of plastics to embrittlement and small
fragmentation to facilitate microbial biodegradation at variable speeds according to
the surroundings. It has been argued for quite some time whether chemical additives
operate in the manner described by producers, damage the environment, and make
plastics recycling more efficient and convenient. Because of these uncertain reports,
the European Union parliament planned a complete ban on “oxo-degradable”
plastics for the entire EU in 2014. This move was stopped midway through 2015, and
a resolution was adopted to scrutinize the after-effects on the environment from
using oxo-degradable plastics. This chapter focuses on incorporating chemical
additives to enable biodegradability in plastic articles formed from polymeric
materials. The outcome of using biodegradation-promoting additives is also
discussed.

the role of nanomaterials in plastics biodegradability

Plastic debris has been a most challenging task this century due to its extensive
application and nonbiodegradability, causing serious concern for marine organisms,
habitats, and ecosystems. Plastics resist degradation, as they possess a large number
of hydrocarbon units with high molecular mass. Plastics are dumped into the
environment by several modes, such as industrial waste, construction, packaging,
and many household activities, that continuously increase the concentration and
accumulation of plastic debris. Subsequently, these plastics are converted into
smaller plastics (micro or nano) and further cocontaminated with pollutants that
decrease the water absorbance ability of soil, leading to soil infertility. Furthermore,
due to the inertness and nonbiodegradability of plastic, its treatment and disposal is
the main problem in urban solid waste management. These particles of plastic
further enter into the ecosystem through the food chain, threatening human and
aquatic biotic systems. Therefore, accurate assessments of toxicity and degradation
of plastic debris for environmental protection and the toxic effects on biota are
necessary. To resolve this problem, numerous methods have been used for plastic
degradation. Out of them, conventional methods have a limitation as it creates
secondary pollution in the degradation process of plastic waste. Meanwhile,
degradation techniques are highly demanding for effective implementation for
degradation. Here, nanotechnology and green chemistry play a role in plastic
degradation using nanoparticles. These catalysts have great physicochemical stability
and enhance plastic degradation with their excellent properties like high surface area
and more porosity. The present chapter discusses in depth the applicability of
numerous nanoparticles for the degradation of plastic. This chapter also gives an
idea about various Factors affecting plastic degradation and metabolic pathways
including past and present scenarios. Further, it demonstrates the generation of
microplastics from bioplastics and defines the missing links, challenges, and
recommendations for future implications

RECYCLE-STATION
Our team Eco-odyssey aspires to provide an impactful community-based online
platform that can also drive initiatives to volunteer, raise awareness, and promotes
activities that can aid in educating waste pickers and the general public about online
waste collection, recycling, and the environment. Today, every city is dealing with a
garbage crisis; piles of garbage on roads are a common sight, and waste is
everywhere, in the form of rotting mounds that litter our environment, damage and
contaminate our water bodies, rivers, and lakes. Can we, as individuals and as a
society, lessen the impact of this expanding threat? What if we collect and
donate/sell almost every recyclable thing in our home, from empty milk packets,
shampoo bottles, pens, clothes, etc., and compost the organic waste. To tackle this
nuisance, we are endeavouring to build an online platform that will connect every
household across cities and towns with waste pickers and rag pickers who will
collaborate with waste management vendors, recycling units, and manufacturing
factories. The online website aims to provide customers with a hassle-free online
pickup of waste materials at their convenience on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
All a user has to do is go to the website and register and schedule a pickup time and
slot for recyclable items. Once a slot is confirmed, an agent will come to the
designated location at the scheduled time. Based on the weight and type of recyclable
waste, customers can obtain points, cash coupons and, on successful redemption of
those points, they are given plants, saplings, and earthen pots. This will not only
encourage people to go green and keep our roads and lanes litter-free, but will also
reduce greenhouse gas such as carbon dioxide and methane. Furthermore, this will
also improve the condition of waste pickers and rag pickers who are often overlooked
and are not paid well for their work, this platform will not only facilitate proper waste
segregation and recycling through them but also generate ample employment in their
community. Producing goods from recycled materials consumes less energy, fewer
natural resources and reduces demand for raw material. Recycling result in fewer
fossil fuels being burned and fewer greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to
climate change. Energy is used in all the 4 stages of product development: extraction
of raw materials, manufacture of raw materials into products, product use by
consumers and product disposal. Removing any one of these steps by recycling can
save large amount of energy. Biodegradable and other organic wastes are frequently
dumped into landfills, where they become trapped with non-biodegradable wastes,
resulting in anaerobic decomposition and methane production. Recycling 42 million
tonnes of paper not only reduces water pollution and air pollutants by 73% but also
saves 714 million of trees. Recycling plastic, glass, metals, and fabrics can also help to
decrease water consumption, deforestation, and CO2 emissions. This shows the
importance of recycling in today’s world if we want to leave this planet for our future
generations.