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Review
. 2023 Dec;8(12):2253-2276.
doi: 10.1038/s41564-023-01529-1. Epub 2023 Nov 29.

Sustainable production and degradation of plastics using microbes

So Young Choi #  1   2   3 , Youngjoon Lee #  1   2   3 , Hye Eun Yu  1   2 , In Jin Cho  1   2   3 , Minju Kang  1   2 , Sang Yup Lee  4   5   6   7   8
Affiliations
Review

Sustainable production and degradation of plastics using microbes

So Young Choi et al. Nat Microbiol. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Plastics are indispensable in everyday life and industry, but the environmental impact of plastic waste on ecosystems and human health is a huge concern. Microbial biotechnology offers sustainable routes to plastic production and waste management. Bacteria and fungi can produce plastics, as well as their constituent monomers, from renewable biomass, such as crops, agricultural residues, wood and organic waste. Bacteria and fungi can also degrade plastics. We review state-of-the-art microbial technologies for sustainable production and degradation of bio-based plastics and highlight the potential contributions of microorganisms to a circular economy for plastics.

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References

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