Students discover fungus that loves to eat plastic


plactic has become the major problem for us as it is in-biodegradable so cause the pollution. It is the main cause of pollution,as plastic does not breakdown on a reasonable timescale. so need a quick solution for it , otherwise it may hamper our world indirectly or may be directly !!!






And here is the sucess!!

Students from Yale discovered a new type of fungus, called Pestalotiopsis microspora, while on aRainforest Expedition and Laboratory trip to the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador. While there, the students were tasked with collecting microorganism and plant cell samples, and the fungus became one such sample.

When the students returned, it was discovered this fungus loves eating plastic, more specificallypolyurethane, which we use millions of tons of every year. Popular uses include foam for inside furniture, building insulation and flooring, as a sealant, varnish, or paint, for making surfboards and inflatable boats, and it even gets used to make watch straps and garden hoses.

The fungus is able to grow on polyurethane in both oxygen-filled and oxygen-free environments. It then breaks the plastic down into liquid or solid forms. And because it doesn’t require oxygen to eat, it’s possible Pestalotiopsis microspora could work at biodegrading the plastic buried deep within our landfills around the world. It could also provide a new solution for dealing with plastic before it reaches the landfill.


World consumption of plastics, 2005-2015, and Europe
In thousands of metric tons
PlasticsWorld 2005AARG W %World 2015Europe 2005AARGEU %Europe 2015
Commodity1893506,3349350428702,655425
PVC29000443000700017700
PELD /LLD390005630007600310200
PEHD28600547000640027800
PP42000101090009500414000
PS12000316000275013000
EPS370067500127031700
ABS690051130085021030
Other styrenics & alloys800513001503200
PET bottles85001022000250054000
PET films and other2250330005002610
PUR10800517600290023500
PMMA1200519503501390
UP2500437007002850
Thermoset moldings1000415001501170
Epoxy1100315002501275
Engineering68807,71439019904,53100
PA25007490075041100
PC, including in alloys26009620070061250
POM760715002204320
PBT PET670713202204320
PPE PPO35034701001110
Specialty2657,2529802,6103
PTFE80310735139
Other FP, PVDF4078011213
PPS65814015320
PSU22743638
PES, PPSU111028355
LCP2712845710
PAEK PEEK295182
PEI111028263
PI6712253
Other specialty172
Source: Updated estimates from Pardos Marketing, from study Plastics in the world 2005-2015
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