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Study of microbes having potentiality for biodegradation of plastics

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Abstract

Plastic is a broad name given to the different types of organic polymers having high molecular weight and is commonly derived from different petrochemicals. Plastics are generally not biodegradable or few are degradable but in a very slow rate. Day by day, the global demand of these polymers is sharply increasing; however, considering their abundance and potentiality in causing different environmental hazards, there is a great concern in the possible methods of degradation of plastics. Recently, there have been some debates at the world stage about the potential degradation procedures of these synthetic polymers and microbial degradation has emerged as one of the potential alternative ways of degradation of plastics. Alternatively, some scientists have also reported many adverse effects of these polymers in human health, and thus, there is an immediate need of a potential screening of some potential microbes to degrade these synthetic polymers. In this review, we have taken an attempt to accumulate all information regarding the chemical nature along with some potential microbes and their enzymatic nature of biodegradation of plastics along with some key factors that affect their biodegradability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mycopathology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, P.O. Rahara, Kolkata, 700118, West Bengal, India

    Swapan Kumar Ghosh, Sujoy Pal & Sumanta Ray

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  1. Swapan Kumar Ghosh
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  2. Sujoy Pal
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  3. Sumanta Ray
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Correspondence to Swapan Kumar Ghosh.

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Ghosh, S.K., Pal, S. & Ray, S. Study of microbes having potentiality for biodegradation of plastics. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20, 4339–4355 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1706-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-1706-x

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