Plastic degrading bacteria Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 isolated

Japanese researchers have successfully isolated a bacterium species Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 capable of breaking down plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyester.
Their results were published in the journal Science.
Key facts

  • Ideonella sakaiensis relies on PET film as a primary source of carbon for growth. It is capable of completely degrading a thin film of PET in a short span of six weeks at 30°C.
  • The bacterium species uses two enzymes in sequence to break down the highly biodegradable-resistant polymer PET.
  • First enzyme helps the bacterium to adhere to the PET and produce an intermediate substance through process of hydrolysis.
  • The second enzyme then works with water and acts on this intermediate substance. It produces the 2 monomers ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid that are used for making PET through polymerisation.
  • Applications: The bacteria could potentially be used in industrial recycling processes without having any adverse impact on the environment. It can replace or augment the current mechanical recycling plastic process.

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4 Comments

  1. Manash Gogoi

    March 11, 2016 at 10:49 pm

    Truly commendable..great discovery..like this if chemist discover a gas which can combine or react with green house gases and form environment friendly gases..then it will be the ultimate discover for mankind

    Reply
  2. Manash Gogoi

    March 11, 2016 at 10:49 pm

    Truly commendable..great discovery..like this if chemist discover a gas which can combine or react with green house gases and form environment friendly gases..then it will be the ultimate discover for mankind

    Reply
  3. Sakaiensis

    April 1, 2016 at 12:48 am

    let eat all plastic avaiable in the planet till it became to be a plage , then our civilizacion will be reborn.

    Reply
  4. Sakaiensis

    April 1, 2016 at 12:48 am

    let eat all plastic avaiable in the planet till it became to be a plage , then our civilizacion will be reborn.

    Reply

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