CBMA Team Proposes Sustainable Solution for Plastic Pollution

A team from the CBMA has identified yeasts and bacteria capable of degrading plastic, offering a promising sustainable alternative to combat global plastic pollution.

The study, initiated in 2021, formed the basis of João Gomes’ master’s thesis in Applied Biochemistry. Supervised by Raúl Machado and Isabel Soares-Silva, and in partnership with Vizelpas, the research received funding from the European projects Ecobib and River2Ocean.

João Gomes explains, “Plastics are durable and cost-effective but accumulate in the environment, harming ecosystems, the economy, and health.” His research focused on degrading polyethylene, a common and polluting plastic. The study found that Yarrowia lipolytica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa formed biofilms on the plastic surface, producing enzymes that break it down.

Microplastics have been detected in human placenta, breast milk, water, salt, seafood, packaged products, and bottled beverages. Gomes notes, “Biodegradation could involve microorganisms with enzymes that break plastic polymers into carbon dioxide, water, and microbial biomass.” The CBMA team aims to further explore these biological mechanisms and identify other microorganisms to accelerate the degradation process.

Plastic is widely used in various industries, generating millions of tons of waste. Current waste management methods, such as landfill, incineration, and recycling, are costly, highlighting the need for new treatment technologies.