Researchers identified bacterium able to recycle polyethylene
Specialists from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research have discovered a bacterium that can process polyethylene, and this discovery can be used in programmes to clean up the seas, Lenta.ru reports
A bacterium called Rhodococcus ruber eats and actually digests plastic. As part of the experiment, microorganisms in seawater under ultraviolet light (replacing solar light) were fed a specially made polymer. Bacteria formed a biofilm on the surface of the water and plastic began to decompose there.
Scientists have calculated that the bacterium will be able to break down about 1 percent of polyethylene per year into CO2 and other harmless substances. However, Rhodococcus ruber is certainly not a solution to the problem of the plastic soup in our oceans, although it could potentially be very useful. The researchers underline that more testing in vivo is needed.
