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Review on Plastic Waste Disposal and Role of Microorganisms in Bioremediation of Plastics

Review on Plastic Waste Disposal and Role of Microorganisms in Bioremediation of Plastics

Vyshnavi V. Rao (MES College of Arts, Commerce, and Science, India), Sonashree R. (MES College of Arts, Commerce, and Science, India), and Rashmi R. Halbavi (MES College of Arts, Commerce, and Science, India)
Copyright: © 2022 |Pages: 12
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-3714-8.ch025
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Abstract

Plastics are the most commonly used polymers for conventional applications. Plastic wastes accumulating the environment are presenting an ever-increasing ecological threat. Low density polyethylene is major cause of long-term environmental pollution. An eco-friendly approach to resolve this ever-growing persistent menace is bioremediation. The diverse metabolic capability of microbes can be effectively exploited for breakdown of plastic wastes. Another approach is to synthesise biodegradable or organic plastics which is soluble in the natural environment. There are several advantages associated with these biodegradable plastics or plastic degrading microbes. They can be composted with organic wastes and returned to enrich the soil. Their use will not only reduce stress and loss of habitat of wild animals caused by dumping of conventional plastics but will also lessen the labor expenses for the removal of plastic wastes in the environment because they degrade naturally. This review describes bioremediation/biodegradation process, production, types of and advantages of bioplastics.
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Types Of Plastics

Plastics can be broadly classified into two types. These are the two types of plastics widely in use: thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers. Thermoplastics are plastics that do not undergo chemical change in their composition upon heating and can be moulded to any shape repeatedly. While the thermosetting polymers melt upon heating and can be moulded into various shapes. After they are solidified, they retain the same shape and remain solid forever. In the thermosetting process, a chemical reaction occurs which is irreversible. Thermosets are assumed to have infinite molecular weight. These are made of long polymeric chains with repeating molecular units, known as or derivatives of monomers; each polymer chain will have several thousand repeating units. Vulcanization of rubber is one such thermosetting process. The poly-isoprene is a tacky, slightly runny material, before heating with sulphur, but after vulcanization the product is rigid, non-tacky and retains its shape.

There are several other classifications of plastics based on the properties and chemical nature of the monomer units or the parameters that are relevant for manufacturing or production design. Plastics can also be classified depending on various physical properties, such as density, high tensile strength, and resistance to various chemical products.

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