Plastic Degradation: Challenges and Alternatives

Vasudha Agnihotri, Sunil Nautiyal

Abstract


Plastic products have become an integral part of human life due to their durability, strength and low cost. Due to their slow degradation properties, plastic waste has been highlighted as a major polluter on the earth. High density and low-density polyethylene (HDPE and LDPE), polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are some of the commonly used petroleum-based plastics. Worldwide, research efforts are being carried out for resolving the issues of plastic pollution, and for providing the eco-friendly and economically viable options. Government of India is dedicated towards resolving this issue which is evident from the fact that the concerns of plastic pollution were raised during 15 episodes of the Prime Minister’s Man ki Baat. Scientific research is progressing towards discovering the environmentally sound and economically viable processes for degradation of plastic pollution. Both abiotic and biotic processes have been suggested to promote the degradation of plastic waste, if it is treated under controlled conditions. In India number of research publications on plastic degradation has increased significantly after 2019, and the country rank at second position in terms of research on plastic degradation. In this systematic review, we present the current state of scientific knowledge on plastic degradation and available opportunities for development of economically viable solution towards plastic degradation using microbes, enzymes, chemical, and plants.

Keywords


Plastic degradation, Microbes, Enzymes, Bioplastic, Phytoremediation, Himalaya

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