Indian Journal of Advances in Chemical Science, Volume: 9, Issue : 4, December 2021

ISSN No.: 2320-0898 (Print); 2320-0928 (Electronic)

DOI: 10.22607/IJACS.2021.904032

Review Article

Role of Ideonella sakaiensis in Reducing Plastic Waste: Current Updates and Future Prospect

Shadma Khan, Nidhi Mishra, Laiba Siddiqui, Madhurima Tiwari*

ABSTRACT

Plastic is a non-biodegradable material which does not leave the face of our planet earth. Its non-biodegradability and durability make it almost impossible to degrade biologically. On an average 1 million plastic drinking bottles are purchased per minute throughout the globe. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most widely used plastics which is used in the production of drinking bottles. Continuous efforts are being made to bring down the total plastic waste accumulation by either recycling or by chemical degradation, methanolysis, ammonolysis in laboratories, and in industries but these processes are not only time taking but are also cost ineffective and require a lot of labor and expertise in handling the chemicals. Alternatively, bio catalytic degradation can be applied as an eco-friendly alternative to degrade plastic. A bacteria named, Ideonella sakaiensis was reported that is capable of consuming and can breaking down plastic specifically, PET as an energy source and sole carbon. It consists of two enzymes which can degrade PET, PET hydrolase, and MHET hydrolase. It can prove as an excellent alternative for bioremediation of already accumulated plastic waste worldwide. Bacteria, I. sakaiensis could be considered as a great weapon in the efforts for sustainable development that are underway worldwide. The aim of our review is to highlight the importance of I. sakaiensis which can help in enzymatic plastic degradation.

Key words: Bacteria, Plastic accumulation, Polyethylene terephthalate, Non-biodegradable, Sustainability, Durability, Ideonella sakaiensis.

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