Scientists hope discovery of “supercook” gut enzyme could transform plastic recycling
According to researchers, a kind of plastic-flavored insect larvae could help revolutionize recycling.
Australian scientists have discovered that Zophobas morio, commonly known as a supercook, can survive on a polystyrene diet.
They believe that beetle larvae digest plastic through an intestinal enzyme.
This could be important for advances in recycling, says one of the study’s authors.
“Supercooks are like mini recycling plants, crushing polystyrene with your mouth and then feeding it to the bacteria in your gut,” said Dr. Chris Rinke.
The University of Queensland team fed three groups of supercooks on different diets for three weeks. The batch that ate polystyrene even gained weight.
The team found that several enzymes in the gut of the worm have the ability to degrade polystyrene and styrene. Both are common in takeaway containers and other items such as insulation and car parts.
But research is unlikely to lead to massive worm farms operating as recycling plants.
Instead, they hope to identify which enzyme is most effective so that it can be reproduced on a scale for recycling.
The plastic would then be mechanically crushed, before being treated with the enzyme, said research published in Microbial Genomics.
“The degradation products of this reaction can be used by other microbes to create high-value compounds such as bioplastics,” Dr. Rinke said.
Research has previously shown that some types of beetle larvae can consume polystyrene.
But that study goes a step further, says Australian National University researcher Colin Jackson, who did not participate in the study.
“This study goes a long way toward understanding how bacteria are introduced [the superworms’] the gut does it on a molecular level, “Professor Jackson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“[That’s] important for the translation and use of this type of approach in recycling “.
Internationally, other researchers have been successful in using bacteria and fungi to break down plastics.
The story goes on
But some are wondering if these techniques will ever be commercially viable.
“Expanding and translating research like this is always a challenge, which is magnified in the area of plastics by the incredible scale of the problem and the economy in terms of how cheap it is to produce new plastic.” said Professor Jackson.