Contents
ix
6.7.3
Temperature and pH
90
6.7.4
Organic Matter
91
6.8
Future Perspectives
91
References
91
7
Bioremediation of Plastics and Polythene in Marine Water
95
Tarun Gangar and Sanjukta Patra
7.1
Introduction
95
7.2
Plastic Pollution: A Threat to the Marine Ecosystem
96
7.3
Micro- and Nanoplastics
96
7.3.1
Microplastics
97
7.3.1.1
Toxicity of Microplastics
98
7.3.2
Nanoplastics
99
7.4
Microbes Involved in the Degradation of Plastic and Related
Polymers
99
7.4.1
Biodegradation of Plastic
99
7.4.1.1
Polyethylene (PE)
100
7.4.1.2
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
101
7.4.1.3
Polystyrene (PS)
101
7.5
Enzymes Responsible for Biodegradation
101
7.6
Mechanism of Biodegradation
102
7.6.1
Formation of Biofilm
102
7.6.2
Biodeterioration
103
7.6.3
Biofragmentation
103
7.6.4
Assimilation
103
7.6.5
Mineralization
104
7.7
Biotechnology in Plastic Bioremediation
104
7.8
Future Perspectives: Development of More Refined Bioremediation
Technologies as a Step Toward Zero Waste Strategy
106
Acknowledgment
106
Conflict of Interest
107
References
107
Part III
Biological Degradation Systems
111
8
Microbes and their Consortia as Essential Additives for the
Composting of Solid Waste
113
Mansi Rastogi and Sheetal Barapatre
8.1
Introduction
113
8.2
Classification of Solid Waste
113
8.3
Role of Microbes in Composting
114
8.4
Effect of Microbial Consortia on Solid Waste Composting
116
8.5
Benefits of Microbe-Amended Compost
119
References
119