Biodegradation of polypropylene by Paenibacillus sp. and Aeromonas sp. isolated from the Mojo Mangrove Forest Essential Ecosystem Area, Indonesia.
Wahyuningsih C, Zainuri M, Ismanto A, Indarjo A, Kusumaningrum HP
Microplastic Remediation
Microplastic fragments washing through the soil and water around mangroves and coastal gardens are already entering the root zones and food webs of the plants and wildlife you care about — and these bacteria hint at a future where we can biologically clean that up.
Researchers collected water and soil samples from a mangrove forest in Indonesia and found two types of bacteria that can slowly eat away at polypropylene, the plastic used in food containers, straws, and packaging. Over roughly 200 days, the bacteria broke down about 5–6% of the plastic by releasing special digestive enzymes, leaving behind visible cracks and chemical changes on the plastic's surface. It's a small percentage, but it confirms that nature has already started evolving tools to fight plastic pollution — and scientists can now try to speed that process up.
Key Findings
Paenibacillus sp. degraded 6.41% of polypropylene with a half-life of ~228 days; Aeromonas sp. degraded 5.22% with a half-life of ~282 days
Both bacteria secreted plastic-attacking enzymes (esterase at 21.6 U/mL, lipase at 12.9 U/mL, cutinase at 28.1 U/mL), confirmed by lab assays
FTIR and electron microscopy confirmed real chemical breakdown — carbonyl group formation and surface cracking — not just surface fouling
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists isolated two bacteria from an Indonesian mangrove forest that can partially break down polypropylene plastic — one of the world's most common plastics — offering a potential biological tool for tackling microplastic pollution in coastal ecosystems.
Abstract Preview
Polypropylene (PP) is a polymer used in various industries because it is lightweight, durable, and easy to process. The presence of polypropylene in aquatic environments will fragment into sizes of...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Urban Tree Canopy Reduces Heat-Related Mortality by 39% in European Cities
Trees in your local park or street aren't just pretty — they are literally keeping people alive during heatwaves, and planting even a modest number of the ri...
A mangrove is a shrub or tree that grows mainly in coastal saline or brackish water. Mangroves grow in an equatorial climate, typically along coastlines and tidal rivers. They have particular adaptations to take in extra oxygen and remove salt, allowing them to tolerate conditions that kill most ...