Nanotechnology in Plastic Degradation

Abstract

Plastics pose a huge threat to the environment. Plastic accumulation in the land and the seas is now the world’s most terrorising problem, mainly because of its non-degrading character. Plastic degradation has always been a next to impossible concept in the field of science, but nanotechnology provides a revolutionary and modern way to solve the problem of plastic accumulation in the environment. One of the great advantages of nanoparticles is that we can increase and decrease the rate of biodegradation depending on our needs. Nanoparticles enhance the polythene degradation capacity of the microorganisms by altering their metabolic cycles. Numerous studies showed conclusively that the incorporation of nanotechnology enhances the ability of microorganisms to degrade polythene materials. Even though bio degradable plastics are nowadays produced in large quantities to substitute polythene materials, they fail to match the brittleness of plastics. Biodegradable plastics have poor thermal, mechanical and low gas barrier qualities, which are their main drawbacks. To overcome this, nanoparticles are incorporated into the biopolymers. If an appropriate balance between nanotechnology, microbiology and biotechnology is found, plastic degradation can be done economically and feasibly in all the areas.