Effect of different bacteria on the biodegradation of polyurethane

Polyurethane has been used and over-exploited worldwide in the manufacture of different goods, but it is hard to break down and represents an important contaminant due to its accumulation when discarded. Recent research findings have shown that several bacteria and their enzymes can biodegrade various plastics, such as polyurethane. In this review, we sought to group, analyze, and relate the techniques used by different bacterial species to biodegrade polyurethane that have been identified in different studies by searching databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Different species of proteobacteria, actinobacteria, and endobacteria biodegrade polyurethane by oxidation and hydrolysis to obtain carbon and nitrogen sources. Changes as weight loss, tensile strength, and chemical and surface changes were observed in polymer properties, showing that biological technologies have a direct impact on polyurethane by modifying the molecule in different ways.