EBA Bio-Degradable Plastic in Ocean & Marine Debris

 

Marine debris challenge facing International Committee, such challenge is majorly surrounding the presence of plastic in marine environment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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However, can micro-organisms bio-degrade the normal plastic ? Yes, there was an announcement being published on 5th International Marine Debris Conference in March 2011. The Marine Microbiologist examined bits of fishing line, a plastic line from the Sargasso Sea, scanning through electron microscopy and revealed the bacteria like cells living in pits in the plastic, as they were eating the surface away and became inhabitants. But this process will takes long time, as the strong & stability of normal polymers structure. There are various different bacteria which could consume plastic polymers such as polyethylene ( PE ) and polypropylene ( PP ) and others, to date over 600 different species of microorganisms can consume plastic and ultimately allow for biodegradation ( slow process and takes long time ) of the plastic articles.

Vabrio bacteria are mirco bacteria which are found mainly in seawater at temperate and tropical temperatures. They are also found in sewage treatment plants. Vibrio are rod-shaped, straight or curved. They are motile organisms, using polar flagellum. Some vibrio bacteria are bioluminescent.

The Vabrio undergo biodegradability of plastic by both respiratory and fermentative metabolism a heterotrophic organism obtaining most of their meals by mutualistic or parasitic relationships with other organisms. They reproduce by asexual division and are rapid growing bacteria.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What happens if Bio-Degradable Plastic in Ocean ?

Biodegradation mechanisms allows for vibrio to consume polyethylene at a faster rate when these bacteria types are around the plastic that has been treated with EBA Additives. Can vibrio bacteria help and converted all bio-degradable plastic into methane, CO2 and biomass, further study on this is required ? As the conditions in Ocean and Landfill are totally different, floating and diluting the decomposed compounds, the acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis processes may not be occurred in Ocean.

 

Disappearing Marine Debris

 

Plastic eating bacteria might help explain why the amount of debris in the ocean has levelled off, despite continued pollution. But researchers don't yet know whether the digestion produces harmless by-products, or whether it might introduce toxins into the ocean food chain.

Plastics contain toxins such as phthalates, and also absorb additional toxic chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants from the ocean. Those chemicals could leach out into the microscopic animals that eat the bacteria, or broken down microscopic plastic particles, then passes up the food chain and potentially come back to haunt us."

Therefore, finally marine debris should be captured from the waste origin, addresses on the education, prevention, reduction and waste management on land-based source.

 

 

 

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*Reference :

Marine Debris as a Global Environmental Problem

5th International Marine Debris Conference – Summary Proceeding

Nature Works Discovered Microbes Found on Ocean Plastic

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