Bioremediation Techniques of Microplastic Waste Management

Abstract

Plastics’ unique physical and chemical properties have rendered them indispensable components of modern life and technology. Plastic waste does not easily break down in the environment, and the process of decomposition is slow. These plastics undergo fragmentation into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs). The slow degradation rate of MPs contributes to their pervasive contamination across various environmental ecosystems, including terrestrial and aquatic systems, posing detrimental effects on both ecosystems and human health. Among plastic pollutants, microplastics, which are plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, have gained attention because of their potential harm to living organisms. This chapter explains different types of plastics, their properties, and factors that affect how they degrade. It discusses how organisms interact with microplastics and the harmful effects these particles have on living beings. To manage plastic waste, various disposal methods, such as incineration, landfilling, recycling, and transformation, have been globally implemented. However, due to their harmful effects, the utilization of bacterial, fungal, and microalgal strains for the elimination of environmental microplastics through eco-friendly bioremediation techniques has proven highly effective. Bioremediation and biodegradation are explicated herein. Additionally, new methods for biodegradation, like enzyme-based techniques, are being introduced. Certain types of fungi and bacteria, along with their enzymes, such as oxidoreductases and hydrolases, play a significant role in breaking down plastics. This chapter emphasizes diverse bioremediation techniques and their underlying mechanisms, as well as successful biotechnological strategies, including biostimulation, bioaugmentation, and enzymatic biodegradation, which are crucial for enhancing the efficacy of microplastics degradation in contaminated environments. The use of microbial communities and specially modified microorganisms with their enzymes are also effective ways to manage plastic pollution. © 2025 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.