Abstract
The inherent resistance of synthetic plastics to degradation has led to an increasing challenge of waste accumulation problem and created a pollution issue that can only be addressed with novel complementary methods such as biodegradation. Since biocontrol is a promising eco-friendly option to address this challenge, the identification of suitable biological agents is a crucial requirement. Among the existing options, organisms of the Streptomyces genus have been reported to biodegrade several complex polymeric macromolecules such as chitin, lignin, and cellulose. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the potential of Streptomyces strains for the biodegradation of synthetic plastics. The results showed that although Streptomyces strains are widely distributed in different ecosystems in nature, few studies have explored their capacity as degraders of synthetic polymers. Moreover, most of the research in this field has focused on Streptomyces strains with promising biotransforming potential against polyethylene-like polymers. Our findings suggest that this field of study is still in the early stages of development. Moreover, considering the diverse ecological niches associated with Streptomyces, these actinobacteria could serve as complementary agents for plastic waste management and thereby enhance carbon cycle dynamics.
Highlights
Natural and synthetic plastics have replaced numerous materials across industries due to their versatility and overall resistance [1]
1220 studies were excluded because they were not related to synthetic polymer degradation by Streptomyces strains, were not original articles, or did not include access to the full text
Research on biodegradation of synthetic polymers by Streptomyces strains was noticeably less developed than other bioremediation research, and almost all of the existing research and development seemed to be focused on the same polymer, polyethylene
Summary
Natural and synthetic plastics have replaced numerous materials across industries due to their versatility and overall resistance [1]. 2017 [3] and projected to reach 500 million tons by the end of 2020 [4] From this overall production, five plastics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP) [5], stand out for their massive scales of production and consumption. Five plastics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP) [5], stand out for their massive scales of production and consumption This increase in production and demand has led to a rise in waste accumulation, since less than 8 million tons (±2.3% of the global production) of plastic are recycled each year worldwide [3], and these five plastics are especially resistant to environmental degradation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
