The global plastic crisis, a problem that It takes centuries to degradeI could find an unexpected ally in the world of insects. A team of scientists He has revealed how the caterpillars of the wax worm (Galleria Mellonella) are able to devour and metabolize polyethylene, The most common plastic in the worldat an amazing speed. However, they have a deadly cost for them.
A decomposition that is not perfect. The investigation, presented at the Annual Conference of the Experimental Biology Societyreveals that these caterpillars, nicknamed “plastivorous”, not only chew the plastic, but that they decompose metabolically and make it an body fat in a matter of days. The most shocking data: some 2,000 caterpillars can end a standard polyethylene bag in just 24 hours.
The problem of the plastic diet. Polyethylene is the plastic that we find in purchase bags, containers and endless daily use products. His chemical resistance makes it incredibly durable and, therefore, A persistent contaminant. The finding that a living being can decompose it naturally opens a Revolutionary door for waste management.
However, the solution is not as simple as let out millions of caterpillars in landfills. Dr. Bryan Cassone, professor at the University of Brandon (Canada) and project leader, explains the great inconvenience: an exclusive plastic diet is deadly for worms. “They do not survive more than a few days with a plastic diet and lose a considerable mass,” says Cassone.
It is as if a human swells with fat. The process is similar to that of a human consuming excess fat: The caterpillars turn the plastic into lipids that accumulate in their adipose tissue, but without the necessary nutrients to survive.
It is not the first time that this possibility is explored. Given the seriousness of this problem, science does not cease in its attempt to find a solution to disintegrate the plastic we generate. Thus, in 2022 a group of Australian researchers They verified the ability of the ‘super worms’ to devour polystyrene thanks to an enzyme they had in their metabolism.
But these same wax worms, object of this study, also They were already protagonists of an investigation where the capacity they had to decompose the plastic was proven. This study has taken a step further to perfectly understand its processing system and the repercussions it can have.
Towards a sustainable solution: supplements and bioengineering. Although the fact that the accumulation of fat is an obstacle to research, scientists have turned this fascinating biological process into a viable solution already a large scale for pollution and for this they point to two main roads: create a mixed diet and replicate the process in the laboratory.
Create a mixed diet. Scientists are experiencing with “co-supplement”, such as sugars and other stimulants, to mix with polyethylene. The goal is to formulate a feed that not only keeps the caterpillars alive, but to optimize their ability to degrade plastic, creating a circular economy system where waste becomes food.
Replicate the process in the laboratory. The second way is even more ambitious. It consists of thoroughly studying biological mechanisms and intestinal microbiome of caterpillars to identify enzymes and bacteria responsible for the decomposition of plastic. If they get it, they could replicate this process of “biodegradation” in an artificial way and industrial scale, without the need to raise insects.
And right now there are a lot of daily products that have been generated thanks to the use of bacteria, fungi or enzymes. In this way, the fact of extrapolating this process to the industry can be the most intelligent to control the management of plastics.
From garbage to the plate. As if solving one of the biggest environmental problems were not enough, this research could have a positive and unexpected economic impact. The massive breeding of wax worms would generate a huge amount of insect biomass.
According to Dr. Cassone, these worms could become a very nutritious food source for aquaculture. In this way, a waste as problematic as plastic could be revalued to enter a new value chain, contributing to the food industry.
Images | Murat i̇di̇kut Tanvi Sharma
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