Plastic and polymer contamination problems

1985/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Materialak
• Ingurumena

Plastic and polymer contamination problems are known. Polymers are not degradable and remain in nature for a long time. However, in recent years there has been slow progress in the investigation of the degradation pathways of polymers.

The last step of this long and difficult road has been taken recently. Two types of bacteria have been found that degrade poly(etilen grikol) plastic. These bacteria work in anaerobic conditions of absence of oxygen. They degrade poly (ethylene grikol) by obtaining ethanol, methanol and acetates. Therefore, in the future, poly(etilen grikol) waste will be eliminated by treating closed tanks.