Mining microbial resources from plastic-eating worms
The characteristics of synthetic polymers to resist degradation in the environment for a long period of time may lead to environmental issues. Although methods of treating plastic wastes exists, products of such processes are not safe for the environment. As such, a much more environmentally frie...
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| Format: | Final Year Project (FYP) |
| Language: | English |
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Nanyang Technological University
2024
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/172918 |
| _version_ | 1824453672622358528 |
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| author | Muhammad Asyraf Bin Zuraini |
| author2 | Cao Bin |
| author_facet | Cao Bin Muhammad Asyraf Bin Zuraini |
| author_sort | Muhammad Asyraf Bin Zuraini |
| collection | NTU |
| description | The characteristics of synthetic polymers to resist degradation in the environment for a long
period of time may lead to environmental issues. Although methods of treating plastic wastes
exists, products of such processes are not safe for the environment. As such, a much more
environmentally friendly process of treating plastics is required to ensure sustainability. Reports
of worms that are able to consume plastic as a food source gave hopes of methods that could
biodegrade plastics. Bacteria which exist within the guts of such worms could biodegrade plastics
on its own. This report discusses the capability of 4 bacteria strains that have been obtained from
plastic eating worms to degrade 2 types of polymers, polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS).
After periods of being in contact with each respective strain, the polymer will be analysed through
the usage of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer – Attenuated Total Reflectance
(FTIR-ATR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) to conclude if there
will be any indication of biodegradation. This study could introduce these strains which could be
implemented into current methods to treat plastic wastes. If proven capable of plastic
biodegradation, bacteria strains used in the study can be further studied on how to utilise it to
create new methods for plastic wastes treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-19T03:10:09Z |
| format | Final Year Project (FYP) |
| id | ntu-10356/172918 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-19T03:10:09Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Nanyang Technological University |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1729182024-01-12T15:35:37Z Mining microbial resources from plastic-eating worms Muhammad Asyraf Bin Zuraini Cao Bin School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences and Engineering (SCELSE) BinCao@ntu.edu.sg Engineering::Environmental engineering The characteristics of synthetic polymers to resist degradation in the environment for a long period of time may lead to environmental issues. Although methods of treating plastic wastes exists, products of such processes are not safe for the environment. As such, a much more environmentally friendly process of treating plastics is required to ensure sustainability. Reports of worms that are able to consume plastic as a food source gave hopes of methods that could biodegrade plastics. Bacteria which exist within the guts of such worms could biodegrade plastics on its own. This report discusses the capability of 4 bacteria strains that have been obtained from plastic eating worms to degrade 2 types of polymers, polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS). After periods of being in contact with each respective strain, the polymer will be analysed through the usage of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer – Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) to conclude if there will be any indication of biodegradation. This study could introduce these strains which could be implemented into current methods to treat plastic wastes. If proven capable of plastic biodegradation, bacteria strains used in the study can be further studied on how to utilise it to create new methods for plastic wastes treatment. Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental Engineering) 2024-01-07T11:11:09Z 2024-01-07T11:11:09Z 2023 Final Year Project (FYP) Muhammad Asyraf Bin Zuraini (2023). Mining microbial resources from plastic-eating worms. Final Year Project (FYP), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/172918 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/172918 en application/pdf Nanyang Technological University |
| spellingShingle | Engineering::Environmental engineering Muhammad Asyraf Bin Zuraini Mining microbial resources from plastic-eating worms |
| title | Mining microbial resources from plastic-eating worms |
| title_full | Mining microbial resources from plastic-eating worms |
| title_fullStr | Mining microbial resources from plastic-eating worms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mining microbial resources from plastic-eating worms |
| title_short | Mining microbial resources from plastic-eating worms |
| title_sort | mining microbial resources from plastic eating worms |
| topic | Engineering::Environmental engineering |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/172918 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT muhammadasyrafbinzuraini miningmicrobialresourcesfromplasticeatingworms |