Nagaland University team develops biodegradable PHB biopolymer from bacteria to combat global microplastic pollution sustainably.
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DIMAPUR — A Nagaland University-led multi-institute research team has developed a biodegradable biopolymer that could offer an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics and help tackle the growing global crisis of microplastic pollution.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that accumulate in the environment.
They have emerged as pollutants of global concern due to their widespread presence across ecosystems. Because of their small size, these particles are easily ingested by organisms, especially filter feeders and gradually accumulate in the food chain, the Nagaland University (NU) stated in a press release.
Through a process known as ‘Biomagnification,’ the concentration of microplastics increases at each trophic level, eventually reaching humans at the top of the food chain, thereby posing significant risks to human health and ecosystems.
Addressing this challenge, researchers from Nagaland University and partner institutions focused on producing a biodegradable bacterial biopolymer called ‘Polyhydroxybutyrate’ (PHB).
The polymer was produced from a bacterial strain called ‘Bacillus subtilis FW1’, which was previously isolated from fish waste disposal sites in Mokokchung distric.
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“PHB has attracted growing interest as a potential replacement for petroleum-based plastics because it is biodegradable, biocompatible and derived from biological sources,” it stated.
The findings were published in Journal of Polymer Research, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Springer Nature that focuses on research related to the synthesis, characterisation, processing and applications of polymeric materials.
The research was carried out by a team from the Applied Environmental Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory in the Department of Environmental Science, NU, led by Dr. Pranjal Bharali, Assistant Professor.
The research group included doctoral scholars Shiva Aley Acharjee, Bhagyudoy Gogoi, Bendangtula Walling, Viphrezolie Sorhie and Alemtoshi, besides researchers from other institutes.
The study was conducted in collaboration with scientists and researchers from multiple institutions across India, including Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Tezpur University, Bharathiar University, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, and Galgotias University.
Highlighting the focus of the university on developing solutions to critical issues, Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik, Vice Chancellor, NU, said, that the innovative material, produced from bacteria isolated from fish waste disposal sites in Nagaland, represents a significant step forward in addressing the global challenge of microplastic pollution.
“The development of this eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional plastics highlights the importance of scientific research rooted in local resources and environmental responsibility,” he added.
The study demonstrated several promising findings. The bacterial strain was able to accumulate up to 69.2 per cent PHB biopolyester, indicating strong production potential. Detailed physico-chemical characterisation also showed that the biopolymer possesses high thermostability.
Importantly, laboratory testing revealed that the material is biocompatible with human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2), indicating its potential safety for biomedical applications.
Elaborating on the research, Dr. Bharali said, “Advances in microbial biotechnology, such as this study, could play a critical role in addressing the global plastic pollution crisis while creating sustainable materials that benefit both industry and the environment.”
“Future research will focus on improving bacterial strain efficiency, optimising metabolic pathways and utilising low-cost waste-based feedstocks to make PHB production economically competitive with conventional plastics,” he added.
Sustainable biomaterial
Further evaluation of the material’s environmental behaviour showed encouraging biodegradability results. The PHB film produced during the research degraded by approximately 59.6 per cent within 28 days during soil burial experiments using the open windrow composting method.
Researchers noted that this level of biodegradability demonstrates the potential of PHB as a sustainable and environmentally friendly biomaterial.
At present, the researchers have successfully isolated bacteria from fish waste disposal sites in Mokokchung and synthesised PHB using glucose as a carbon source.
The extracted polymer has undergone biodegradability and biocompatibility assessments, demonstrating its non-cytotoxic nature and promising environmental performance.
The researchers also emphasised the need to address several scientific and societal challenges moving forward, including scaling up production processes, improving downstream extraction methods, studying biodegradation behaviour in different environmental conditions and enhancing public awareness about sustainable plastic alternatives.