German Scientists Identify Microbes That May Help Break Down Polyurethane-Based Plastics

German scientists announced in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology that they have identified and characterized a bacterial strain capable of breaking down some of the chemical building blocks of polyurethane. Bacteria can use these compounds as a single source of carbon, nitrogen and energy, "according to the statement. At the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - Leipzig, UFZ, Senior Scientist Dr. Hermann J. Heipieper stated: "Bacteria can use these compounds as a single source of carbon, nitrogen and energy. This finding represents an important step toward being able to reuse PU products that are difficult to recycle." In 2015, polyurethane products alone accounted for 3.5 million tonnes of plastics produced in Europe. Polyurethane provides properties and advantages such as lightness, insulation and flexibility. Unfortunately, most of these plastics are thermoset polymers that do not melt when heated, causing difficulty in the recycling or disposal of polyurethane. As a result, it ends up as waste in landfills, where it releases a number of toxic chemicals that are carcinogenic. The use of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi to break down oil-based plastics remains an ongoing area of research. However, few studies have addressed the biodegradation of polyurethanes.