Characterization of biodegradation of plastics in insect larvae

Wei-Min Wu; Craig S Criddle

doi:10.1016/bs.mie.2020.12.029

Characterization of biodegradation of plastics in insect larvae

Methods Enzymol. 2021:648:95-120. doi: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.12.029. Epub 2021 Jan 16.

Authors

Wei-Min Wu¹, Craig S Criddle²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States. Electronic address: billwu@stanford.edu.
² Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.

PMID: 33579419
DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2020.12.029

Abstract

Biodegradation of plastics has been observed at rapid turnover rate by some insect larvae, especially those of Coleoptera, in particular Tenebrionidae. Tenebrio molitor larva is well studied and capable of biodegrading polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in their digestive intestine in synergy with their gut microflora. This chapter includes the methods, protocols, and procedures used to characterize biodegradation of plastics in T. molitor larvae and their gut microbiomes with polystyrene as the model feedstock. The methods used can be expanded to enable investigation of other plastics and/or insects.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Insects; Mealworms; Plastics; Polystyrene; Tenebrio molitor.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Biodegradation, Environmental
Coleoptera*
Larva
Plastics
Tenebrio*

Substances

Plastics