Using Plastic Degrading Fungi to Combat Discarded Plastics

School Name

Center for Advanced Technical Studies

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Environmental Science

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

Around the world, there are currently more than 27 million tons of plastic in landfills, but there is a potential to reduce this large amount due to some fungi’s natural ability to degrade polyurethane. Approximately 400 species of fungi have been found with the ability to degrade polyurethane at some level. The degradation happens when the mushroom consumes nutrients, and for some fungi that can be found in plastics. Three species that have the better ability to degrade plastics are, Schizophyllum commune, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Pestalotiopsis micorspora, and there is potential to be used in landfills. Being able first to grow the fungi in the necessary environment is vital, but once that is accomplished polyurethane can then be slowly added into the fungi’s substrate, a mixture of brown rice flour and vermiculite. This will allow for different amounts of polyurethane to be tested, to demonstrate if fungi can develop and gain nutrients from it. Current tests show that fungi can be grown in a lab setting, and polyurethane will be added soon. Once sufficient data from the trials have been collected, an appropriate statistical analysis will be performed to confirm the results. These findings all form a good foundation for growing fungi without polyurethane, which can later be used once it is added. Future works will focus on the addition of plastic and how the fungi are capable of degrading it.

Location

RITA 152

Start Date

3-23-2024 9:00 AM

Presentation Format

Oral Only

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 23rd, 9:00 AM

Using Plastic Degrading Fungi to Combat Discarded Plastics

RITA 152

Around the world, there are currently more than 27 million tons of plastic in landfills, but there is a potential to reduce this large amount due to some fungi’s natural ability to degrade polyurethane. Approximately 400 species of fungi have been found with the ability to degrade polyurethane at some level. The degradation happens when the mushroom consumes nutrients, and for some fungi that can be found in plastics. Three species that have the better ability to degrade plastics are, Schizophyllum commune, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Pestalotiopsis micorspora, and there is potential to be used in landfills. Being able first to grow the fungi in the necessary environment is vital, but once that is accomplished polyurethane can then be slowly added into the fungi’s substrate, a mixture of brown rice flour and vermiculite. This will allow for different amounts of polyurethane to be tested, to demonstrate if fungi can develop and gain nutrients from it. Current tests show that fungi can be grown in a lab setting, and polyurethane will be added soon. Once sufficient data from the trials have been collected, an appropriate statistical analysis will be performed to confirm the results. These findings all form a good foundation for growing fungi without polyurethane, which can later be used once it is added. Future works will focus on the addition of plastic and how the fungi are capable of degrading it.