How worms could solve plastic pollution?
Content: Prasad Ravindranath
Video Credit: Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Ruptly.tv
Polyethylene is one of the world's most resistant forms of plastic which can take decades to decompose.
However, scientists have found that the wax worm ‘Galleria mellonella’ Can decompose the material in hours.
The breakdown of polyethylene was biodegradation of polyethylene into ethylene glycol.
Wax worms live as parasites in bee colonies.
They lay their eggs inside the hives which then hatch and grow eating the beeswax which has similar chemical structure of polyethylene.
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) found that 100 worms can biodegrade up to 92 milligrams of polyethylene in just one night.
The discovery is touted as being the first all-natural solution to the disposal of the material worldwide.
Video Credit: Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Ruptly.tv
Polyethylene is one of the world's most resistant forms of plastic which can take decades to decompose.
However, scientists have found that the wax worm ‘Galleria mellonella’ Can decompose the material in hours.
The breakdown of polyethylene was biodegradation of polyethylene into ethylene glycol.
Wax worms live as parasites in bee colonies.
They lay their eggs inside the hives which then hatch and grow eating the beeswax which has similar chemical structure of polyethylene.
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) found that 100 worms can biodegrade up to 92 milligrams of polyethylene in just one night.
The discovery is touted as being the first all-natural solution to the disposal of the material worldwide.
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