Cows’ stomachs consist of four compartments, and one of them, the rumen, can provide a way around plastic waste. Bacteria in the rumen produce enzymes that can break down some commonly used plastics. By studying this property, scientists are looking for new technologies for processing such materials after use. Ultimately, bacteria in cows’ stomachs can break down certain types of plastic, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used in bottles, food packaging, and synthetic fabrics.
Georg Guebitz of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Austria and colleagues conducted a study on this topic. The researchers published their findings in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology.
ENZYMES IN THE RUNES PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE
The team visited a local slaughterhouse. He then collected fluid samples from the rumen of a young ox fed on mountain meadows. They found that the liquid contained several types of enzymes, including cutinases. Cows on a herbivorous diet consume a natural polyester produced by plants called kutin. Synthetic polyester PET, on the other hand, has a chemical structure similar to this natural substance.
The study showed that these enzymes can degrade three commonly used polyester types (polyethylene terephthalate/PET, polybutylene adipate terephthalate/PBAT, and polyethylene furanoate/PEF).
MAY BE CHEAP THAN EXISTING RECYCLING
They kept the enzymes at a temperature of about 40°C to pair like a cow’s stomach. As a result, it broke down these substances in 1 to 3 days. “We found that the diet of cows contains foods that have a husk similar to polyesters. This explains why bacteria in the rumen produce enzymes that can even cope with synthetic polyesters.” said.
Guebitz said that in the future these enzymes could be used to break down polyesters on a larger, commercial scale. He also added that it could at least potentially be cheaper than the technologies currently used to process plastics. But other researchers are cautious about it.
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