Researchers in Austria have discovered that common plastics can be degraded when exposed to the rumen of cattle, a solution that could address the current issue of plastic waste pollution.
According to CNN, researchers at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, and the University of Innsbruck recently found that common plastics can be broken down when in contact with rumen, a substance found in the stomachs of cattle.
They discovered that the bacteria and enzymes found in the rumen can degrade various types of plastics, including those widely used in the production of plastic bags, bottles, textiles, and food packaging.
Bacteria and enzymes in the stomachs of Alpine cattle can break down certain types of plastic. (Photo: CNN)
Specifically, the study published in the journal Frontiers on July 2 analyzed rumen samples from Alpine cattle at a slaughterhouse in Austria. The research team extracted liquid from the cattle’s rumen (the largest chamber of the stomach that contains microorganisms for digesting food), and then tested the impact of the rumen on three types of plastics: polyethylene terephthalate (commonly known as PET), polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and polyethylene furanoate (PEF).
After one to three days, they began analyzing the byproducts released by the plastics to determine how the microorganisms in the cattle rumen had disrupted the material’s structure. The results showed that they could degrade all three types of plastics in the experiment, with PEF being the most effectively broken down.
Next, the research team conducted DNA sampling from the rumen liquid to identify which types of bacteria were involved in the plastic degradation process. Ultimately, they concluded that the primary group of bacteria belonged to the genus Pseudomonas. Additionally, some species from the genus Acinetobacter also participated in breaking down the plastic structure.
“The rumen can start degrading plastics in just a few hours and can completely break them down over a longer period. The stomach of cattle is capable of decomposing difficult-to-degrade substances, including cutin. Cutin is a waxy substance found in plants and is a type of polyester similar to PET,” said Professor Georg Gübitz at BOKU.
Professor Gübitz noted that while further research is needed, this discovery is significant as it could help find solutions for degrading “hard-to-recycle waste.” Research on how microorganisms and enzymes affect plastics is a popular field, but the potential role of cattle rumen has remained largely unknown until now.
If the enzymes can be identified and produced in large quantities through bacterial cultivation without needing to be directly collected from cattle rumen fluid, the research team could scale this plastic degradation method to an industrial level, allowing for the resolution of current pollution issues.
“The rumen is quite effective when compared to other enzymes that have been tested over the past decade. Initially, we could collect them as a byproduct of the meat and dairy industry. However, in the long term, producing this type of enzyme and even enhancing their capabilities using genetic engineering would be more meaningful,” added Professor Gübitz.
