At the end of the research carried out by a group of SPANISH scientists, wax worms plastic It was suggested that it could be a solution for the disposal of waste. Molecular biologist Federica Bertocchini and her team discovered that certain enzymes found in waxworms can cause plastic to be destroyed naturally.
AT ROOM TEMPERATURE
The study, published in the journal Nature, revealed that waxworms’ two enzymes, called “demetra” and “ceres”, destroy the polyethylene found in many plastic products within a few hours at room temperature. The natural destruction of polyethylene, which is used extensively in plastic bags and packaging, is of critical importance for recycling and plastic waste management.
Discovered by accident
The interesting thing is that Bertocchini and his team made this discovery by chance. Molecular biologist Federica Bertocchini, who also deals with beekeeping as an amateur, saw that a beehive she had put in the warehouse was full of wolves, collected these worms and put them all in a plastic bag. After a short while, Bertocchini looked at the bag again, and when he saw that the plastic bag was full of holes, he and his team began to examine the worms. Scientists have discovered some microbes and bacteria that can destroy plastic before.
400 YEARS
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Plastic waste, which plays a leading role in environmental pollution, remains in nature for centuries. Bottle While it disappears in nature in 400 years, it takes 500 years for a plastic plate and at least 1000 years for a plastic bag.
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