Microorganisms, polymer degradation

Kawai F (2010) The biochemistry and molecular biology of xenobiotic polymer degradation by microorganisms. Biosci Biotechnoi Biochem 74 1743-1759... 

Nishida, H. Tokiwa, Y. Distribution of poly(P-hydroxy-butyrate) and poly(e-caprolactone) aerobic degrading microorganisms in different environments. J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 1993,1 (3), 227-233. 

Levefre, C., Mathieu, C., Tidjani, A., Dupret, A., Vander Wauven, C., De Winter, W., David, C., 1999. Comparative degradation by microorganisms of terephthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, their esters and polyesters. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 64 9-16. 

Karbowska-Berent, J., Gomy, R. L., Strzelczyk, A. B. Wlazlo, A. 2011. Airborne and dust borne microorganisms in selected Polish libraries and archives. Building and Environment 46(10) 1872-1879. Menart, E., De Bruin, G. Strlic, M. 2011. Dose-response functions for historic paper. Polymer Degradation and Stability 96(12) 2029-2039. 

Pouton CW, Majid MIA, Notarianni LJ (1988) Degradation of polyhydroxybutyrate and related copolymers. Proc Int Symp Control Release Bioact Mater 15 182-183 Ramsay BA, Saracovan I, Ramsay JA, Marchessault RH (1994) A method for the isolation of microorganism producing extracellular long-side-chain poly(P-hydroxyalkanoate) depolymerase). J Environ Polym Degrad 2 1-7... 

A polymer degrading enzyme is first adsorbed onto the surface of the polymer material. This enzyme is a substance secreted extraceUularly by a certain kind of microorganisms... 

Dominant groups of microorganisms and the degradative pathways associated with polymer degradation are often determined by the environmental conditions. When O2 is available, aerobic microorganisms are mostly responsible for destruction of complex materials, with microbial biomass, CO2, and H2O as the final products. In contrast, under anoxic conditions, anaerobic consortia of microorganisms are responsible for polymer deterioration. The primary products will be microbial biomass, CO2, CH4 and H2O under methanogenic (anaerobic) conditions (Barlaz et al., 1989) (e.g., landfills/compost) (Fig. 8.5). 

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