British scientists proved the properties of fungi destroying plastic wastes
Plastic pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems at the global level, stimulating searches in various branches of science and technology. However, according to British botanists, nature is already armed with biological protection from plastic plague.
The matter is mushrooms Aspergillus Tubingensis, discovered last year in one of the Islamabad landfills. A new study of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London "State of the World's Fungi 2018", confirmed their ability to significantly accelerate the decay of plastic waste in nature.
If the decomposition of plastic takes about two hundred years, then this miraculous fungis manage to copes with this tasks much faster - in just a few weeks.
Aspergillus Tubingensis settles directly on the surface of the plastic. A unique enzyme secreted by a fungus germ easily breaks down strong chemical bonds between polymer molecules. So, plants, factories and recycling enterprises equipped with Aspergillus Tubingensis-based technology could achieve a solution to the plastic crisis faster and at a lower cost.
"The State of the World’s Fungi report has been a fascinating look into the fungal kingdom, revealing how little we know and the huge potential for fungi in areas as diverse as biofuels, pharmaceuticals and novel materials," commented Tom Prescott, senior researcher at Kew Gardens.
For example, recent mycological studies have found that varieties of white rot, such as pleurotus ostratus and trametes versicolor, heal the soil and water from pesticides, dyes and even explosive residues.
It is also proved that the fungus trichoderma can be successfully used in the production of biofuels from agricultural waste.
Fungal mycelium (the vegetative body of fungi) is also notable, especially for engineers and architects trying to find a suitable substitute for polystyrene foam, leather, and several types of building materials.
The State of the World's Fungi 2018 documents more than 2,000 new species of fungi and identifies their beneficial characteristics both for environment and industrial purposes.
There are between 2.2 and 3.8 million fungi on the Earth. That means the scientists know of about 5% of the species at the moment.
