Advances in polyethylene biodegradation and bioconversion: Microbial, enzymatic, and biotechnological insights

Abstract

Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most widely used plastics worldwide and is valued for its versatility, durability, and cost-effectiveness. However, the chemical stability of PE combined with its widespread use makes it a persistent environmental pollutant that contributes to the accumulation of plastic waste in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The escalating issue of plastic pollution has underscored the importance of developing sustainable solutions, of which PE biodegradation has emerged as a promising avenue for mitigating the environmental burden of recalcitrant polyolefins. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances in the biodegradation and bioconversion of PE, focusing on methods for evaluating degradation efficiency, the mechanisms by which microorganisms and enzymes contribute to PE degradation, and the microbial and enzymatic resources identified to date. In addition, we discuss physicochemical strategies that enhance degradation efficiency and their integration with biological approaches, as well as the potential applications of emerging biotechnological tools in PE degradation. The integration of cutting-edge biotechnological tools such as synthetic biology and machine learning with traditional biodegradation methods holds great potential for accelerating PE degradation rates and achieving more sustainable plastic waste management.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Enzymatic catalysis; Metabolism; Polyethylene.