Research Projects

Rationale: Living organisms have evolved well-adapted structures, mechanisms and materials over geological time through natural selection. The proposed study is based on our preliminary investigation on the polythene eating wax worms and other such organisms present in nature. Though plastic was invented by humans, there are other similar substances (polymers) found in nature which are ultimately degraded like any other natural substance by biological organisms present in Nature. Our preliminary investigations revealed that certain insects larvae-particularly waxworms (Galleria mellonella and Achroia grislla) possess the ability to degrade and metabolize plastic materials such as HDPE, LDPE, and Polystyrene. Detailed study on their lifecycles and ecological behaviour revealed that these organisms were able to complete their life cycles even when fed solely on plastic wastes. Hypothesis: We assume that these voracious feeding larvae of Galleria mellonella, must be having special gut micro biome or enzymes capable of de-polymerization and mineralization of plastics. The main objective is to identify those organisms and to find out the mechanism by which they degrade the polymers. Key Questions and Significance of the study: Till now studies have showed direct feeding of plastic material to the plastic eating larvae as a treatment method. Degradation of plastic by direct feeding to larvae is not feasible as a remediation technology. However, from a techno-economic point of view, the observation those larvae chew, ingest, metabolize, grow, and reproduce next generation even when fed on sole plastic diet gives hope. However, the degradation of plastic by direct feeding to larvae is not a feasible method of treatment. Hence, it is important to isolate and identify its gut microbes. Do they contribute to plastic mineralization? Need to find if it is only the microbes in gut responsible for plastic degradation or do the larvae produce enzymes for plastic digestion. If so, to find out the gene sequence responsible for the production of the enzyme. The exact degradation mechanisms must be scientifically unravelled so that they could potentially be used in the development of new green methods for the advanced mitigation of plastic wastes. The findings from the study could lead to the development of a decentralized method for plastic waste remediation using reactors or composters just like the present-day organic waste composters offering a nature-inspired solution to one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.