Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene and polystyrene in superworms, larvae of Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): Broad and limited extent depolymerization

Environmental Pollution
Bo-Yu PengWei-Min Wu

Abstract

Larvae of Zophobas atratus (synonym as Z. morio, or Z. rugipes Kirsch, Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) are capable of eating foams of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), similar to larvae of Tenebrio molitor. We evaluated biodegradation of EPS and LDPE in the larvae from Guangzhou, China (strain G) and Marion, Illinois, U.S. (strain M) at 25 °C. Within 33 days, strain G larvae ingested respective LDPE and PS foams as their sole diet with respective consumption rates of 58.7 ± 1.8 mg and 61.5 ± 1.6 mg 100 larvae-1d-1. Meanwhile, strain M required co-diet (bran or cabbage) with respective consumption rates of 57.1 ± 2.5 mg and 30.3 ± 7.7 mg 100 larvae-1 d-1. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermal gravimetric analyses indicated oxidation and biodegradation of LDPE and EPS in the two strains. Gel permeation chromatography analysis revealed that strain G performed broad depolymerization of EPS, i.e., both weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and number-average molecular weight (Mn) of residual polymers decreased, while strain M performed limited extent depolymerization, i.e., Mw and Mn increased. However, both strains performed limited extent depolymerization of...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 17, 2020·Frontiers in Microbiology·Nisha MohananDavid B Levin
Apr 10, 2021·Journal of Insect Science·C I Rumbos, C G Athanassiou
Apr 11, 2021·Journal of Hazardous Materials·Wenlong YueNing-Yi Zhou
Jun 5, 2021·Biodegradation·Sukhendu MaityKousik Pramanick
Jun 30, 2021·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Toxicology & Pharmacology : CBP·Juan C Sanchez-Hernandez
Aug 29, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Paola SangiorgioSimona Errico

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