A Biodegradation Solution for Microplastics Pollution
Molecular tools that reveal, measure, and monitor microbial biodegradation of microplastics in the environment
Microplastics are now found in groundwater, surface water, wastewater systems, soils, sediments, and industrial environments worldwide. Organizations are increasingly seeking sustainable approaches to understand whether biological processes can reduce plastic pollution. Microbial Insights provides molecular biological tools that identify and quantify microorganisms and functional genes associated with microplastic biodegradation, helping researchers and industry evaluate the biodegradation potential for bioremediation and recycling programs.
Applications
Our molecular tools help researchers, engineers, and environmental professionals understand and advance microplastic biodegradation across diverse settings.
RESEARCH & ACADEMIA
Advance the science of microplastic biodegradation
- PET degradation studies
- Enzyme discovery and characterization
- Biodegradation pathway elucidation
WASTE TREATMENT
Evaluate and optimize biological degradation potential
- Assess biodegradation potential
- Monitor treatment performance
- Optimize anaerobic digesters for compostable plastics
- Verify biological activity
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
Assess microplastic-impacted environments
- Surface water and groundwater
- Sediments and soils
- Marine and freshwater systems
- Baseline and long-term monitoring
INDUSTRIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Support circular economy and sustainability goals
- Circular economy initiatives
- Plastic waste reduction programs
- Sustainability and ESG reporting
- Evaluate biological pretreatment
RECOMMENDED ANALYSES
Build Multiple Lines of Evidence
No single analysis tells the entire story. Combine targeted qPCR, microbial community profiling, and whole genome sequencing to understand who is present, what they can do, and how microplastic biodegradation may be occurring.
CENSUS® qPCR
Quantify plastic-degrading genes
BEST FOR
Monitoring biodegradation potential, comparing treatment performance, and tracking changes over time.
ANSWERS
✔ Are PET degradation genes present?
✔ How abundant are they?
✔ Are populations increasing or decreasing?
TURNAROUND: Fastest option
IDEAL USE: Routine monitoring
Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
Characterize microbial communities
BEST FOR
Understanding microbial ecology, identifying key microbial groups, and supporting research programs.
ANSWERS
✔ Which microorganisms are present?
✔ How does the community change?
✔ Which populations are enriched?
IDEAL USE: Microorganism Identification
WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING
Discover functional biodegradation pathways
BEST FOR
Performing advanced research, discovering novel enzymes, and characterizing biodegradation pathways.
ANSWERS
✔ What biodegradation genes are present?
✔ What metabolic pathways exist?
✔ What organisms contain those genes?
IDEAL USE: Highest level of resolution needed
Analytical Options for Microplastics Biodegradation
For more information on the molecular biological tools that can be used to assess the biodegradation of microplastics, click the section of interest in the dropdown menu below. For guidance tailored to your current needs, contact our project success team at 865-573-8188 or [email protected].
The following CENSUS® qPCR assays are available to quantify genes associated with the aerobic biodegradation of microplastics.
| TARGET | CODE | RELEVANCE / DATA INTERPRETATION |
|---|---|---|
| PET Hydrolase | IsPET | Targets a hydrolase from Ideonella sakaiensis which hydrolyzes polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to mono-(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (MHET) which is then broken down by a second enzyme into terephthalic acid (TPA) and ethylene glycol. The IsPET gene is known to have the highest PET degradation activity of all known PET-degrading enzymes. |
| Bacillus Esterases | BsPET | Targets esterases from Bacillus spp. that have been shown to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), the pesticide chlorpyrifos, and the herbicide lactofen. |
Next Generation Sequencing: Multiple lines of evidence can provide a more complete picture. At complex sites, next generation sequencing (NGS) may be performed in addition to CENSUS® qPCR to generate an overall profile of the microbial community composition which may provide additional insight into the types of microbial processes that may be occurring.
Whole Genome Sequencing: Also known as shotgun metagenomics, whole genome sequencing (WGS) provides species-level resolution and identifies genes involved in biodegradation pathways for enhanced site understanding. WGS delivers the most comprehensive view available by capturing all microbial groups (bacteria, archaea, fungi) and functional genes in a single, untargeted analysis, revealing both who is there and what they are capable of doing.
| REFERENCE |
|---|
| Buhari SB, Nezhad NG, Normi YM, Shariff FM, Leow TC. Insight on recently discovered PET polyester-degrading enzymes, thermostability and activity analyses. 3 Biotech. 2024;14:31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-023-03882-8. |
| Ermis H. A mini-review on the role of PETase in polyethylene terephthalate degradation. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology. 2025;24:545–555. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-025-09737-3. |
| Khalil K, Mohamad Desa AL, Ruslan NA, Mohd Yasin, NH, Anuar, FH, Aqma WS. Evaluation of Bacillus-associated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surfaces for biodegradation. Malaysian Applied Biology. 2025;54:19–27. https://doi.org/10.55230/mabjournal.v54i2.3197. |
| Ribitsch D, Heumann S, Trotscha E, Herrero Acero E, Greimel K, Leber R, Birner-Gruenberger R, Deller S, Eiteljoerg I, Remler P, Weber T, Siegert P, Maurer K-H, Donelli I, Freddi G, Schwab H Guebitz GM. Hydrolysis of polyethyleneterephthalate by p-nitrobenzylesterase from Bacillus subtilis. Biotechnology Progress. 2011;27:951-960. https://doi.org/10.1002/btpr.610. |
| Shengwei S. Recent advances in screening and identification of PET-degrading enzymes. Environmental Reviews. 2024;32:294-314. https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2023-0107. |
| Yoshida S, Hiraga K, Takehana T, Taniguchi I, Yamji, H, Maeda Yh, Toyohara K, Miyamoto K, Kimura Y, Oda K. A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate). Science. 2016;35:1196-1199. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aad6359. |