A Mini Review on Biologically Innovative Solution for Biodegradation of Plastics/Microplastics by the Use of Superworms

The exponentially increasing plastic pollution in environment requires effective and sustainable biodegradation methods. Superworm (larvae of Zophobas atratus also known as Zophobas morio) have been shown to ingest and degrade plastics/microplastics depending on environmental conditions. Because there is no sufficient knowledge of the effect of plastics/microplastics on superworms and analysis of their degradation mechanism, it is timely to provide more evidences to demonstrate their capability, impact, degradation pathways, and remaining challenges. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively discuss the ability of superworms to degrade plastics or microplastics (MPs).

Superworms have demonstrated the ability to metabolize various types of plastics or MPs into carbon dioxide and larval biomass. The degradation process involves depolymerization and subsequent microbial action within their gut, leading to a reduction in the size and chemical complexity of the plastics. Microbes such as Pseudomonas sp., Enterobacteriaceae sp., and Enterococcus sp. have been commonly observed in the gut of superworms.

This review showed that most previous works focus on the use of superworms to degrade/remove PS, whereas other types of plastic polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), have not been explored. Implementation of this technology has the potential to significantly reduce plastic pollution and support environmental sustainability solutions.