Microbial Bioremediation Technology for Sustainable Treatment and Management of Synthetic Microfiber Waste

The gradual buildup of microfiber pollutants in aquatic and terrestrial environments, especially marine ones, is one of the main factors causing stress in the world’s ecosystems. Microfibers emerging from different sources such as synthetic textiles, face masks, PPE kits, cigarette butts, etc., are turning out to be one of the biggest emerging pollutants. These pollutants are ubiquitous and have properties to merge with other contaminants such as heavy metals and toxic chemicals. A significant portion (>85%) of the microplastic debris discovered on shorelines worldwide is made up of microfibers. It was widely accepted until recently that the primary source was domestic laundry discharges, although the primary sources were not thoroughly investigated. Additionally, it was believed that synthetic fibers and fragments smaller than five millimeters could easily get past wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) filtering and additional solid separation procedures and into the ocean and surface waters. A pathway for microfibers to enter biological webs is created when life forms in an ecosystem unintentionally consume microplastics. This review summarizes the possible negative effects of the amount of microfiber on organisms found in freshwater, marine, and soil ecosystems based on the body of existing research on the subject. It also gives a brief overview of the origin of microfibers, their current state, and upcoming challenges. The paper also discusses the biodegradation of these pollutants through microbes and their enzymes and upcycling mediated by microbes to convert these wastes into useful alternatives to energy.