Experts from IIT Roorkee have discovered pollutant-degrading enzymes that break down plastic more quickly
The Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, identified a 3D structure of a bacterial enzyme that can help break down plastic faster. Prof. Pravindra Kumar, together with five associates from IIT Roorkee’s Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, led the study. The researchers discovered all of the enzymes responsible for phthalate and terephthalate degradation in Comamonas testosteroni KF1, a microbe that could aid in the speedier decomposition of non-biodegradable plastics and plasticisers.
Prof. Pravindra Kumar, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at IIT Roorkee, highlights the research findings: Plastic pollution has become the most urgent environmental concern on the planet. Recent research on enzymes that degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymers into terephthalate (TPA) suggests that problem could be addressed.
The work’s principal author is Jai Krishna Mahto. Other scientists who contributed significantly to this work included Neetu, Monica Sharma, Bhairavnath Waghmode, Monica Dubey, Prof. B P Vellanki, Prof. Debabrata Sircar, Prof. A K Sharma, and Prof. Shailly Tomar.
