Patna/Saharsa — A biotechnologist from Bihar has identified a new plastic-eating bacterium that could significantly advance global efforts to tackle plastic pollution. Dr Raj Sardar, originally from Saharsa and currently with the Central University of South Bihar, has reported the discovery of Metabacillus nibensis, an extremophilic microbe capable of degrading complex polymers.
The bacterium was found to reduce the weight of polyethylene — one of the most stubborn and widely used plastics — by 3.3% within 30 days, according to laboratory tests conducted at a CSIR facility. “The microbe forms a membrane-like chain on the plastic surface and gradually consumes it as a food source,” Dr Sardar said. Scientific instruments were used to confirm both the identity of the microbe and the plastic-degradation process.
How The Bacterium Works
Metabacillus nibensis alters its internal metabolic pathways to produce enzymes necessary for breaking down plastic. These enzymes fragment polyethylene into smaller hydrocarbons, which the bacterium then uses as a carbon and energy source. Dr Sardar notes that the degradation rate is roughly double that of similar discoveries reported so far.
The findings come at a critical time, with only around 10% of the world’s plastic waste being recycled. The rest accumulates in soil, rivers, and oceans, releasing toxic pollutants and posing long-term environmental and health risks. India alone produces nearly 10 million tonnes of plastic annually.
What The Study Found
The research screened 300 marine isolates for their ability to break down polyethylene. RS120, later identified as M. nibensis through fatty-acid profiling and 16S rRNA sequencing, showed the strongest degradation capability.
During the biotreatment process, scientists observed:
- Early microbial attachment to the polyethylene surface
- The disappearance of long-chain hydrocarbons and the appearance of shorter ones
- Major structural changes detected through FTIR spectroscopy
- Significant alterations in the plastic’s thermal stability and crystallinity
Published In A Top-Tier Journal
The study was peer-reviewed by experts at Atatürk University, Turkey, and published on December 3 in Frontiers in Microbiology, a Q1-ranked journal under Switzerland-based Frontiers Media.
About Dr Raj Sardar
Dr Sardar has spent two decades in research and teaching. He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology and a peer reviewer for Springer Nature journals. He hails from Saharsa’s Ward 9.
Not The First Global Discovery — But A Crucial One
A similar breakthrough was reported earlier by scientists at Kyoto University, who identified Ideonella sakaiensis, a bacterium capable of degrading PET using two enzymes. However, Dr Sardar’s discovery focuses on polyethylene, a plastic notorious for its resistance to decomposition, making the finding particularly significant.
