Fungal Degradation of Polyurethane

Mar 9, 2010

Fungal Degradation of Polyurethane

Polyurethane is used in a wide variety of products ranging from insulation, auto parts, plastic ware, packaging, adhesives and sealants, and many others. As a result, a large quantity of this useful and important plastic finds its way into waste streams every year.

Polyurethane is useful, but presents a disposal and recycling problem (Jennifer Dickert)

The problem is, polyurethane is resistant to degradation and has a reputation as being “non-biodegradable.” However, experiments done by researchers at the University of Manchester suggest that the fungi Nectria haematococca, Penicillium viridicatum and Penicillium ochrochloron, which had previously been isolated on polyurethane, might someday be able to breakdown polyurethane in a “plastic composting’ process.

According to the article, Fungi can digest polyurethanes, at The Chemical Engineer Today:

Two techniques, biostimulation and bioaugmentation, were used. Biostimulation essentially involved ‘feeding’ organisms already present in the soil, either with Impranil, a polyurethane dispersion agent which begins the initial break down of the polymer, or with yeast extract. This technique resulted in a 62% increase in degradation compared to untreated soil.

Leading to Composting of Plastic?

Biodegradation of plastics is a tough problem, and the goal of being able to compost plastics instead of burying them in landfills has long been a goal of chemical and sanitation engineers. Leave it to the mighty fungi to provide a possible solution.

The research was published as Effect of Biostimulation and Bioaugmentation on Degradation of Polyurethane Buried in Soil, Cosgrove et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2010; 76: 810-819.