Use of wax worms in the breakdown of plastics.

Bertocchini’s research focuses on insects, especially wax worms, as biological means to degrade sturdy fossil fuels-derived polymers, i.e. plastics. Her research revealed that the saliva of Galleria mellonella larvae (wax worms) is capable of oxidizing and depolymerizing polyethylene (PE) through the use of 2 enzymes ( Ceres and Demeter). Her research suggests that water-based enzyme solutions could be implemented by waste processing plants or at-home plastic waste kits to break down polyolefin-derived plastics, establishing a wider distribution of this game-changing technology. The end products would only be natural components, such as ketones or alcohol, deemed safe for release or reuse in other processes.

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Category:
Biology - Molecular Biology

Completion Status:
yes

Patent Number:
N/A

Co-Inventor:
None