Different plastics ingestion preferences and efficiencies of superworm (Zophobas atratus Fab.) and yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor Linn.) associated with distinct gut microbiome changes

Article Environmental Sciences

Feeding preference of insect larvae to waste electrical and electronic equipment plastics

Ping Zhu et al.

Summary: This study demonstrates that the feeding preference of insect larvae to WEEE plastics is influenced by the physical properties and chemical structures of the plastics, and the larvae are capable of partially biodegrading these plastics.

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT (2022)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Biodegradation of expanded polystyrene and low-density polyethylene foams in larvae of Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): Broad versus limited extent depolymerization and microbe-dependence versus independence

Li Yang et al.

Summary: Yellow mealworms are capable of biodegrading polystyrene and low-density polyethylene, forming new oxygen-containing functional groups and causing changes in physical and chemical properties. The biodegradation of PS is gut microbe-dependent, while LDPE biodegradation is less dependent on gut microbes. Gut microbial community significantly shift under different dietary conditions associated with the biodegradation of EPS and LDPE.

CHEMOSPHERE (2021)

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Article Engineering, Environmental

Enhanced Bioavailability and Microbial Biodegradation of Polystyrene in an Enrichment Derived from the Gut Microbiome of Tenebrio molitor (Mealworm Larvae)

Anja Malawi Brandon et al.

Summary: The mealworm and its gut microbiome play important roles in accelerating plastic biodegradation by secreting emulsifying factors and other substances. Cultivating plastic-degrading microbial enrichments can achieve higher degradation rates, providing new insights for future investigations into cultivating plastic-degrading microorganisms.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Biodegradation of foam plastics by Zophobas atratus larvae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) associated with changes of gut digestive enzymes activities and microbiome

Liping Luo et al.

Summary: The study demonstrates that superworm Zophobas atratus can efficiently degrade both polystyrene and polyurethane foam plastics, and the plastic degradation is associated with changes in gut microbial communities and digestive enzyme activities.

CHEMOSPHERE (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Confirmation of biodegradation of low-density polyethylene in dark- versus yellow- mealworms (larvae of Tenebrio obscurus versus Tenebrio molitor) via. gut microbe-independent depolymerization

Shan-Shan Yang et al.

Summary: The larvae of Tenebrio obscurus and Tenebrio molitor demonstrated similar capacity for degrading LDPE foams, showing a broad depolymerization pattern with a digestion rate of nearly 40% to CO2. Antibiotic suppression of gut microbes did not halt depolymerization, indicating that LDPE biodegradation in T. obscurus was independent of gut microbes. High-throughput sequencing revealed significant shifts in the gut microbial community during LDPE feeding in both Tenebrio species.

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT (2021)

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Article Polymer Science

Biodegradation of Different Types of Plastics by Tenebrio molitor Insect

Piotr Bulak et al.

Summary: The use of insects for biodegradation of plastics is a promising approach, with experiments showing that the mealworm Tenebrio molitor is able to efficiently degrade various types of plastic waste such as polystyrene, polyurethane, and polyethylene. Both larvae and adult insects were found to be active plastic eaters, but separating them in different containers can help to increase the consumption rate and shorten the experiment duration.

POLYMERS (2021)

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Article Engineering, Environmental

Response of the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) gut microbiome to diet shifts during polystyrene and polyethylene biodegradation

Yu Lou et al.

Summary: The study found that the yellow mealworms supplemented with bran had higher degradation efficiency of polystyrene and low density polyethylene, and the addition of bran and plastic mixture in the diet contributed to the survival and growth of the mealworms. The gut microbiome of the mealworms was closely associated with the diet type, playing an important role in the oxidation process and degradation of plastics.

JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (2021)

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Article Engineering, Environmental

Biodegradation of polylactic acid by yellow mealworms (larvae of Tenebrio molitor) via resource recovery: A sustainable approach for waste management

Bo-Yu Peng et al.

Summary: The study found that yellow mealworms can efficiently biodegrade PLA, particularly in PLA-bran mixtures, supporting larval development and achieving a conversion efficiency of up to 90.9%. This suggests a promising approach for PLA waste management through resource recovery and insect biomass production.

JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (2021)

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Article Engineering, Environmental

Simultaneous energy generation, decolorization, and detoxification of the azo dye Procion Red MX-5B in a microbial fuel cell

Erica Janaina Rodrigues de Almeida et al.

Summary: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are effective in treating wastewater and generating electricity simultaneously. In this study, an MFC system was specifically targeted for decolorizing and degrading the azo dye Procion Red MX-5B (PRMX), resulting in rapid color removal and total mineralization within 172 hours. The addition of PRMX to the system increased voltage output and power density, with Pseudomonas and Dysgonomonas identified as key players in electron transfer and dye degradation in the biofilm.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING (2021)

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Article Environmental Sciences