Fungal biodegradation of polyurethanes

Abstract

Disposing of polyurethane(PU) waste has several limitations and adverse effects on the environment, especially marine fauna and flora. One of the most ecologically friendly and economically efficient ways of disposing of it is using fungi to biodegrade it. As polyurethane’s structure and composition are broad, it is difficult to find one species of fungi that could degrade an extensive range of PU. Based on biodegradation efficiency, this literature review assesses several Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium species and laccase enzymes. Cladosporium species were better at depolymerising the plastic: PS-PU lost 80% of its weight with Cladosporium halotolerans in 3 days, and Impranil(commercial PU) lost 94.5% of its weight with Cladosporium sp. P7. This work is one step forward in finding a sustainable solution to minimise the plastic waste problem.