An assessment on the potential of tenebrio molitor used for biodepolymerization of plastics and polystyrene: Influencing factors, various feeding cases and gut microbiota

Abstract

The present study aims to analyze the potential of mealworms (Tenebrio Monitor) used for the biodepolymerization of waste papers, plastics and polystyrenes. The various influencing factors were analyzed such as: temperature, light intensity, moisture content and energy sources. The study was conducted with two types of feeding cases that the first was, the waste papers, plastics and polystyrene were fed with oats (Avena sativa) and the above wastes were added directly to the mealworms without any additional energy sources. A similar weight of 100gms of all three wastes has been added with above two mentioned feeding cases to the mealworms. The study was conducted in a larval stage of mealworms for a period of nearly 30 days and 100 mealworms were used for each and every combination of feeding cases. Mealworms have biodepolymerized 40% of the plastic waste and polystyrene within the period of 10-12 days. Based on the obtained results, it has been found that the gut microbiota and enzymes are the responsible for the biodepolymerization and biodegradation of plastic, polystyrene and paper waste respectively. The present study reveals that mealworms have the potential to survive even after intake of polymer substances, this leads to new pathway for the sustainable management of polymer waste and paper waste.