Alternative ways of foamed polystyrene recycling using insects as an element of sustainable development

  • et al.
N/ACitations
Citations of this article
19Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Pursuant to the principles of sustainable development, so as not to diminish the chances of living on our planet for future generations, special attention should be paid to certain aspects of our economy, including waste management. This paper presents an alternative way of recycling Styrofoam, by employing larvae of one of the common warehouse pests, the mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor L.). The aims of the research were to assess the biometric and enzymatic parameters of T. molitor larvae fed on Styrofoam, and to evaluate their possible use to decompose polystyrene waste. The experiment consisted of maintaining larvae for 10 weeks on nutrient substrates composed of foamed polystyrene (the control substrate was composed of oatmeal flakes). During the experiment, the mass of insects and the mass of ingested substrate were controlled. On the termination of the culture, digestive tracts of larvae from each replication was dissected to determine the enzymatic activity of the digestive system cells. To the biochemical analyses were made using the API® type assays. It has been demonstrated that owing to the enzymatic activity of the larval digestive tract and that of the gut microflora, mealworm larvae were able to digest waste slow to biodegrade, including polystyrene. A solution has been proposed, where providing suiTable conditions it will be possible to use mealworm larvae to utilise polystyrene waste.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Kosewska, O., Kosewska, A., … Sienkiewicz, S. (2019). Alternative ways of foamed polystyrene recycling using insects as an element of sustainable development. In 20th International Scientific Conference “Economic Science for Rural Development 2019”. New Dimensions in the Development of Society. Home Economics. Finance and Taxes. Bioeconomy. (Vol. 52, pp. 45–52). Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. Faculty of Economics and Social Development. https://doi.org/10.22616/esrd.2019.103

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free