Fungal degradaton

By David Bradley2010-11-01T00:00:00

Source: Closed loop recycling

Soil fungi and a strain of fungus that causes white rot could be useful agents in the biodegradation of bisphenol A based plastics

Soil fungi and a strain of fungus that causes white rot could be useful agents in the biodegradation of bisphenol A based plastics, one of the most controversial of modern chemicals.

Bisphenol A is the monomer used in the manufacture of several polymer-based products - not least bisphenol A polycarbonate and various epoxy resins - and is also a common plasticizer for other polymers.

2.7 million tonnes of PBA based plastics are produced every year for use in construction materials, tool handles, toys, plastic drinks bottles, baby-milk bottles, optical disks (CDs and DVDs) and even the lenses in a pair of "glasses" and there is now a considerable amount of BPA-containing polymer material in refuse, ripe for recycling.

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