Assessment, Characterization, and Bioprocessing of E-Waste Plastics in the Environment
Main Article Content
Abstract
E-waste plastics pose significant environmental and health challenges due to their complex composition and the harmful chemicals they contain. The improper disposal of these materials through methods like landfilling and incineration exacerbates their environmental impact. This review explores the assessment, characterization, and bioprocessing of e-waste plastics, focusing on their chemical properties, degradation mechanisms, and potential biotechnological solutions. Emerging technologies such as microbial degradation and enzymatic breakdown offer promising alternatives for the efficient recycling of these materials, potentially reducing their environmental footprint. The integration of these biotechnological approaches within circular economy models could provide a sustainable solution for managing plastic waste. However, challenges related to scalability, toxicity, and the economic viability of these solutions remain. Additionally, effective policy frameworks and regulations are crucial in guiding the sustainable management of e-waste plastics. This review also discusses future research directions, emphasizing the need for optimized bioremediation techniques and the importance of strengthening international policies to address the growing issue of e-waste plastics.

Citation Metrics:
Downloads
Article Details

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Borga, P., Marušić, A., & Hötzl, H. (2019).
Environmental risks of e-waste plastics and methods for effective management. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(3), 2049-2061. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3561-4
Gupta, D., & Kaur, S. (2020).
Assessment of environmental threats posed by e-waste plastics: Challenges and solutions. Journal of Environmental Management, 266, 110520.
Muthu, S. S., Li, Y., & Choi, D. (2020). Sustainable recycling of e-waste plastics: Challenges and future directions. Springer.
Shah, M. P., Hegde, P., & Gokhale, A. A. (2021). Biodegradation of e-waste plastics: Microbial and enzymatic approaches. Biotechnology Advances, 44, 107637.
Tian, W., Yu, Z., & Zhang, X. (2021). Microbial degradation of e-waste plastics and the potential for bioprocessing. Environmental Pollution, 268, 115551.
Zhang, Y., Li, Q., & Wang, S. (2019). Advances in the bioremediation of e-waste plastics. Environmental Science & Technology, 53(18), 10950-10959.
Zhao, Q., Zheng, L., & Wu, J. (2020). Characterization and environmental impact of plastics in e-waste: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 735, 139487.
Yu, Y., Ren, Z., & Zhang, W. (2022). Scaling bioprocessing techniques for e-waste plastic recycling: Challenges and future perspectives. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 430, 128547.
Borga, P., Marušić, A., & Hötzl, H. (2019). Environmental risks of e-waste plastics and methods for effective management. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(3), 2049-2061.
Gupta, D., & Kaur, S. (2020). Assessment of environmental threats posed by e-waste plastics: Challenges and solutions. Journal of Environmental Management, 266, 110520.
Li, X., Zhang, S., & Zhao, S. (2020). Photodegradation of e-waste plastics under UV radiation: A study on the formation of chemical contaminants. Environmental Pollution, 267, 115639.
Liu, X., Zhang, H., & Wang, T. (2021). Analytical techniques for the identification and characterization of e-waste plastics. Waste Management, 122, 69-80.
Zhao, Q., Zheng, L., & Wu, J. (2020). Characterization and environmental impact of plastics in e-waste: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 735, 139487.
Borga, P., Marušić, A., & Hötzl, H. (2019). Environmental risks of e-waste plastics and methods for effective management. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(3), 2049-2061.
Gupta, D., & Kaur, S. (2020). Assessment of environmental threats posed by e-waste plastics: Challenges and solutions. Journal of Environmental Management, 266, 110520.
Muthu, S. S., Li, Y., & Choi, D. (2020). Sustainable recycling of e-waste plastics: Challenges and future directions. Springer.
Shah, M. P., Hegde, P., & Gokhale, A. A. (2021). Biodegradation of e-waste plastics: Microbial and enzymatic approaches. Biotechnology Advances, 44, 107637.
Yu, Y., Ren, Z., & Zhang, W. (2022). Scaling bioprocessing techniques for e-waste plastic recycling: Challenges and future perspectives. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 430, 128547.
Zhao, Q., Zheng, L., & Wu, J. (2020). Characterization and environmental impact of plastics in e-waste: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 735, 139487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139487
Klein, A. T., Alves, L. D., & Machado, A. A. S. (2020). Microbial conversion of plastic waste into biofuels: Advances and challenges. Bioresource Technology, 299, 122585.
Koller, M., Szentirmai, A., & Rechberger, H. (2021). Biotechnological recycling of plastics for sustainable polymer production. Journal of Biotechnology, 332, 85-94.
Nikel, P. I., Chavarría, M., & de Lorenzo, V. (2019). Biodegradation of plastics: New frontiers in bioremediation technologies. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 55, 34-42.
Praveen, K. P., Rathi, P. S., & Soni, M. (2021). Challenges in microbial degradation of plastics from e-waste. Environmental Pollution, 275, 116586.
Yoshida, S., Hiraga, K., & Takeuchi, M. (2016). A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate). Science, 351(6278), 1196-1199.
Klein, A. T., Alves, L. D., & Machado, A. A. S. (2020). Microbial conversion of plastic waste into biofuels: Advances and challenges. Bioresource Technology, 299, 122585.
Koller, M., Szentirmai, A., & Rechberger, H. (2021). Biotechnological recycling of plastics for sustainable polymer production. Journal of Biotechnology, 332, 85-94. Lee, S. Y., ho, H. H., & Kim, H. J. (2020). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production from plastic waste: A sustainable biotechnological approach. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 130, 109936.
Nikel, P. I., Chavarría, M., & de Lorenzo, V. (2019). Biodegradation of plastics: New frontiers in bioremediation technologies. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 55, 34-42.
Praveen, K. P., Rathi, P. S., & Soni, M. (2021). Challenges in microbial degradation of plastics from e-waste. Environmental Pollution, 275, 116586.
Shah, M. A., Sharma, P. M., & Yadav, K. (2020). Fungal degradation of polystyrene: Insights into microbial plastic bioremediation. Microbial Biotechnology, 13(1), 130-141.
Yoshida, S., Hiraga, K., & Takeuchi, M. (2016). A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate). Science, 351(6278), 1196-1199.














