bacteria in the intestines of cows have the ability to decompose plastic waste, temporarily “offsetting” the discharge of polluting methane.

For climate scientists, the image of a cow grazing instead of bringing a sense of peace is a source of anxiety. That’s because cows fart and burp release a significant amount of methane into the atmosphere. Cattle farming currently contributes 3.7% to greenhouse gas emissions in the US alone.

While cattle are a silent contributor to climate change – new research shows cows’ digestive systems could play a key role in saving the environment.

According to a study published Monday in the journal Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, microorganisms that help digest food in the intestines of cows could help solve the problem of plastic waste that is overwhelming on Earth.

“A large community of microorganisms live in the intestines of cows and help them digest food,” said Doris Ribitsch, study co-author from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria.

The digestive system of cattle, like humans, is full of beneficial bacteria such as bacteria, fungi and other digestive microorganisms. This microbiome contains enzymes capable of breaking down and digesting food.

Inside the rumen, a part of livestock’s digestive system, bacteria help digest the cellulose in the grass and bran they eat. The researchers surmise that by breaking down plant polyesters, the rumen microbiota could do the same thing with polyester in plastic materials.

The team tested how effectively cattle rumen microorganisms can help break down polyester materials common in plastic products:

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) – a lightweight plastic common in packaging and bottles Polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) – a biodegradable plastic used in biodegradable packaging products Polyethylene furranoate (PEF) – a type of plastic made from recycled materials, replacing PET in packaging and bottles.

As it turns out, this rumen microflora has the ability to help decompose plastic very efficiently and sustainably. However, they are more active with PEF than with PET. PET is a very persistent and popular material for plastic bottles, often breaking down into microplastics.

The researchers took microbial samples in liquid form and incubated them with plastic samples in the form of films or powders and observed the decomposition of each type of plastic. Finally, they analyzed and synthesized the genetic sequence of this microbial solution to better understand the composition of this ecosystem. About 98% are bacteria, the rest are parasites and viruses.

This is not the first time people have used microorganisms to help break down waste in an environmentally friendly way. The ancient Romans used this method, and now, scientists also suggest the potential to recycle metals from e-waste using bacteria.

In recent years, scientists have tried to use from microorganisms to molds and larvae to help treat plastic waste. The aforementioned study is one of the newest.

According to a 2017 report, humans have created 9.1 tons of plastic since 1950. Only 9% is recycled, while the rest ends up in huge landfills where they remain for decades or even decades. is many centuries. Worse, they can break down into microplastics and end up in the ocean, harming ocean ecosystems.

The chemicals for which the cow’s digestive microbiota is available are abundantly available in slaughterhouses around the world. This could be a cheap source of plastic-degrading enzymes.

The team hopes to find microbial enzymes that are more effective than cattle digesters in the future. The group also said that the current problem is not the application of researched technologies, but the lack of investment in environmentally friendly recycling activities. Microbiological technology can help solve this by cutting costs, making plastic-degrading enzymes a more attractive commercial product.

With the help of our herbivore friends and researchers, we may one day be able to save the Earth from being engulfed by plastic waste.

According to Inverse