Plastic Decomposition

What are the organisms called that swarm every surface around us?

• Fungi

• Microbes

• Viruses

• Bacteria

What is the type of material that almost no microbes can biodegrade?

• Paper

• Metal

• Plastics

• Glass

What percentage of plastic waste is recycled each year?

• 10%

• 80%

• 30%

• 60%

What is the name of the bacterium discovered by Japanese researchers that can break down PET polymers?

• Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6

• Escherichia coli

• Bacillus subtilis

• Streptococcus pneumoniae

At what temperature do the lab-grown enzymes operate best for degrading PET?

• Above 100˚C

• Below 40˚C

• 70˚C

• 130˚C

What type of plastic can weaken at a high temperature of 70˚C?

• Polystyrene

• Polyester-terephthalate

• Polypropylene

• Polyethylene

What is the main way we currently deal with plastics that cannot be biologically degraded by microbes?

• Composting

• Recycling

• Landfill

• Incineration

What do researchers need to design in order for plastivores to easily break down plastics?

• More plastic waste

• More heat-tolerant enzymes

• More environmentally friendly polymers

• More energy-intensive processes