November 25, 2024
Keio University
A research team—comprising Ayaka Futatsugi, a fourth-year student in the Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University; Ying Huang, a researcher at the Keio Leading-edge Laboratory of Science and Technology (KLL); Kenji Miyamoto, a professor at the same university's Faculty of Science and Technology; Isao Tomiyama, President of P-Life Japan Inc.; Yoshito Abe of SI Jushi Sangyo Co., Ltd.; and Shuji Uchiyama of ITO EN, LTD.—has successfully isolated degrading bacteria suitable for polypropylene containing P-Life, an additive that imparts biodegradability to plastics.
This achievement marks an important step toward realizing the microbial decomposition of recalcitrant polyolefin-based plastics. Furthermore, these degrading bacteria are expected to be effective in decomposing and removing microplastics generated from polyolefin-based plastics.
These findings will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Molecular Biology Society of Japan on November 28, 2024.
Please see below for the full press release.