GTU Offers Solution to Plastic Pollution

July 3, 2026 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
 

— Researchers at Gebze Technical University (GTU) have isolated a new microorganism from a recycling facility in Gebze that is capable of naturally degrading plastics.

— Laboratory tests demonstrated that the fungal species Trichoderma citrinoviride degraded 6.97% of acetate polymer and 6.15% of polyethylene (PE), confirming its ability to utilize these plastics.

— The study is the first in the world to report the plastic biodegradation capacity of this microorganism, opening a new avenue for sustainable waste management.

Researchers at Gebze Technical University (GTU) have discovered a new microorganism capable of naturally degrading plastics, offering a promising solution to the growing problem of plastic pollution.

The study was conducted by Prof. Sedef Tunca-Gedik from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, together with researchers Emine Yaradır and Halil Yılmaz, PhD. The research team successfully isolated a novel microorganism capable of biologically degrading plastic waste. By carefully examining contaminated water, soil, and plastic samples collected from the operational site of Atıksan Recycling in Gebze, the researchers uncovered nature's own solution to environmental pollution. The isolated microorganism was found to utilize polyethylene glycol (PEG) directly as its sole carbon and energy source, as demonstrated through incubation in Minimal Medium (M9) containing PEG.

Significant Plastic Degradation Within One Month

Genomic DNA analyses identified the microorganism as Trichoderma citrinoviride. The fungus exhibited optimal growth at 25°C under daylight conditions and formed a strong biofilm that facilitated its attachment to plastic surfaces. During one-month laboratory incubation experiments, in which LDPE, PE, and acetate served as the only carbon and energy sources, the microorganism produced measurable plastic degradation, resulting in the following mass loss rates: Acetate polymer: 6.97% mass loss; Polyethylene (PE): 6.15% mass loss; Low-density polyethylene (LDPE): 2.75% mass loss.

Confirmed Through Advanced Analytical Techniques

The microorganism's ability to metabolize plastics at the cellular level was verified using advanced scientific analyses. The biodegradation process was conclusively confirmed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses, which revealed changes in surface morphology, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, which demonstrated alterations in the chemical bonds of the plastic materials.

A First in the Scientific Literature: A Promising Step Toward the Future

This research is the first study worldwide to demonstrate the plastic biodegradation and recycling potential of Trichoderma citrinoviride. By offering a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and biological alternative to the global plastic crisis, the findings pave the way for new approaches to industrial recycling and sustainable waste management.

Information on the newly identified isolate has been registered in the international GenBank database under the accession number JBNPOX000000000, ensuring global accessibility for future research. This achievement further reinforces GTU's leading role in developing innovative biotechnological solutions to environmental challenges.

Publication: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-34649-1