MICROPLASTICS BIODEGRADATION BY BIOFLOC-PRODUCING BACTERIA: AN INVENTIVE BIOFLOC TECHNOLOGY APPROACH

Microplastics pollution has become a threat to aquaculture practices, as nearly all farming systems are saturated with microplastics (MP) particles. Current research on MPs is limited considering their effects on aquatic organisms and human health. However, limited research has been conducted on potential cures and treatments. In today’s world, bioremediation of needful parameters in different culture systems is being successfully practiced by introducing floc-forming bacteria. Researchers had found that some bacteria are efficacious in degrading microplastics particles including polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP). In addition, some bacteria that can form floc, are being used in fish and shellfish culture systems to treat toxic pollutants as the heterotrophs bacteria use organic compounds to grow and are effective in degrading microplastics and minimizing toxic nitrogen loads in aquaculture systems. In this review, the ability of biofloc bacteria to degrade microplastics has been summarized by collating the results of previous studies. The concept of this review may represent the efficacy of biofloc technology as an implicit tool in the fish culture system restricting the MPs contamination in water resources to safeguard ecological as well as human health. • Biofloc technology has a potential impact on the MPs pollution reduction. • Specific biofloc producing bacteria are found to be a MPs degrader. • Biofloc producing bacteria can degrade microplastics and convert them to environment-friendly non-toxic compounds. • Microplastics pollution free aquaculture system could be established through the biodegradation of MPs by biofloc bacteria.