Polystyrene Biodegradation by Termites: A Sustainable Alternative to Conventional Plastic Recycling

• Grant number: 25/13549-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Alberto José Arab Olavarrieta
• Grantee: Alberto José Arab Olavarrieta
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/15703-9 - Termites in a World of Climate Change: An Ecological, Functional, and Molecular Approach, AP.R

Abstract

The accumulation of plastic waste, especially polystyrene (PS), represents a serious global environmental problem. Despite recycling efforts, conventional processes generate significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to climate change. In this context, biological solutions emerge as promising alternatives. This project proposes a biotechnological approach based on the biodegradation of PS by termites and their symbiotic microbiota. The selected species, Cryptotermes brevis (Kalotermitidae), is widely distributed in urban environments in Brazil, which favors the reproducibility of the study and its potential scalability. The undergraduate research fellow will be involved in conducting experiments exposing termites to PS, as well as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses to assess structural and physicochemical changes in the polymer. This research aims to generate knowledge about the biological degradation mechanisms of PS and contribute to environmentally sustainable solutions for plastic waste management. (AU)