This Black Fungus Turns Plastic Waste Into Edible Ingredients

Fungi might just be the most impressive form of life on Earth. They can live almost anywhere, have both medicinal and poisonous qualities, and are—as new research suggests—capable of transforming industrial waste into useful compounds.

Engineers with the German startup Biophelion have successfully developed a method to coax a yeast-like black fungus—Aureobasidium pullulans—into decomposing and converting plastic waste into new products. What’s more, during this process, the fungus consumes leftover carbon dioxide in plastic waste, using it to fuel itself and prevent the greenhouse gas from escaping into the atmosphere.

The project emerged as a part of the “Circular Biomanufacturing Challenge†organized by Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations SPRIND.

Fungal magic

Of course, the fungus isn’t magically transforming the waste in one step. First, Aureobasidium pullulans—a hardy mold that will live anywhere, eat anything, and poop out various compounds—gobbles up the industrial byproducts. The fantastic digestive system of the fungus eventually excretes the waste in the form of three compounds key to producing useful new materials.

According to the researchers, these compounds include pullulan, a tasteless, edible polymer already used in food production today; a polyester suitable for plastic packaging; and a lesser-known surfactant molecule that the team wants to use in 3D printing. In terms of its edible applications, pullulan is used as a food additive to provide bulk and texture, in edible films used for breath fresheners, and for making vegetarian-friendly pills. The team is still in the process of unpacking the exact mechanisms behind this process, but they are hopeful that they are onto something exciting.

“Biophelion is specifically developing applications that are not yet conceivable today—we are breaking new ground with pullulan and our surfactant molecule in particular,†said Till Tiso, Biophelion co-founder and a microbiologist at Bielefeld University in Germany, in a release.

Natural solutions for pollution

Time will tell whether the startup’s technology could be the next big thing in material science. The method as is already offers a tantalizing solution for mass-produced plastic waste, however. The process itself is designed to be sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The surfactant molecule in particular could be the ideal replacement for artificial surfactants—mass-produced chemicals in laundry detergents and dish soap—that too often pollute the environment. Overall, the researchers are excited to see how their science could help address some of the most pressing issues in today’s world.

“There is often a gap between academic research and industrial implementation,†Tiso said. “But this time it is different. Here we can make the leap from academic research to industrial implementation ourselves.â€