{"id":4153,"date":"2026-05-19T08:06:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T08:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/?post_type=tools&#038;p=4153"},"modified":"2026-10-07T13:35:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T13:35:05","slug":"plastics-upcycling-by-larvae-of-yellow-mealworm-beetle-or-zophobas-atratus","status":"publish","type":"tools","link":"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/sv\/news\/tools\/plastics-upcycling-by-larvae-of-yellow-mealworm-beetle-or-zophobas-atratus\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastics upcycling by larvae of yellow mealworm beetle or zophobas atratus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n<section style=\"\" id=\"\" class=\"tool-description relative   lg:px-5 custom-padding-top-m custom-padding-bottom-m mobile-custom-padding-top-s mobile-custom-padding-bottom-s\">\n    <div class=\"container mx-auto max-w-global\">\n        \n\n<div class=\"heading-container\">\n    <a href=\"javascript:history.back()\" class=\"tool-back flex items-center gap-2 mb-6 text-lg font-bold\">\n         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"13\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 13 14\" fill=\"none\">\n            <path d=\"M10.9839 6.73434L11.9467 6.11464L12.3456 6.73434L11.9467 7.35404L10.9839 6.73434ZM1.14496 7.87934C0.512589 7.87934 -4.3869e-05 7.36671 -4.3869e-05 6.73434C-4.3869e-05 6.10198 0.512589 5.58934 1.14496 5.58934V6.73434V7.87934ZM7.04831 0.619751L8.01112 5.28097e-05L11.9467 6.11464L10.9839 6.73434L10.0211 7.35404L6.08551 1.23945L7.04831 0.619751ZM10.9839 6.73434L11.9467 7.35404L8.01112 13.4686L7.04831 12.8489L6.08551 12.2292L10.0211 6.11464L10.9839 6.73434ZM10.9839 6.73434V7.87934H1.14496V6.73434V5.58934H10.9839V6.73434Z\" fill=\"#202446\"\/>\n        <\/svg>\n        Back\n    <\/a>\n            <div class=\"tool-cat-bar mb-10 flex gap-4 flex-wrap p-4 bg-[#F2E9D6] rounded-2xl\">\n                                            <span class=\"inline-block tool-cat font-medium px-8 py-4 rounded-lg text-dark\" style=\"background-color: rgb(25,212,161);\">Pilot Tools<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n                <div class=\"mb-10\">\n            \n\n\n\n    <h2 style=\"--custom-color-contrast:;\" class=\" break-words g-heading  size-h2\">Plastics upcycling by larvae of yellow mealworm beetle or zophobas atratus<\/h2>\n\n            <\/div>\n                <div class=\"mb-10 space-y-4 text-lg lg:text-xl text-body tool-description\">\n            <p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plastics upcycling by larvae of yellow mealworm beetle or zophobas atratus\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MJdP9Dn8EKI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5>When plastic waste contains dirty mixed polyolefin there is no many options for circular economy processes. Lately more and more attention is focussed on bioremediation methods. Very promising one relates to implementation of various beetle larvae (including yellow mealworm beetle or zophobas atratus) to transform waste plastics into proteins, fat and chitin. The proteins and fat (with no microplastics pollution) can be used as feed. However, chitin and finally chitosan, has a number of commercial and biomedical applications e.g. as biopesticide, antibacterial agent or for self \u2013 healing polyurethane paint.<\/h5>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Upcycling of dirty mixed plastics<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>What it is:<\/strong> the upcycling method<\/li>\n<li><strong>How it works:<\/strong> the larvae of various beetles are fed with plastics and transfer it to high value products: proteins, fat and chitin<\/li>\n<li><strong>Purpose:<\/strong> utilisation of dirty, mixed plastics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Target group for this tool:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For example Caf\u00e9 and restaurant owners. Store managers serving to go beverages and food.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Further information:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In reality there is much more larvae of mots or beetles, which can be fed by various plastics. Larvae are fed with plastics and\/or paper and produce proteins, fat and chitin.<\/p>\n<p>The economy issues are investigated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Results:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In laboratory scale, it was confirmed that<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>some larvae consume the plastics and paper (e.g. paper cups), their weight grows and mass of plastics (or paper) declines. To digest the plastic they use enzymes produced by bacteria from their digestion system;<\/li>\n<li>there is no microplastics in their proteins and fat;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Boschi, A., Scieuzo, C., Salvia, R., Arias, C. F., Peces Perez, R., Bertocchini, F., &amp; Falabella, P. (2024). Beyond microbial biodegradation: Plastic degradation by <em>Galleria mellonella<\/em>. <em>Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 32, <\/em>2158\u20132177. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10924-023-03084-6<\/li>\n<li>Lou, Y., Ekaterina, P., Yang, S.-S., Lu, B., Liu, B., Ren, N., Corvini, P. F.-X., &amp; Xing, D. (2020). Biodegradation of polyethylene and polystyrene by greater wax moth larvae (<em>Galleria mellonella<\/em>) and the effect of co-diet supplementation on the core gut microbiome. <em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology, 54<\/em>(5), 2821\u20132831. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.9b07044<\/li>\n<li>Venegas, S., Alarc\u00f3n, C., Araya, J., Gatica, M., Morin, V., Tarife\u00f1o-Saldivia, E., &amp; Uribe, E. (2024). Biodegradation of polystyrene by <em>Galleria mellonella<\/em>: Identification of potential enzymes involved in the degradative pathway. <em>International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25<\/em>(3), 1576. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms25031576<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n    \n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n<section style=\"\" id=\"\" class=\"tool-assets relative   lg:px-5 custom-padding-top-m custom-padding-bottom-m mobile-custom-padding-top-s mobile-custom-padding-bottom-s\">\n    <div class=\"container mx-auto max-w-global\">\n        \n    <div class=\"assets-grid grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-10\">\n                    <div class=\"asset-card text-body p-6 bg-white\">\n                                    <div class=\"mb-6 max-w-[304px] mx-auto\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/screen-shot-video-plastic-predator.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"w-full h-auto object-contain aspect-[304\/190]\">\n                    <\/div>\n                                                     <p class=\"text-xl lg:text-2xl font-medium mb-2 capitalize\">Plastics upcycling by larvae of yellow mealworm beetle or zophobas atratus<\/p>\n                                                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/news\/tool_video\/plastics-upcycling-by-larvae-of-yellow-mealworm-beetle-or-zophobas-atratus\/\" class=\"flex items-center justify-between gap-2 mt-6 font-bold text-body\" target=\"\">\n                            See video                                                            <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"13\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 13 14\" fill=\"none\">\n                                    <path d=\"M10.9839 6.73434L11.9467 6.11464L12.3456 6.73434L11.9467 7.35404L10.9839 6.73434ZM1.14496 7.87934C0.512589 7.87934 -4.3869e-05 7.36671 -4.3869e-05 6.73434C-4.3869e-05 6.10198 0.512589 5.58934 1.14496 5.58934V6.73434V7.87934ZM7.04831 0.619751L8.01112 5.28097e-05L11.9467 6.11464L10.9839 6.73434L10.0211 7.35404L6.08551 1.23945L7.04831 0.619751ZM10.9839 6.73434L11.9467 7.35404L8.01112 13.4686L7.04831 12.8489L6.08551 12.2292L10.0211 6.11464L10.9839 6.73434ZM10.9839 6.73434V7.87934H1.14496V6.73434V5.58934H10.9839V6.73434Z\" fill=\"#202446\"\/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                                                    <\/a>\n                                                <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"asset-card text-body p-6 bg-white\">\n                                    <div class=\"mb-6 max-w-[304px] mx-auto\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/SAS2-1-scaled.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"w-full h-auto object-contain aspect-[304\/190]\">\n                    <\/div>\n                                                     <p class=\"text-xl lg:text-2xl font-medium mb-2 capitalize\">Plastics upcycling by larvae gallery<\/p>\n                                                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/news\/tool_video\/plastics-upcycling-by-larvae\/\" class=\"flex items-center justify-between gap-2 mt-6 font-bold text-body\" target=\"\">\n                            see gallery                                                            <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"13\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 13 14\" fill=\"none\">\n                                    <path d=\"M10.9839 6.73434L11.9467 6.11464L12.3456 6.73434L11.9467 7.35404L10.9839 6.73434ZM1.14496 7.87934C0.512589 7.87934 -4.3869e-05 7.36671 -4.3869e-05 6.73434C-4.3869e-05 6.10198 0.512589 5.58934 1.14496 5.58934V6.73434V7.87934ZM7.04831 0.619751L8.01112 5.28097e-05L11.9467 6.11464L10.9839 6.73434L10.0211 7.35404L6.08551 1.23945L7.04831 0.619751ZM10.9839 6.73434L11.9467 7.35404L8.01112 13.4686L7.04831 12.8489L6.08551 12.2292L10.0211 6.11464L10.9839 6.73434ZM10.9839 6.73434V7.87934H1.14496V6.73434V5.58934H10.9839V6.73434Z\" fill=\"#202446\"\/>\n                                <\/svg>\n                                                    <\/a>\n                                                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n    \n\n<\/section>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"inline_featured_image":false},"tool_cat":[38],"class_list":["post-4153","tools","type-tools","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/sv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tools\/4153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/sv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tools"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/sv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/tools"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/sv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"tool_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/relooped.eu\/sv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tool_cat?post=4153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}