Plastic waste accumulation represents one of the major environmental challenges of modern society. Due to the high persistence of synthetic polymers and the limitations of current waste management methods, increasing attention is being directed towards the development of alternative and environmentally friendly approaches for plastic degradation. Among these, fungi have attracted considerable interest because they are capable of degrading certain types of plastic materials through the action of various extracellular enzymes. This thesis discusses the mechanisms of fungal plastic biodegradation, the role of fungal enzymes, and the biodegradation potential of the most common plastic types. Particular emphasis is placed on the challenges associated with scaling up laboratory research to industrial applications. Biological, process-related, and substrate-related factors that limit the efficiency of fungal biodegradation at a larger scale are presented, including slow degradation rates, the heterogeneity of plastic waste, sterility requirements, oxygen transfer limitations, and economic constraints. Potential strategies for process improvement are also discussed, such as the use of more efficient fungal strains, microbial consortia, genetic and enzyme engineering, and the development of advanced bioreactor systems. The findings indicate that fungal plastic biodegradation is currently not competitive with established waste management methods; however, further technological advances may significantly increase its applicability in the future.
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