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Plastic has been considered as a major environment polluting material for decades. Its physical, chemical and mechanical properties such as high tensile strength, elongation properties, high molecular weight, inertness and hydrophobic nature make it non-biodegradable. In spite of the fact that both environmental and microbial degradation of plastic have been studied in detail, most of the microorganisms reported so far are limited in their functions. However, the recent approaches in plastic degradation by use of insect caterpillars and their gut microbiota have shown interesting results. Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal worms), Tenebrio molitor (Yellow meal worms) and Galleria mellonella (Greater wax worms) are the insects reported till now in plastic degradation. In this comprehensive review, we have briefly focused on the general introduction and classification of plastics and properties which make plastic persistent in the nature. We also have glanced over certain Plastic biodegradation methods reported till today.

In the present scenario of fuel and energy crises, attempts for bridging the gap between demand and supply remained ineffective. The environmental damage caused by the existing fossil fuel facing price hike day by day, simultaneously the fossil fuel reservoirs are also exhausting and hence, these alarming energy crises are need to be addressed immediately. Today, the scientific community is running behind the renewable alternative fuel sources, and biofuel is one such alternative. The limitations of first and second generation biofuel have created the way for third generation biofuel technology. Microalgae are the major sources of the third generation biofuel. In order to achieve the high lipid content, we need to modify the pretreatment methods for disrupting the cell wall of microalgae. The classical method of lipid extractions from plants and crops can be followed for third generation biofuel production with trivial modifications in operating conditions. Several cell disruption techniques are known since past, but economically feasible, energy efficient and easily manageable methods are yet to identify, optimize and appraise. In the current review article, we have made an attempt to convey the algal cell wall components which are broadly used in the research and industrial area and focused on the key techniques involved in algal cell disruption.