Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The solution to plastic pollution? Feed it to oil-eating bacteria and transform it into nutritious protein powder. In the award-winning Techtmann microbiology lab, students work alongside the faculty researcher to identify microbial communities that could clean up oil spills, munch up plastic waste, and break down non-edible plant biomass to solve two world challenges: hunger and pollution. “Once we get the technology approved and the FDA gives the thumbs-up that we can eat this stuff, then we bring in the marketing to make it appealing and smell less like vegemite and more like sugar cookies,” says researcher Stephen Techtmann.
Learn how Techtmann’s process could help armed forces in the field or people displaced by disasters: https://www.mtu.edu/magazine/research/2022/stories/plastic-trash-protein/
Find out how students work with faculty to do research at Tech: https://www.mtu.edu/biological/research/undergraduate/
Explore projects and award-winning research in the Techtmann Lab: http://bio.sites.mtu.edu/techtmann/
Learn more about biological sciences at Michigan Tech: https://www.mtu.edu/biological/
Explore more degree programs for you — and your tomorrow: https://www.mtu.edu/tomorrowneeds/
#TomorrowNeeds #MichiganTech
The solution to plastic pollution? Feed it to oil-eating bacteria and transform it into nutritious protein powder. In the award-winning Techtmann microbiology lab, students work alongside the faculty researcher to identify microbial communities that could clean up oil spills, munch up plastic waste, and break down non-edible plant biomass to solve two world challenges: hunger and pollution. “Once we get the technology approved and the FDA gives the thumbs-up that we can eat this stuff, then we bring in the marketing to make it appealing and smell less like vegemite and more like sugar cookies,” says researcher Stephen Techtmann.
Learn how Techtmann’s process could help armed forces in the field or people displaced by disasters: https://www.mtu.edu/magazine/research/2022/stories/plastic-trash-protein/
Find out how students work with faculty to do research at Tech: https://www.mtu.edu/biological/research/undergraduate/
Explore projects and award-winning research in the Techtmann Lab: http://bio.sites.mtu.edu/techtmann/
Learn more about biological sciences at Michigan Tech: https://www.mtu.edu/biological/
Explore more degree programs for you — and your tomorrow: https://www.mtu.edu/tomorrowneeds/
#TomorrowNeeds #MichiganTech
