This Styrofoam-eating 'superworm' could help solve the garbage crisis

[Colbert]

11. About half becomes atmospheric carbon

Last edited Thu Jun 23, 2022, 03:53 PM - Edit history (1)

If the chemistry is anything like with mealworms, about half the mass is converted to carbon dioxide (which I assume, given that it's a aerobic organism, is produced as respiratory waste).

Each worm ate about a few dozen milligrams every day, converting about half to carbon dioxide and leaving half behind as non-toxic waste.

I also wouldn't discount methane, since methane is a fairly standard emission from digestive processes in animals. Then there's the decomposition products of the worms once they die (which would include CO2 and CH4).

Styrofoam's main method of breakdown is photodegradation, so if buried, it can remain in the environment (locking up carbon) for upwards of a million years. However, if it becomes excessively hot, it can also leech.