Abstract
Background & Objective: Plastics are strong, light weight and durable due to
which it has wide applications. Degradation of plastics is difficult due to their xenobiotic
origin and recalcitrant nature. Hence, accumulation of plastics in the environment is posing
an increasing ecological threat.
Methods: Various methods are preferred for the reduction of plastics in the environment, of
which degradation by chemical and biological means are considered to be more effective. In
the biodegradation of plastics, micro organisms play a pivotal role. In the present work, microbial
species are isolated from different sources such as cooking oil, grease and petroleum
products. Two bacterial species such as Sphingomonas, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and three
fungal species such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and one unidentified fungal species
were isolated from the sources were used for the degradation of polyethylene plastic
samples (black and white).
Results: Sphingomonas indicated 56% (black) and 31% (white) degradation of polyethylene
plastic. Unidentified fungal species also indicated 64% (black) and 45% (white) degradation
of polyethylene plastic. During the degradation, pH altered from 7 to 8. SEM analysis indicated
the presence of appreciable surface erosions, fading, cracks and extensive roughening
of the surface with pit formation.
Conclusion: Sequence analysis of Sphinogomonas species was done in comparison with the
similar known bacterial species and the phylogenetic tree was generated based on the sequence
analysis.
Keywords:
Biodegradation, polyethylene, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Pseudomonas aeruginus,
SEM analysis, sequence.
Graphical Abstract
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