Abstract

BIODEGRADATION OF PLASTICS BY MICROORGANISMS AS PLASTIC DEGRADATION AGENTS

Pratibha Singh*, Iqbal Hussain Mir and Dr. Mukesh K. Sharma

Abstract

Biodegradation of LDPEs sheet and film was analyzed after 30 days of incubation in garden soli of MVGU, Campus. The biodegradation of LDPEs film was significantly higher (up to 2.46% in 30 days) than that of LDPEs sheet (up to 1.53% in 30 days). The microbial species discovered related with the degrading materials were identified as five Gram positive, two Gram negative bacteria, and eight fungal species of Aspergillus. The Gram positive species that were predominant were Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and Bacillus while as Gram negative species include Moraxella, and Pseudomonas and species of fungi (Aspergillus niger). Effectiveness of the microbial species in degradation of plastics and polythene was analyzed in shaker cultures. Among the microbes Aspergillus niger species degraded higher amount of LDPEs film and sheet in one-month time span. This work reveals that the mangrove soil is a good source of microorganisms capable of degrading LDPEs sheet and film.

Keywords: Biodegradation, LDPE, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger.