Polythene and plastic waste are found to accumulate in the environment, posing a major ecological threat. They are found to be considered non-degradable, once it enters the environment it has been found to remain there indefinitely. However, significant attention has been placed on biodegradable polymer, identification of microbes with degradative potential on plastic material. The aim of the present investigation was to biodegrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) using potential fungi isolated from landfill soil. Based on 18S rRNA analyses the isolated strain was identified as Aspergillus clavatus. LDPE degradation by A. clavatus was monitored for 90 days of incubation in aqueous medium. The degradation was confirmed by changes in polyethylene weight, CO2 evolution by Strum test, infrared spectra and morphological changes by SEM and AFM analysis. © 2016, The Author(s).

Krishnamoorthy A

Department of Software Systems

School of Computer Science and Engineering

Vellore Campus

Jayanthi Abraham

Department of Bio-Medical Sciences

School of Bio Sciences and Technology

Gajendiran A

Fulltext

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is a private university located in&nbsp;Tamil Nadu, India. Founded in 1984, as Vellore Engineering College, the institution offers 20 undergraduate, 34 postgraduate, four integrated and four research programs. It has campuses in Vellore, Amravati, Bhopal and Chennai.

VIT is one of the top ranked private universities in India according to NIRF, THE and QS Rankings.&nbsp;Govt. of India has recognized&nbsp;VIT, Vellore as an&nbsp;Institution of Eminence. This has allowed VIT to take independent quality initiatives and move up in world ranking.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

VIT University

3 Biotech

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) waste disposal remains one of the major environmental concerns faced by the world today. In past decades, major focus has been given to enhance the biodegradation of LDPE by microbial species. In this present study, Aspergillus versicolor with the ability to degrade LDPE was isolated from municipal landfill area using enrichment technique. Based on 18S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed its identity as Aspergillus versicolor. The biodegradation study was carried out for 90 d in M1 medium. The degradation behaviour of LDPE films by Aspergillus versicolor strain JASS1 were confirmed by weight loss, CO2 evolution, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique. From current investigation, it can be concluded that our isolated strain JASS1 had the potential to degrade LDPE films and it can be useful in solving the problem caused by polyethylene in the environment. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.

IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering

Effect of Aspergillus versicolor strain JASS1 on low density polyethylene degradation

Fipronil is a phenylpryazole insecticide which is extensively used for the protection of agricultural yields. However, this insecticide poses various threats to the environment. Therefore it is essential to develop an effective method to degrade or eliminate this pollutant from the environment. In this present study, a fungal strain AJAG1 capable of degrading fipronil and its metabolite, fipronil sulfone, was isolated through enrichment technique. Isolated fungal strain was identified as Aspergillus glaucus based upon its morphological, and 18S rRNA sequence analysis. Strain AJAG1 could degrade 900 mg L−1 of fipronil efficiently in both aqueous medium and soil. In addition, fipronil degradation was tested with various kinetic models and the results revealed that biodegradation in aqueous medium and soil was ascertained by pseudo-first order and zero order rate kinetics, respectively. The infrared spectrum of fipronil degraded sample confirmed the formation of esters, nitro, and alkanes groups. A tentative degradation pathway of fipronil by strain AJAG1 has been proposed on the basis of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. The lignolytic enzymes activities were studied during fipronil degradation by strain AJAG1. Further, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the surface morphology of strain AJAG1 after fipronil degradation. In the present investigation, bioformulation of strain AJAG1 was developed using low cost materials such as groundnut shell powder, molasses, and fly ash to remediate the fipronil from agricultural field. These results highlight A. glaucus strain AJAG1 may have potential for use in bioremediation of fipronil-contaminated environment. © 2017, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.

Biomineralisation of fipronil and its major metabolite, fipronil sulfone, by Aspergillus glaucus strain AJAG1 with enzymes studies and bioformulation

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is potential source of environmental pollution. In this study, biodegradation of LDPE was achieved by employing fungus and actinobacteria isolated from waste dumping site. Among all the isolates, two potential strains were obtained through enrichment technique. Based on 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA analyses the isolated strains were identified as Aspergillus nomius and Streptomyces sp., respectively. The biodegradation of LDPE was determined by evaluating weight loss and morphological changes of the LDPE samples. The isolated strains; Aspergillus nomius had the capacity to degrade 4.9% and Streptomyces sp. showed 5.2% of weight loss of LDPE films respectively. Weight loss of LDPE film after inoculation of isolates in degradation medium indicated that it was capable of using polyethylene as carbon and energy source. CO2evolution was checked after degradation of polyethylene pieces, the level of CO2reached 2.85 g L−1in the presence of Aspergillus nomius and Streptomyces sp. produced 4.27 g L−1. Sophisticated instrumentation was used like atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). The breakdown products of the LDPE film after exposure to the isolates was recorded employing GCMS. FTIR spectrum of LDPE film confirmed changes in the presence of chemical groups like amine, alkanes, phenols, and alcohol after degradation of LDPE films by Aspergillus nomius and Streptomyces sp. and the most prominent structural changes of the spectrum were observed in the LDPE sample after 90 days of degradation. The results affirmed the isolates were capable of degrading LPDE films efficiently. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 147–154, 2017. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog

Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy

Microbial degradation of low density polyethylene

Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management

Studies on the biodegradation of natural and synthetic polyethylene by Pseudomonas spp

An approach to low-density polyethylene biodegradation by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

PLoS ONE

Abiotic and Biotic Degradation of Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic Bags by Pleurotus ostreatus

Biodegradation of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) by Mixed Culture of Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus and Aspergillus niger in Soil

Polyethylene materials are a serious environmental concern as their nondegradable nature allows them to persist in the environment. Recent studies have shown that polyethylene can be degraded by microbes at a very slow rate, whereby detectable changes are evident after several years. In the present study, we report the degradation of low-density polyethylene by Pseudomonas sp. AKS2. Unlike the previous reports, degradation by Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 is relatively fast as it can degrade 5 ± 1 % of the starting material in 45 days without prior oxidation. This degradation can be altered by agents that modulate hydrophobic interaction between polythene and the microbe. As mineral oil promotes hydrophobic interactions, it enhances bacterial attachment to the polymer surface. This enhanced attachment results in increased biofilm formation and enhanced polymer degradation. In contrast, Tween 80 reduces bacterial attachment to the polymer surface by lowering hydrophobic interactions and thereby reduces polymer degradation. Thus, this study establishes a correlation between hydrophobic interaction and polymer degradation and also relates the biofilm formation ability of bacteria to polymer degrading potential. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Low-density polyethylene degradation by Pseudomonas sp. AKS2 biofilm

Microbial degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) by Aspergillus clavatus strain JASK1 isolated from landfill soil

Journal	Data powered by Typeset3 Biotech
Publisher	Data powered by TypesetSpringer Science and Business Media LLC
ISSN	2190-572X
Open Access	Yes