Degradation of Plastic Beads Containing Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) by Sequential Photolysis, Hydrolysis and Bacterial Isolates

In this study, an attempt was made to explain the degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic beads with the help of selected bacterial isolates in both laboratory and field conditions. 16 S rRNA gene sequencing further identified the bacterial isolates as Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus pumilus, obtained from the municipal waste disposal site near Anand, Gujarat, India. The beads were subjected to photolysis and hydrolysis for a predetermined amount of time in addition to biodegradation. After 60 days of treatment with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus luteus, and Bacillus pumilus in both laboratory and field conditions, a significant percentage decrease in the weight of LDPE beads was observed. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was taken as a positive control. Further, the rate of degradation was found to be accelerated in the presence of 10% starch.PMID:38386139 | DOI:10.1007/s00128-024-03853-6
Source: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: research