TY - JOUR
T1 - In vivo degradation of polyethylene terephthalate using microbial isolates from plastic polluted environment
AU - Maheswaran, Baskaran
AU - Al-Ansari, Mysoon
AU - Al-Humaid, Latifah
AU - Sebastin Raj, Joseph
AU - Kim, Woong
AU - Karmegam, Natchimuthu
AU - Mohamed Rafi, Kasim
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - Accumulation of plastics alarms a risk to the environment worldwide. As polyethylene pterephthalate (PET) degrades slowly and produces hazardous substances, therefore, it is now essential to eliminate plastic wastes from the environment. Given that, the current study is concerned with PET degradation potential of naturally occurring microbial strains isolated from plastic waste dumping sites, Sarcina aurantiaca (TB3), Bacillus subtilis (TB8), Aspergillus flavus (STF1), Aspergillus niger (STF2). To test the biodegradability of PET films, the films were incubated for 60 days at 37 °C with the microorganisms designated as TB3, TB8, STF1, STF2 and the microbial consortium (TB3+TB8+STF1+STF2) in Minimal Salt Medium and Bushnell Hass Broth. Hydrophobicity, viability, and total protein content of isolates were investigated. Using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry to measure variations in functional groups and carbonyl index on PET surface, biodegradation process was affirmed by fissures and modified surfaces. Results revealed that the microbial consortium (S. aurantiaca + B. subtilis + A. flavus + A. niger) that the weight loss of PET films was 28.78%. The microbial consortium could be used to treat PET waste, posing no health or environmental risks. The developed microbial consortium has the potential to degrade PET, hence can be employed for eliminating PET in plastic contaminated sites.
AB - Accumulation of plastics alarms a risk to the environment worldwide. As polyethylene pterephthalate (PET) degrades slowly and produces hazardous substances, therefore, it is now essential to eliminate plastic wastes from the environment. Given that, the current study is concerned with PET degradation potential of naturally occurring microbial strains isolated from plastic waste dumping sites, Sarcina aurantiaca (TB3), Bacillus subtilis (TB8), Aspergillus flavus (STF1), Aspergillus niger (STF2). To test the biodegradability of PET films, the films were incubated for 60 days at 37 °C with the microorganisms designated as TB3, TB8, STF1, STF2 and the microbial consortium (TB3+TB8+STF1+STF2) in Minimal Salt Medium and Bushnell Hass Broth. Hydrophobicity, viability, and total protein content of isolates were investigated. Using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry to measure variations in functional groups and carbonyl index on PET surface, biodegradation process was affirmed by fissures and modified surfaces. Results revealed that the microbial consortium (S. aurantiaca + B. subtilis + A. flavus + A. niger) that the weight loss of PET films was 28.78%. The microbial consortium could be used to treat PET waste, posing no health or environmental risks. The developed microbial consortium has the potential to degrade PET, hence can be employed for eliminating PET in plastic contaminated sites.
KW - Biodegradation
KW - Biofilm
KW - Microbial consortium
KW - Microplastics
KW - Polyethylene terephthalate
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140271895&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136757
DO - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136757
M3 - Article
C2 - 36228720
AN - SCOPUS:85140271895
SN - 0045-6535
VL - 310
JO - Chemosphere
JF - Chemosphere
M1 - 136757
ER -
