Abstract:
As more and more plastic ends up in the environment, it poses a greater and greater hazard to life form. Nowadays, low density polyethylene is a necessity. Its stable and non-degrading property causes pollution in environment. The expanding use of plastics in packaging is a key factor in the development of biodegradable plastics, which are also widely regarded as environmentally beneficial. In current analysis liquid culture method was used to examine the biodegradation of a low density polyethylene (LDPE) bag over the course of 8 weeks. The most stable method of degrading LDPE is biodegradation. LDPE degrading fungal species were isolated from four different zones of Lahore from mixed garbage dumping sites i.e., Pull Saggiyan, Bund Road Zone, Islampura Zone and Lahori Gate Nala. The treatment was set by screening of LDPE with degrading four fungal strains by using nutrient medium with low density plastic as sole carbon source. Fungal strains assigned the codes S1, S2, S3, and S4 were identified as Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger respectively. Different analytical parameters like weight loss, growth duration of fungi and analysis like FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) and GCMS (Gas chromatography spectrometry) were checked. The plastic degradation rate was determined by weight loss parameter and among the four fungal strains S4 degradation rate was recorded maximum which was 83% as compared to other strains S1, S2 and S3 (79.2%, 76% and 73.6% respectively). Alterations in the surface features of LDPE from smooth to rough surface, as a result of fungal treatment was determined through SEM. FTIR testing revealed that the peak positions had changed after the fungal treatment and it indicates the degradation. GCMS analysis compounds produced after biodegradation of LDPE i.e., alkanes, alkenes, acids, alcohols, and aromatic hydrocarbons. This research showed detailed report of degradation by fungal strains of S1, S2, S3, and S4 included Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium solani, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus niger respectively. This work reveals that fungal strain Aspergillus niger S4 possess great potential to degrade plastic when it was compared to other isolated fungal strains.
Page(s):
160-160
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Abstract Book on Second International Conference on Recent Approaches in Plant Sciences (RAPS-23) 4-5 May 2023 , Volume: 0, Issue: 0, Year: 2023