Abstract:
As more and more plastic ends up in the environment, it poses a greater and greater hazard to life form. 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. Here, researchers used the liquid culture method to examine the biodegradation of a low density polyethylene (LDPE) bag over the course of 8 weeks. Nowadays, low density polyethylene is a necessity. Its stable and non-degrading property causes pollution in environment. The most stable method of degrading LDPE is biodegradation. LDPE degrading bacterial 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 bacterial strains by using nutrient medium with low density plastic as sole carbon source. Bacterial strains assigned the codes B1, B2, B3, and B4 were identified as Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. Different analytical parameters like weight loss, during growth of bacteria and analysis like SEM (scanning electron microscopy) FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and GCMS (Gas Chromatography Spectrometry) were checked. The plastic degradation rate was determined by weight loss parameter and among the four bacterial strains B4 degradation rate is recorded maximum which is 80% while other strains B1, B2 and B3 is 77.6%, 73.6% and 71.2% respectively. Alterations in the surface features of LDPE from smooth to rough surface, as a result of bacterial treatment was determined through SEM. FTIR testing revealed that the peak positions had changed after the bacteria treatment and it indicates the degradation. GCMS analyzes compounds produced after biodegradation of LDPE i.e., alkanes, alkenes, acids, alcohols, and aromatic hydrocarbons were produced. This research shows detailed report of degradation by bacterial strains of Pseudomonas putida B1, Bacillus subtilis B2, Bacillus cereus B3, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa B4. This work reveals that bacterial strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa B4 possess great potential to degrade plastic when it is compared to other bacteria.
Page(s):
162-162
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