Isotactic polypropylene biodegradation by a microbial community: physicochemical characterization of metabolites produced

Abstract

From a selective enrichment culture prepared with different soil samples on starch-containing polyethylene we isolated four microaerophilic microbial communities able to grow on this kind of plastic with no additional carbon source. One consortium, designated community 3S, was tested with pure isotactic polypropylene to determine whether the consortium was able to degrade this polymer. Polypropylene strips were incubated for 5 months in a mineral medium containing sodium lactate and glucose in screw-cap bottles. Dichloromethane crude extracts of the cultures revealed that the weight of extracted materials increased with incubation time, while the polypropylene sample weight decreased. The extracted materials were characterized by performing chromatographic and spectral analyses (thin-layer chromatography, liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, infrared spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance). Three main fractions were detected and analyzed; a mixture of hydrocarbons at different degrees of functionalization was found together with a mixture of aromatic esters, as the plasticizers usually added to polyolefinic structures.

Isolation and molecular characterization of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic degrading fungal isolates

“…Kaczmarek and Bajer [27] also reported the certain modification and appearance of new peaks in the cellulose blended PVC sample by FTIR analysis. Cacciari et al [42] reported the detection of new signals attributed to propylene structure and also some proton signals in treated sample of polypropylene NMR. In our study NMR results revealed the increase in number of signals in comparison to control, suggesting some chemical change/shifting in the polymeric material.…”

Microbial Degradation and Valorization of Plastic Wastes

“…Meanwhile, only 10% of the extracted products were identified as hydrocarbons (C 10 H 22 to C 31 H 64 ) that may be derived from the degradation of PP itself. This result indicated that the plasticizers, other than the PP itself, were prone to be degraded by the sandy soil microorganisms (Cacciari et al, 1993).…”

“…In 1993, microbial degradation of PP was firstly assessed by cultures enriched from sandy soils containing PE wastes (Cacciari et al, 1993). After an incubation period of 175 days, the amount of degradation products, which were extracted with methylene chloride, accounted for 40% of the initial weight of tested PP.…”

Biodegradable Polymers for Food Packing – Factors Influencing their Degradation and Certification Types – a Comprehensive Review

“…They observed the growth of microorganism (Pseudomonas, Erwinia and Bacillus) was rising in the presence of the tested polymers. It has also been stated that these microorganisms are capable of biodegrading not only PCL but also other polymers [36].…”