Potential of bacteria isolated from landfill soil in degrading low density polyethylene plastic

Abstract

Abstract. Plastic is an important material and used for many purposes. It is returned to the environment as a waste which is recently considered as the second largest solid waste. The persistency of plastic in the environment has been attracted researchers from a different point of view. The study of the degradation of plastic using bacteria isolated from local landfill soil was conducted. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic was used as tested material. Potential isolates were obtained by culturing the candidates in mineral salt medium broth containing LDPE powder. Two of ten exhibited better growth response in the selection media and were used in degradation study. Results showed that isolate SP2 and SP4 reduced the weight of LDPE film significantly to a weight loss of 10.16% and 12.06%, respectively after four weeks of incubation. Scanning electron micrograph analyses showed the surface of LDPE changed compared to the untreated film. It looked rough and cracked, and bacteria cells attached to the surface was also noticed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses confirmed the degradation of LDPE film. These results indicated that bacteria isolated from landfill might play an important role in degrading plastic material in the landfill.

Potential of landfill microbes in hydrocarbon degradation

“…Four bacterial strains isolated from landfill leachate were reported to degrade Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in which two isolates namely LHM2 and LHM4 grew rapidly by using the pollutant as carbon source and produced biofilms [13]. Munir et al [14] reported the results of bioprospecting study of landfill bacteria in reducing the low density polyethylene plastic (LDPE) as indicated from its weight loss and bacterial cells attachment on the surface of tested material under scanning electron microscopy. Munir et al [15] again reported that the fungal isolates namely Aspergillus nomius and Trichoderma viride obtained in the same study site also displayed a high colonization on LDPE.…”

The Diversity of Fungi in Landfill and their Potential to Degrade Plastic

“…The plastic sheets were air-dried at room temperature for 24 h and weighed. The LDPE and LLDPE plastic sheets that showed a large change in their final weight were selected for testing at the next stage (Munir et al, 2018b).…”