Studies on Bio-Degradation of LDPE-Observation of LDPE Films Scattered in Agricultural Fields or in Garden Soil.

Biodegradability and degrading microbes of low‐density polyethylene

“…The fragments of LDPE mulch films which were scattered in a field of vegetable before dissemination in April when the activities of LDPE-degrading bacteria came to be very active because of the rise of temperature, located at Nogi Town, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, were collected to make several investigations and analyses; as a result, characteristic microbial degradation phenomena were recognized on them. 10 Appearance of the LDPE mulch film is presented in Figure 1. Then, some portions of soil at three positions adherent and surrounding the LDPE mulch films buried in the field were picked up as soil specimens per patches of field to reproduce LDPE-degrading bacteria for making them into the isolation sources of microbes.…”

“…The fragments of LDPE mulch films which were scattered in a field of vegetable before dissemination in April when the activities of LDPE‐degrading bacteria came to be very active because of the rise of temperature, located at Nogi Town, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, were collected to make several investigations and analyses; as a result, characteristic microbial degradation phenomena were recognized on them 10. Appearance of the LDPE mulch film is presented in Figure 1.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] For example, LDPE mulch films buried and plowed in fields for several years show notably whitened parts over their whole area due to microscopic pores generated by enzymatic degradation by microbes, which is characteristic biodegradation. 10 Also, in case of mayonnaise bottles, made of LDPE by blow molding process and buried in soil for over 32 years, when their surfaces in contact with the soil have been compared with those not in contact with the soil, the decrease of molecular weight and the remarkable tailing of molecular weight distribution to lower molecular weight side have been recognized at the surfaces in contact with the soil. 5 Furthermore, the observation of the degraded and whitened parts in contact with the soil, with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), has revealed the presence of the colonies of LDPEdegrading bacteria.…”

“…We have been ascertaining that low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) fully exhibits its biodegradability when exposure conditions surrounding the LDPE are ready for its degradation, although its development is very slow 1–15. For example, LDPE mulch films buried and plowed in fields for several years show notably whitened parts over their whole area due to microscopic pores generated by enzymatic degradation by microbes, which is characteristic biodegradation 10.…”

“…We have been ascertaining that low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) fully exhibits its biodegradability when exposure conditions surrounding the LDPE are ready for its degradation, although its development is very slow 1–15. For example, LDPE mulch films buried and plowed in fields for several years show notably whitened parts over their whole area due to microscopic pores generated by enzymatic degradation by microbes, which is characteristic biodegradation 10. Also, in case of mayonnaise bottles, made of LDPE by blow molding process and buried in soil for over 32 years, when their surfaces in contact with the soil have been compared with those not in contact with the soil, the decrease of molecular weight and the remarkable tailing of molecular weight distribution to lower molecular weight side have been recognized at the surfaces in contact with the soil 5.…”